Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Still undergoing past hurricane repsirs, but s chsrming stste park. Loved the wslk through all the bird enclosures. Accessible with my husband's mobility scooter. Took the tram from the visitor center. Everyone was super friendly and helpful. A little early for manatees, we only saw two, but the underwater observation area was amazing. I have never seen so many snook.

We decided to take this trip on a whim and I'm so glad we did. This was a very nice way to get away from all the sounds of the city and be with nature. The cost to get in was well worth the money. Unfortunately they couldn't do a boat ride due to the water being too low, but it still was a lot of fun for us. The staff was excellent and when my daughter locked herself in the bathroom all the rangers came to assist her and made sure she was okay.

Our trip to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park was really nice. We sat down for a small lecture about the area and how devastated it was from the hurricane of 2024. Nevertheless, there was plenty to see, gators, flamingos, a cougar and birds galore. It was a peaceful walk through nature for a small admission fee. Definitely worth the trip for anyone, kids included !!

Loved this park. We went in the main entrance and took the tram to the west entrance where the animal loop is. We saw so many animals and so many fish and manatees. It was a great experience. The underwater observatory is really awesome too. The loop is not too far of a walk and all very handicap friendly. This place us great for kids. Enough for them to burn off some energy but not too far for them.

This was my first springs in FL. There is a boat or tram to get you over to the park, so don't be discouraged when you pull into a parking lot just off the main drag. Once you get over to the park there is a place to pay...I cannot remember the exact price, but it wasn't too expensive. We were able to see manatees getting fed, lots of snook and sheep head, and a few other animals in the park. It was like a mix of spring and zoo.

This was our first visit and we were pleasantly surprised ! They have a tram that takes you to the fish bowl or you can walk. Would highly recommend this park, we definitely got to see the manatees and a lot of the natural species of fish up close. The wildlife trail is pretty cool as well. We also attended the presentation on manatees and watched the current residents get fed. Clean facilities, friendly staff!

We absolutely love coming here to see the animals. My kids love this place. It isn't overwhelming; it is a pretty quick adventure. It is one big loop, and you are back at the beginning. It still breaks our hearts that Lou is no longer earthside, but his memorial and the memories he left in everyone's hearts remain prominent.

Best wildlife enclosures I have ever seen - spacious and full of natural vegetation and enrichment activities. Very active animals who are very well taken care of. Informative and educational signs regarding conservation initiatives and wildlife protections. Beautiful walkways, very peaceful.

Awesome little park with so many animals. Small enough to feel like a hidden gem but large enough to stay busy and be well worth the money. I am thankful we got to visit last year while Lu the hippo was still there. Don't miss the Fish Bowl Underwater Observatory in the winter to see wild manatees visiting the springs. Pay attention to the posted times; last boat ride from the west entrance back to the east entrance is at 3:30p. Otherwise you might be able to catch the tram or you're walking back to your car.

We went to Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park for their annual Christmas Lights Celebration as a special family treat. The event was well organized even though there was a large crowd of people attending. Several Parking attendants were there to help with parking spaces, keeping things moving along nicely. The Admissions Booth was set up right near the parking lot for convenience sake. A fee of five dollars per child and ten dollars for adults to enter the park that you could pay by cash or card. Following the crowd we crossed the street. A Sheriff's Deputy was directing traffic for a safe crossing on the street from the parking lot to the park itself and it was well lit. The park was decorated with beautiful lights and Christmas figurines. The paths taking you through the park were a little uneven but safe. This was a great feat considering all the damage that they had from the storms but with a lot of determination and man power they were able to pull it all together to have this wonderful event. They even had a band playing Christmas songs, a wonderful Face Painter named Anne Adams and of course the Man of the Season Santa himself with his Missus was there to greet the children! Bubbles instead of snow floated in the air giving the night a magical feel of the Holidays. Snacks that could be carried like Popcorn were available and Hot Cocoa too! We had a wonderful time there looking at all the decorations, listening to the music (chairs were available to sit and stay awhile) and have our grandchildren visit with St. Nick! We will continue bring the kids to the wildlife park to visit during the day with all the animals and fish including our beloved Manatees!

My 7 year old daughter and I came to this park as a daytrip from Oakland FL (west of Orlando) in search of wintering manatees. It was an easy 80 minute drive for us (turnpike to 44), and we stopped in Wildwood for breakfast at Miz Kathi's - also recommended! There are two entrances to the park, and GPS takes you to the entrance with a large (free) parking lot and a gift shop. From there you either need to walk 15 minutes to get TO the park, or ride the free tram that gets you there, along essentially the same path as the walkers. Take the tram if you have kids; you'll do enough walking through the rest of the park. Also be advised that there isn't any separate walking path, you're just walking along the pavement/leaves and stepping to the side whenever the tram goes by. The park's staff and volunteers are doing an admirable job keeping things going. The park sustained considerable flooding and other damage in the September 2024 hurricane and in our January 2026 visit things are still in a state of limbo. They've brought in portapotties to offset most of their bathrooms still not being open, and there is a trailer with snacks but there isn't an actual restaurant on the premises. There are placards throughout the park with photos of peak flooding height etc, and it's amazing how the park has managed to survive. Once into the park (I think about $20 total for myself and my child), you essentially do a loop around to see all of the animals - birds, owls, foxes, wolves, panthers, a bobcat, a black bear, a small enclosed building with reptiles (almost entirely snakes), and manatees. Try to gauge your visit/walk to coincide with one of the free manatee talks - maybe 15-20 minutes of a volunteer explaining manatee facts and we both enjoyed this. Afterward they proceed to feeding the manatees (in another area of the park, but easily walkable between), 4x/day. Of note, there is not any animal interaction (no petting/feeding/etc) in this park, but still a good excursion that my 7 year old enjoyed. Also FYI no boat tours on the day we went, due to low water levels. Since it was January, in addition to the couple of resident manatees in the park they also had (maybe hundreds of?) visiting manatees who'd come in for the winter on Homosassa River, from the gulf. Daughter had lots of fun pointing out so many 'potatoes!!' On our walk back, we stopped in the underwater viewing tank, which was crazy to see so many of the same fish in one place. Took the tram back, and spent a bunch in the giftshop as newfound manatee enthusiasts. Overall, this is a great little excursion as a way to spend maybe two hours...potentially more once things open up again. Still open and operable despite hurricane damage.

Love this park and mini zoo. I'm sad the Hippo passed, but there is so much to do and see. The main building is currently being rehabbed, so you can park by the entrance, or at the old building and ride the tram, walk or take a boat over to the park for a small fee. The docents and rangers are very knowledgeable. They have a Manatee rehab program with talk and feeding demo. There's a pond with an underground observatory. They have native plants all over, a spring and tell a lot of history of the park and area. We've been there twice, riding the boat for two with the state park pass only costs $8.00. Any number after two is full price. Great family activity for about 3-6 hours.

What a nice stop on our way home from Cedar Key. We parked, jumped on the tram and were taken to the wildlife exhibits. Due to prior hurricanes, there was damage in some areas, but the animal habitats were very nice. There are lots of different birds, fox, a panther, etc. and the boardwalks are nice to walk around. Sadly, the hippo died earlier this year, but the manatees were out swimming around. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area.

Did not know what to expect at this state park so had pretty low expectations, as we were just looking for a nearby place to walk off lunch. This place was surprisingly wonderful with the holiday decor and the resident animals. The park suffered a lot of hurricane damage from Helene so it's still in the process of rebuilding. As such, not all the areas were open or accessible. However, there was enough to see and do. Note that there are two parking lots, and we ended up at the Main Visitor site which is currently closed, but you can take the tram or a boat to the area where the animals reside. We opted for the 3/4 mile walk. If you're in the area or passing through the area and looking for something to do, this is a great place to visit.

Absolutely gorgeous state park with an experience of close up wildlife. Beautiful place with a little over a mile walking path of native wildlife. There's also a boat tour that's cool and very informative

This was a beautiful park filled with animals. You have the choice of a ride on boat or tram to get to the entrance of the park. We chose the boat ride. The tour guide was knowledgeable and gave you a history of the park and animals. The walk is easy and takes about an hour and a half.

Loved this park. It's very affordable and a great 2-3 hours worth of walking. We spent a rainy August day and there were plenty of pavilions along the trails to escape the Florida afternoon rain. The facility was clean and the animals were well kept. The modest cost to get in was totally worth it for my daughter and I.

Great place for kid. Especially the wildlife park that is part of the state park. This may be the only state park with wildlife in cages. It is like a zoo. They also provide boat ride from Main Entrance to west entrance. There is fees for the boat ride but the tram is free. My favorite wild life there is the hippo. They are mild and nice animal as long as you are not in the water. The wildlife park includes wolf, fox, eagle, pelican, flamingo, gator, bear, panther, deer, owl, and more. Of course the spring has manatee in it. This famous sea cow is limited in the pond of the springs. There is underwater observation for the manatee. You can see underwater manatee while they feeding them. They have a floating salad bar tubing with all the veggies float in it. Overall the experience is good. Great for a small outing. They are mostly shade with tree canopy. Pleasant to walk on the path.

If you're in the area, a trip to Homosassa Springs is a must! You can take either a free tram or a $3 boat ride over to the park. The park offers beautiful views of the head springs and the river. They house a variety of animals with some very unique up close views including manatees, bald eagles, red tailed hawks, owls and the worlds oldest hippopotamus, Lu who just turned 65! Such an incredible experience and one you can't miss!

Today, we went to Homosassa Springs State Park and rode the Boat over to the park. (This was Calliope first boat ride) from there we went through a nature park where we saw Manatees, a hippo, coyotes, black bear, Bob cat, panther, otters, reptiles, Alligators, flamingos, bald Eagle and much more It cost $13 per adult & $5 per kid Calliope was free like all kids 2 and under and the boat ride was $3 per person free for Calliope. Definitely worth it!!!

This is a beautiful park in a serene setting. It almost reminds you of "the land before time". Set on the springs, which maintain a constant 72 degrees throughout the year, this park is a winter home to many manatees trying to escape the cold Gulf waters. In addition, it's also home to rescued birds and animals indigenous to Florida. The permanent residents are unable to be returned to the wild due to injuries or sad circumstances. The only resident that calls the park home that is not a a Florida species is Lou the hippo. Very cool story if you'd like to google him. Although I would probably not recommend this densely foliaged park during the hot (and mosquito-ladened) summer months, it is a beautiful place to visit throughout the rest of the year.

What a great place to see manatees! We came after a local recommended this park over Three Sisters Springs. We came in the middle of a cooler day in January, and the manatees came too! The main entrance to the park is actually a little bit away from the majority of the park, so we had to get back in the car and drive over. Once we parked, it was easy to pay the entrance fee and walk over to the springs. The main springs have a "fishbowl" where you can see underwater. We were luckily enough to see a mother and calf in that area and see them underwater. Then we walked over to the river and saw a ton more manatee hanging out. We stopped by the area with rehabilitated manatee and got to see four of them eating, which was hilarious! There was also a staff member answering questions there. After that, we had a brief walk around the other animal areas, mostly because we were moving on to another manatee site. This was a great place to see manatees from land and other beautiful Floridian wildlife!

Great place to view wildlife. Had my niece and nephew granddaughter with us and she enjoyed seeing all the animals they have there. We went to see the manatees but it had turned warm so they left. They did have three there that were being tested for injuries so at least we got to see them. Among the animals, birds and other wildlife they have a hippo yes a hippo. It really is a beautiful park. Highly recommend a visit.

This park is totally worth a visit, for visitors and locals alike. At the welcome center there is an exhibit, and a counter where we purchased tickets. Firs is a short boat ride with the staff giving us an introduction of the wildlife and history of the park. After we get off, we cross the road to officially enter the park. First we visit the Wildlife Walk area, where you can see a variety of native Florida animals, including Florida panther, red wolf, black bears, red wolf, Key deer, bobcat, flamingos, whooping crane, roseate spoonbill, alligators and more. These animals are mostly rescues, either as irresponsibly kept pets or injured wildlife - you can read about their stories near their enclosures - and unable to survive in the wild. There's even a reptile section too. Next we go to the spring to see the manatees. Definitely try to pick a cooler day in winter to visit for the best chance. There's an underwater observatory too. I really enjoy seeing all the animals and learning more about them. I could have spent a whole day here. There is a cafe and gift shop. They have two penny presser so if you are a collector, don't forget to bring some quarters and shiny pennies (the gift shop offer changes too should you need it).

We had a great time as a family here. Take the boat to park and ride the tram back. Our kids enjoyed seeing the hippopotamus, alligators, flamingos, and all the other animals. We went early and it wasn't too busy for us. Also there is lots of shade along the paths to see the animals.

There just isn't anything much to see there. There is a boat and you have to pay $5.00 a person to ride. The boat captain was terrible. Never had to pay for the boat before.

Our vacation just started right Memorial weekend is just starting here in this beautiful place with beautiful hearted people working. I truly enjoyed our time! A place to stay all day specially with little ones! Till next time

Great day trip! It's large and a lot of walking but also tons of shade which makes for a great visit! There are so many different types of animals. There are food options as well as picnic spots if you want to bring your own food. There is a parking lot across the street with plenty of parking. It is stroller friendly so great for all ages!

Great place to and great price! We had a blast seeing all the manatees and animals!! Great gift shop also! Staff was friendly.

Took a little day trip out to the park and we really enjoyed walking around seeing the different exhibits for the birds, manatees, and snakes. It was a great place to walk around and will definitely be back

Amazing place, better than most zoos I've been to, highly recommend for animal lovers. We spoke with a very knowledgeable biologist who told us lots of fun tidbits about the history of the local wildlife. Came for the manatees, luckily saw a dozen wild ones. Then 5 of the rescue girls near the feeding area. Along with sooo many cool birds, red wolves, foxes, jaguars, deer, bobcats, reptiles, and a hippo. I really appreciated that each sign explained how human or environmental interference led to each of the animals ending up there and appreciate there is a place like this for them to live.

What an awesome little wildlife park. Here you can find all the animals found in Florida, plus of course the honarary Hippo. Lu (short for Lucifer) is a retired filmstar and one of the oldest living hippos around. He was made an honorary citizen of Florida to ensure he could remain here until the end of his days. He is very handsome especially for his agae (born in 1960 I believe) You can also find a lot of manatees, a bear, some deer, loads of birds and more. The manatees are a big draw with feedings and informative talks. I believe they also have a rehab center for injured manatees on these grounds. The grounds themselves are reason enough to visit here. Spacious walks through forest like areas. Animal statues, mainly manatee of course, fountains, flowers and so on. Peaceful to stroll through here. It's not a huge park, but nicely done. Don't forget to stop by the snack bar and the gift shop too

What a great little hidden gem. Went with my daughter and another family. We took a boat to get to the main park. Lots of wildlife along the way. It takes about an hour and a half to walk through the park and see everything. There were so many animals out and wild birds that were flying in. Unfortunately we didn't get to see any manatees but pretty much every other animal was out. We went on a rainy late November day. And apparently the water in the Gulf isn't quite cool enough to push the manatees inland. Would love to go back in the winter because I hear thousands of them come in for the warmness of the spring water

Yet another former private roadside attraction that I am so glad that the State of Florida assumed operation of. We went to see manatees, and indeed saw some, yay. I am rooting for manatees. The huge number of fish all slowly swimming in a circle was a sight to see. There was one rebel fish swimming the opposite way, out of several hundred. He does it His Way.

We did not actually go to the park. We kayaked there. If you go to the park, you can only look at the springs with the manatees in them, you cannot swim there. To access this, you have to go either by boat or kayaks. We went via kayaks from our air b n b. We loved our time there, and despite being out of season for the manatees we did encounter two of them. They glided very close to our kayaks and floated beneath them. It was lovely to be a part of nature with them. The waters very clear and cold. We recommend..

While visiting the area we visited, it was a nice half day adventure. Start at the welcome center, there is a fee and extra 3$ if you chose to take the ferry to the start of the trails. They have native and rescued animals. There is an underwater viewing area but the glass is cloudy so visibility is not the best. There are many animals to be seen. Great for children. There is food available or you can bring your own. The trails are shaded and that is a plus. This is a good place to get some local history and support the state park systems.

This is the best $13 you will spend in Crystal River. It's super conveniently located and very easy to find. They have a tram that takes you from the visitor center to the wildlife area. The tram comes about every 15 min. The park closes at 5pm so get there early enough to look at everything. There are quite a few animal exhibits, but the biggest attraction is the manatees and the Fish Bowl, where you can view the creatures underwater. The glass was pretty dirty sadly, so we could really only see out of one side. They have a cafe with snacks and drinks on site and a cute gift shop.

Cool place with a lot to do. They have an area with the history of Homosassa on display. They have a free tram and a boat ride that you pay for. There's an area to see the manatees and many other animals but it was $13 per person to go in, children 6-12 are $5. It's really a good representation of the native Florida wildlife. The manatees are really cool. Everyone that works here is very friendly and helpful. There's two parking lots as well. And a couple cute gift shops and a restaurant called The Grill at Pepper Creek at the visitor center serving breakfast and lunch.

Great place for the family. I think if we did a combined total,we all have been there about 10 times. It's a nature preserve with live animals. Sometimes the bears, birds, reptiles and other animals are active and sometimes they are like " F off , I'm tired today"! Everytime we visit with family , everyone has a great time. The one time we were there the aquarium/ Fish watching area was amazing and beautiful, another time the water was foggy and you couldn't see a lot of fish but we weren't upset...... that's nature! You won't be disappointed!

Great experience well worth the price. Tram runs every 15 minutes boat every 30. Manatee talks at 11 and 1

Been coming since I was a child. There is so much to do there! While I do miss the animals they had in the front building (like the two headed turtle), there is still a lot to see. The underwater viewing area is a lot of fun, and it is always fun to see all the resident animals. The boat tour is also very nice, and worth the extra cost. I last visited in February, and we got to see several wood ducks.

I came here years ago but never got to fully enjoy it because it was raining. Went recently during manatee season, so I got to see a lot of manatees. They also have other animal exhibits that are there yearround including Lu the Hippo, plenty of birds like flamingos and pelicans; otters, a black bear and lots of friendly squirrels. Cam easily spend at least an hour and a half or more here and plenty of wildlife to see and beautiful water views.

Lots of things closed right now but still a pretty cool place with lots to see. Highlights for me were the manatees, Lu the hippo and some cool birds!

Just over an hours drive from Tampa, Homasassa makes a fantastic day-trip destination. The State Park was very enjoyable, with a tram and boat ride plus a nice boardwalk with lots of animals on display in a natural setting. Take the boat ride to get a narrated history of the place. The boat does not have a cover so expect being in the sun for 15 minutes or so. Otherwise, the boardwalk is nice and shady. BTW the hippo has been there since the 1960's, he is not native to Florida but if you learn the history you will find it less concerning.

What an absolutely amazing place to visit! From start to finish, it was amazing! Took the boat over to the animals zoo and took the tram back. All are a well oiled machine! The wildlife is just terrific! Foxes and wolves, and bears, birds, and hippo and manatees! 13 bucks! Well, well worth the money!

A wonderful place, almost certainly as beneficial for animals as it is for the people who come to gawk. A primary mandate for the park is that it serve as a rehabilitation center for injured, mostly native, species. You'll see countless birds in here with damaged wings, and most of the manatees were either injured or orphaned. You can also see a few more exotic animals, holdovers from a different era. You'll see black bears, deer, red wolves, otters, tortoises, and other creatures that showcase the fauna of the region. And you can get up close to the alligators with the peace of mind offered by a secure fence.

Very cool state park that has animals and fish you can take a kid to see. Definitely will go back

D E L I G H T F U L L S U R P R I S E! My friend and I were on our way to Crystal Springs so she could show me the manatees. We were not exactly sure where we were going! We passed this place, and the GIGANTIC manatee statue caught my eye. The big sign behind it said OPEN, then, when I looked back, I saw a boat filled with people! All right, turn around right now!! Turned out it is a State Park, formerly a privately owned roadside attraction zoo. Now, it is a rescue zoo and permanent residence for birds and animals that could not be rehabilitated to return to their natural habitat. We all boarded the ferry like boat that took us down the river to the start of the walking path. A very informative gentleman piloted the craft and pointed out several areas and points of interest. He gave us tips for the rest of our walking tour as well. We also rode the boat back when we were done, but there was a tram like option as well. There is a "snake house" that totally creeped me out, even though they were all fairly small. All sorts of birds, like Bald Eagles, Ibises, whooping cranes, flamingos, tall white birds with maribou on their heads, and many many more that I didn't know the name of. MY favorite was the pink Spoonbill bird. Never saw one before, and they are spectacular! They have several there! In addition, there are alligators, turtles, black bears,wolves, bobcats, deer, and more that I can't remember!! The best part is that this park is fairly clean and well maintained. The layout is very natural, and easy to walk. Unfortunately, we missed the underwater viewing area. Next time. Of course, the main attraction, the manatees, were there as well. Never saw one before!!! Impressive!! Due to the fact that the week before I got there was unseasonably warm, the wild manatees had returned to the Gulf to feed. Next time! We did get a glimpse of Lu, the hippo, and then I couldn't get the "hungry hungry hippo" song out of my mind. All in all, a terrific experience for a Minnesota girl. And I was ok with the fee to get in, as I know how much it cost just to feed all these birds and animals. It is heartwarming to know that many of the staff were volunteers. THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS

Must stop - seriously incredible experience for all ages tram or boat from main lobby area (boat was beautiful ride back for us) manatee feeding watch is a must really kind and knowledgeable staff price is right!

While visiting with us, my niece Keri & her husband Glen, from Minnesota totally enjoyed seeing this great state park. They loved seeing the manatees up close, Lu the 62 year old hippo, one sleepy eyed gator that popped his head above the water and numerous birds. Birds of every kind and color that were a photo taker's dream. It was a wee bit cool for Florida but it is our 'winter' now so we expected it. We still had Florida's blue, blue, cloudless sky above, lush plants and colorful blooming flowers to enjoy. Ahhhhh Florida.

The following is what I observed on 3/6/23: I am deeply concerned about the wildlife (hippo, birds of prey and shorebirds, wolves, fox, bear, river otters, snakes, alligators, bobcats, Florida Panthers, manatees that were supposed to being rehabbed, deer, tortoise, to name a few) that are being housed at the ironically named Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park . The conditions were largely deplorable in terms of cleanliness and prison-like in terms of lack of appropriate space for mammals to be able to just move let alone exercise. The bird enclosures were so filthy it was intolerable to walk by without your lungs and throat burning, and some of birds appear stressed and are plucking their feathers out. You could observe the backbone on the sole hippo, whose aquatic enclosure was small and the water incredibly dirty. A ranger fed the hippo while I was there and it was approximately a half a bale of hay and some grain (sweet feed smelling) which was dumped on the ground and not even in a feed bin or trough and given her advanced age, she seemed to really struggle to eat off the pavement. No animal had any enrichment and although the black bear looked the healthiest of all and happy to amuse himself with a stick, his enclosure was also small and was prevented with barriers from even climbing the trees in the middle of the enclosure. I overheard an employee telling the general public how they play fetch with him and effectively taught him tricks. The wild cats and fox were all passing their fence lines and a one FL panther was kept in an area that was no bigger than a dog kennel that was attached to an outbuilding. For an animal that has a hunting radius of upwards of 200 sq. miles, this was disturbing. The best means for me to describe this facility was the zoo of the clinically depressed. There is little signage, and although a few exhibits stated they the animals were injured or orphaned. Others appeared to be just "attractions" as they were completely enclosed (birds). The osprey were kept in an open pit (as well a Bald Eagle, Hawk, and Crested Cara), that was incredibly small for three birds with no natural features (given they are aquatic birds that obviously do not live on the ground) and I did not observe any drinking water for any of the birds of prey. Those birds seemed stressed as well. I'm sure you get inundated with requests and there is no shortage of cruelty in the world, however, I implore you to find time to look into this facility. It is disturbing that a state park exploits the suffering of wild animals like a roadside circus/animal park. Although they seem to draw the public in under the auspice of rehabilitation, there was nothing but suffering and isolation to be observed

Hands down one of the best places we went on our trip to the area. It's just big enough. We have 3 children ages 8 3 and 1. It was big enough for the 8 year old and easy enough clear down to the 1yo. I will say, come early. The line to get in was LONG and if you are covid nervous, the line does go through an enclosed area. Make sure to go to the underwater area! I took more pictures then I could ever count! Will return!

All the animals are FLORIDA natives except for Lucifer (Lu), the hippopotamus. He lived here before it became a state park. All the animals have some type of injury that prevents them from living in the wild with the exception of Lu and Levi, the whooping crane. He stayed there because he loves Peepers who can't fly. Among the cool things here is how they train the alligators to climb in big metal crates so, that they can transport them elsewhere in case of evacuation. Vultures have a purpose...other than eat garbage and roadkill. A lot of the animals are ambassadors and used in educational programs. The habitats here are just beautiful and peaceful.

Nice small state park for a quick trip. The nature walk is 1/2 a mile. Lots of birds and some other animals to see as well.

This was worth the hour drive and you really do get a good view of a lot of the animals. The website may need a bit of an update since there is now an entrance fee (not a big deal at all) but I also am pretty sure there's another parking lot that's not the visitor center (where you can walk, take the tram or take the boat tour for an extra $2/person). The boat tour was relaxing but seems to run every half hour so can get full quickly. We stopped by the cafe to eat, which took a long time to serve food despite not having full tables. Our food also came out burnt (and I wouldn't recommend the kids hot dog btw). We missed the manatee feeding given it's not at the underwater observatory btw; the crowd looked to be near the tanks on the other side so likely there (?) but it wasn't marked on the map, so be smart and ask unlike us :). Enjoyed the birds and hippo!

So the chicken sandwiches are really good! The waitress was very attentive and very helpful with the menu. The menu has a good selection and it really made the way you want as far as the food goes. The chicken sandwich could have been made three ways, you usually don't get the at restaurants. The chicken sandwich was as big as a softball and I am not exaggerating! The bill was also not that bad, and the iced tea was great. The chef came to the table to ask how the food was and if we enjoyed it and if anything could have been done better. This place is open for breakfast and lunch only, buffet on special event days like Mother's Day and such. Overall, great food and great service, I would recommend this place for sure.

We've been here twice in 2 weeks. Love the variety of animals here and many of them have been rescued. You will love the hippo. He is in his 60's and still going strong. A great family outing.