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
Erica E.
The River House was my dream wedding venue and it most certainly did not disappoint. They were nothing but absolutely amazing to use through our long journey. We booked the venue in 2019 for a March 2020 wedding but unfortunately our date was 5 days after Florida was shut down and we had to postpone. We ended up postponing multiple times due to surges in Covid with concern for the older family members and we just really wanted to have a safe but fun and not super restricted celebration. The River House team was so understanding and flexible each time we had to sign a contract and we are so thankful we were able to keep a contract with them, worth every penny! We finally had our day July 3rd, 2022 and when I say they made sure everything was perfect, I mean it. They were so understanding and helpful and we didn't just feel like another random wedding- we felt like they really cared about how our day went. The views of Saint Augustine from this venue are enough to book it but trust me when I say that their customer service, hard work and genuine dedication to their craft is enough to book them now! You will not be disappointed and your guests will rave for days about how beautiful of a place it is. Thank you River House team for making our awaited celebration the best day ever.
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.
Christa M.
River House in St. Augustine, FL is an amazing venue! From the beginning, Constance and her staff were very professional, responsive and accommodating. You can't beat the view of the river and the lighthouse which made for excellent pictures! They also have plenty of free parking which is a huge plus when it comes to venues in St. Augustine. Highly recommend!
