A Tribute To Mary Peck
River House is a little different than most venues in that it is owned by a private non-profit organization, the St. Johns County Council on Aging. On the weekdays, the building operates as an active senior center with all types of classes and programs for residents and visitors alike. On the weekend, it transforms into an event venue, hosting social and corporate events. Proceeds from the venue rentals directly support the non-profit’s mission and day-to-day upkeep of the building, making River House a dual-purpose facility with truly unique functions.
St. Augustine resident Mary Peck, a longtime supporter and active participant of COA programming, willed that her home be used for the benefit of community elders when she passed away. Her wish was to provide waterfront dining for seniors, so older adults could enjoy the Bayfront view that she had loved during her lifetime. With her donation, a vision was brought to life. Her home was sold and the profit was used as the seed money to build River House.
Cathy Brown, COA’s Executive Director at the time, is credited with the brilliant idea of constructing a building that could house senior programing during the week, and host special events on the weekends. It became the perfect balance — providing St. Johns County with a state-of-the-art, nationally accredited senior center, as well as a prestigious event venue on the Bayfront overlooking the Matanzas River, St. Augustine Lighthouse and Bridge of Lions.
A.D. Davis Construction broke ground in May 2009, and River House opened its doors in January 2010. The River House Ballroom is named in Ms. Peck’s honor, and a portrait of her created by local artist Jean Troemel is displayed there.
To learn more about COA’s mission and impact on St. Johns County, click here.
Reviews of River House
Jay Grubb Photography
The River House is absolutely 5 stars with not only a beautiful upscale venue with amazing views, the event team is incredibly attentive, and the interior is suburb for photography. As a wedding photographer I highly recommend the venue to couples being in my top 5 St Augustine wedding venues.
Daniela
My husband and I knew that we wanted to get married at a place on the water, but had a large ballroom to accommodate our large families (150+ wedding guests). We toured a few places that met either one or the other condition, but not both, until we toured River House! The property is absolutely beautiful and the view of the Matanzas River and the lighthouse do NOT disappoint! I knew that this was THE venue for us after we left- I just could not stop thinking about it! Pre-booking, touring, and wedding prep: My experience with River House staff was seamless and easy.
Elysha
If you are considering getting married in the Saint Augustine area, The River House gives you the most BANG for your buck. We looked into other venues in the area and you were limited to only their caterer/vendors as well as being limited to a small space. The entire grounds of The River House is yours for your whole duration of time. They give you recommendations of the vendors they have worked with and prefer. The view inside and out is stunningly beautiful. Lastly, the staff was a complete joy to work with.
