Overview
Key Lento is a small town in the Leonida Keysa chain of tropical islands stretching from the southern tip of the state of Leonida. The town is one of the earliest locations players encounter in Grand Theft Auto VIas it is home to Jason Duval's starting safehouse. The property is a stilt house raised above the waterline, owned by veteran drug runner Brian Hederwho allows Jason to live there rent-free in exchange for help collecting debts from other tenants.
Key Lento draws its name and setting from the real-life Key Largo, the largest island in the Florida Keys. Like its real-world counterpart, Key Lento sits at the northern end of the island chain, serving as the gateway between the mainland and the more remote keys further south.
Jason's Stilt House
The Leonida Keys Safehouse is a stilt house located in Key Lento. It is the starting safehouse for Jason and is available from the beginning of the game, unlocked automatically at no cost. The property has a green beach-house exterior with a balcony overlooking the water. It has space to store one vehiclewith Jason's Creado typically parked outside.
The house interior includes a sofa, a television, a game console, chairs, a glass-topped table, and a snake tank. A basketball hoop stands at the base of the staircase leading up to the elevated structure. After Lucia Caminos is released from prison, she moves in with Jason, and the two are shown living together from that point onward. Trailer 2 shows Jason performing maintenance on the property, reinforcing the lived-in, slightly rundown character of the home.
Safehouse Details
Detail | Information |
|---|---|
Property Type | Stilt house |
Location | Key Lento, Leonida Keys |
Owner | |
Residents | |
Cost | Free (provided in exchange for debt collection work) |
Vehicle Storage | 1 vehicle |
Availability | From the beginning of the game |
Brian Heder's Presence
Brian Heder is a longtime drug runner operating in the Leonida Keys. He owns multiple properties across the Keys, including the stilt house in Key Lento where Jason lives. Heder's arrangement with Jason is transactional: free rent in exchange for work, specifically collecting payments from Heder's other tenants. This arrangement forms the basis of the early gameplay loop, as Jason's relationship with Heder pulls him deeper into the criminal operations running through the Keys.
Heder is also connected to Cal HamptonJason's conspiracy-theorist friend who lives elsewhere in the Keys. Together, Jason, Cal, and Brian form the core of the Keys-based criminal network that players interact with during the early portions of the game.
Town Character
Key Lento reflects the laid-back, slightly rough-around-the-edges character of the Leonida Keys. The area features small-scale residential properties, many of them on stilts to protect against flooding and storm surges. Local businesses cater to a mix of residents and the occasional tourist passing through on their way to the more popular keys further south.
The town sits at the intersection of legitimate island life and the underground economy that runs through the Keys. Drug running, smuggling, and informal debt collection operate alongside fishing charters, dive shops, and beachside bars. This duality makes Key Lento a fitting starting point for the game's narrative, introducing players to both the beauty and the underbelly of Leonida.
Activities
The Leonida Keys area around Key Lento offers several confirmed activities. Fishing is available in the surrounding waters, with an official Rockstar screenshot showing Jason and Cal on a fishing trip. Scuba diving has been confirmed in the Keys area, with a screenshot showing two divers exploring a coral reef near the islands. A basketball hoop at the safehouse provides a small-scale recreational option right at home.
Real-World Inspiration
Key Lento is based on Key Largo, the first and largest island in the Florida Keys. Key Largo is known as the diving capital of the world due to its proximity to the Florida Reef, the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States. The real Key Largo features stilt houses, fishing charters, dive operations, and a mix of year-round residents and seasonal visitors, all of which appear to be reflected in GTA VI's Key Lento.
Trivia
The name "Key Lento" likely plays on "lento," the Spanish and Italian word for "slow," reflecting the unhurried pace of life on the islands.
Jason's stilt house is one of the few properties confirmed to be available from the start of the game, making Key Lento the player's home base during the opening hours.
The snake tank inside the safehouse is a notable interior detail, adding character to Jason's living space and fitting the tropical setting.