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.
A woman by the name of 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
Kathryn
My husband and I live 2.5 hours away, planning our wedding in St. Augustine we thought would be difficult since we lived so far. It wasn't at all! The River House staff was incredibly helpful in all aspects of our wedding. Through their recommendations and knowledge it was amazingly easy and stress free. I would recommend this venue for anyone looking for a beautiful, well kept facility. We couldnt have asked for a better wedding day!
Brittany V.
The best wedding venue in St. Augustine! The moment we first walked into the River House, we knew it was where we were going to have our wedding. The amount of space the venue offers, the beautiful outdoor area, the different rooms, the free parking, and so many more things lead us to have our dream wedding! All of our guests were amazed at how beautiful the venue was as soon as they walked in. The staff at RH are a pleasure to work with as well! The fact that the venue isn't downtown and is off the beaten path is a huge bonus. While the venue is big and spread out, our wedding felt so intimate since we were away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. We would relive our wedding day here in a heart beat! There were even dolphins out the day of our rehearsal.
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.
