A St. Johns County woman is suing a popular Ponte Vedra Beach resort, claiming she was permanently disfigured after being struck in the face by a firework during the club’s July 4, 2023 celebration.
The Ponte Vedra Beach resident filed the lawsuit this month in St. Johns County Court and is seeking unspecified damages from The Lodge at Ponte Vedra Beach and related entities.
The suit alleges that the club advertises an annual Independence Day celebration that fails to discourage members and guests from bringing and set off fireworks on the beach in front of the club.
According to the complaint, The Lodge placed labeled trash cans on the property for the disposal of fireworks and didn’t to discourage their use.
Keller claims that on the night of July 4, 2023, she was a guest of a club member and was standing on the beachside pool area — above the mean high water line and on land owned by The Lodge — when a shooting firework struck her in the face.
The impact, the suit states, caused permanent damage, leaving lasting “disfigurement.”
According to the complaint, plastic surgeons found that the injury cannot be corrected through reconstructive surgery.
Keller is asking for a jury trial and compensation for pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical expenses, permanent disfigurement, and future care costs.
The case is ongoing.
The Lodge & Club at Ponte Vedra Beach traces its roots to 1941, when it opened as The Innlet, a casual oceanfront hotel.
It was later redeveloped in 1989 into a Mediterranean-style resort, and rebranded under its current name in 1997 after being acquired by Ponte Vedra Corporation.
Today, the property operates as a full-service beachside resort known for its dining and ocean-view pools.
