This Saturday, Wekiva Island will be closed until 5:00 p.m. for our annual Fall Egg Fest. We’d love for you to join the fun—grab your ticket and be part of the festivities. After 5:00 p.m., the Island will reopen and welcome guests as usual.
Wekiva Island is more than just one of the best things to do near Orlando. It’s a family-owned oasis focused on sharing a mission of sustainability, education and art. One of the family members making that happen is Ashley Weinaug, the Director of Marketing for Wekiva Island.
Ashley and her team are dedicated to sharing the message of Wekiva Island and its affiliated brands with Island fans and new guests alike. Some examples are the most recent No Reservations campaign sharing how Wekiva Island is always open for adventure and our incredible Flowing Forward short film, which shares our dedication to the Wild & Scenic Wekiva River.
Ashley is taking our guests behind the scenes of her role at the Island and in the family with a Q&A.
Marketing for a place like Wekiva Island is exciting because there’s so much to talk about. We technically have three brands to promote–Wekiva Island, Paddleboard Orlando, and Gallery CERO–each with their own website, social channels, and email campaigns. In everything we do, we work to make sure our three pillars of Sustainability, Education, and Art shine through in our messaging and creative.
Day to day, our Marketing & Gallery Coordinator Lexi and I are constantly brainstorming fun content ideas, hosting influencers and creatives, and working with local partners like Do Orlando North and the Florida Springs Council to raise awareness of the Wekiva River. We’re also proud to partner with Visit Orlando and Visit Florida to reach a broader audience of travelers interested in discovering Florida’s best attractions.
Also, there is always something fun happening at the Island! Carrie on our team does an incredible job dreaming up creative events that really capture the Wekiva experience and highlight our amazing sponsors and partners. From our annual end-of-summer Kona Luau to the Seafood Boil that supports our partnership with the Central Florida Zoo—and, of course, our magical Winter Wonderland celebration—we always try to look for exciting and engaging activities for guests of all ages.
I grew up in Apopka coming to the Wekiwa Marina as a child, going on canoe adventures and camping trips. When I was younger, I think I took for granted that I had the Wekiva River in my backyard. It was only after leaving it, moving to New York and then to Spain, that I realized just how special it is to have a place like this so close to home.
After my family purchased the Island, I eventually became a bartender during my summers off from school. It was a great way to meet and share stories with guests and our locals. After college, I moved to New York and started my career in social media and advertising, eventually working in the hospitality world.
I realized that the skills and experience I gained in advertising, especially working with hotels, restaurants, and destinations, aligned closely with the goals and vision we have for Wekiva Island. We had such a unique story to tell. Soon after, I officially joined the family business, taking over marketing and leading the brand story of Wekiva Island.
I feel lucky that I get to work with so many family members and see how their creative minds work in a professional setting. I work with my father, stepmother, brother, aunts, and cousins in some capacity and everyone else that isn’t technically related still feels like family. It’s amazing when I see multiple generations of our family out on the river, enjoying a legacy that, in many ways, is just getting started.
The biggest challenge is remembering not to take things personally. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and there’s value in each perspective. At the end of the day, my dad, Bill, ultimately calls the shots—but we all have the opportunity to speak up about what motivates us, excites us, and drives our vision for Wekiva Island.
Wekiva Island has evolved significantly over the years—in both its look and the experiences it offers. It’s truly become a one-of-a-kind destination you won’t find anywhere else along the river. What began as a simple spot for canoe and kayak rentals has grown into so much more. We’ve expanded our offerings by acquiring Paddleboard Orlando, allowing us to offer paddleboard rentals as well as private and group tours that give guests a new way to experience the water.
We’ve also added cultural depth with the opening of Gallery CERO, a beautiful Orlando art gallery that showcases nature-inspired works from local and regional artists.
Beyond recreation, we’ve intentionally grown our experience to serve more than just the casual guest. Our corporate offerings and loyalty program now give businesses the chance to mix work and play—providing memorable, team-building experiences in a unique setting that inspires connection and creativity.
We are so lucky to have some amazing plant-based food options for the vegetarians and vegans that are visiting us. My go-to order is easy: the beefless BBQ sandwich! One of the first things I do when I get in town is come down to the Island and order it. It comes with an onion ring on top and it’s so good it would make a meat eater happy. Before I went vegan, I also loved the pesto fries. They are a must!
I love gathering a group of friends for a relaxing day in a cabana. It really is the perfect home base for spending time together. The Beach Club is my favorite cabana, as it feels a bit more private and you have a nice stretch of the wrap-around boardwalk. There’s shaded coverage, Adirondack chairs for lounging in the sun, and nice picnic tables for grilling or enjoying food from Without A Paddle Cafe. Friends can come and go throughout the day, hanging out in the cabana or heading off for a paddle up river.
My favorite memory was our Great American Paint In book launch celebration. During COVID, we launched a virtual art collection that showcased work created by artists during the pandemic. We later partnered with a publisher to turn that collection into a beautiful, historical coffee table book. To celebrate the launch, we invited some of the participating artists to Wekiva Island for a special event. It was a meaningful moment—after such a difficult and uncertain time, we were able to come together and turn that experience into something beautiful that honored our Art pillar in a powerful way. And I got to work closely on the project with my dad and Aunt JoEl, who edited the book, which made it even more special.
Coming to the Island used to be an activity you did by yourself or with your friends or family. It has evolved to being a community outpost where individuals, groups, and businesses come together not just for recreation, but for connection–to each other and to the river.
Looking ahead, I want to see that sense of connection continue to grow. I envision Wekiva Island to be the go-to setting for shared experiences and meaningful gatherings—from hosting educational workshops and community paddles to events that celebrate other small, local businesses (like our Earth Day Pop-Up for the Planet market).
A family business to me means traditions. While we are still a first-generation business, I’m excited to see how it will continue to grow over the decades and what it will mean to our family.
We hope you’re looking forward to helping us shape the future of Wekiva Island, too. Make sure you give us a follow on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with all the Island happenings, plus sign up for our emails. Thanks for being part of our family.
This Saturday, Wekiva Island will be closed until 5:00 p.m. for our annual Fall Egg Fest. We’d love for you to join the fun—grab your ticket and be part of the festivities. After 5:00 p.m., the Island will reopen and welcome guests as usual.
Join Wekiva Island and 3 Daughters Brewing this Saturday for a seafood feast benefiting the Central Florida Zoo. Enjoy a pound of jumbo shrimp, clams, corn, potatoes, sausage, and three pours of beer, all for $45!