Everglades National Park’s New Flamingo Lodge Now Open
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK — The all-new 24-unit Flamingo Lodge at Everglades National Park is now open for guests. The park’s Flamingo area is located within Monroe County, which encompasses the Florida Keys island chain.
The Flamingo Lodge features contemporary boutique-style studios and one- and two-bedroom suites with kitchenettes and balconies overlooking scenic Florida Bay.
The adjacent stand-alone Flamingo Restaurant, scheduled to open in December, is to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with South Florida fare and libations from a full-service bar.
“Flamingo is back to life. Flamingo is now a world-class destination — a world-class destination we can all be proud of,” said Pedro Ramos, superintendent of Everglades and Dry Tortugas national parks, during recent celebratory festivities.
The all-new Miami Modern-style facilities, with Art Deco elements, are built from elevated and enhanced climate-resistant modified shipping containers. The lodge includes eight two-bedroom suites that each accommodate up to six guests, 12 one-bedroom suites for up to four, and four studios for two. Four ADA units can be accessed by a walkway and elevator.
Each unit has a balcony facing east for viewing sunrises and sunsets over Florida Bay, as well as full baths and kitchenettes with microwave and coffee maker.
“Development of these 24 lodge rooms and a 4,000-square-foot restaurant is a testament to the vision, hard work and dedication of many, many people over the last five years,” said Nico Foris, chief executive officer of authorized concessionaire Guest Services Inc.
The original Flamingo Lodge opened in the mid-1960s for the National Park Service’s 50th anniversary, but has been closed for more than 18 years after sustaining storm damage.
The park’s Flamingo area is a 50-minute drive from its South Florida entrance in Homestead, Florida, and an approximately 90-minute drive from Key Largo, Florida.
The area’s fully renovated pink Guy Bradley Visitor Center, featuring 6,000 square feet of interactive nature and art exhibits and expansive views of Florida Bay, reopened in July and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A Florida National Parks Association bookstore sells books and Everglades souvenirs.
The center is dedicated to Bradley, an Audubon game warden shot and killed in 1905 while protecting wading birds from plume hunters who preyed on them for feathers used to decorate women’s hats.
“That event crystalized the conservation movement throughout the world,” Ramos said.
Everglades National Park, the United States’ largest subtropical wilderness, is designated a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, a Wetland of International Importance and a Cartagena Treaty specially protected area. The park’s 75th anniversary was celebrated Dec. 3, 2022.
The 2,400-square-mile park — famous for wildlife such as the manatee, American crocodile and Florida panther — is also home to more than 300 bird species. The continental United States’ third-largest national park, Everglades is popular for activities including sport fishing and star gazing.
Flamingo Lodge rates range from $259 to $399 per night plus tax through May 2024 and from $159 to $299 per night from June through October 2024, with a 14-day maximum stay.
Park entrance fee is $30 per vehicle for up to seven days.
Boat slips, boat and houseboat rentals, and gasoline are available at the on-site Flamingo Marina and Store. Other rentals include 20 eco-platform or “glamping” tents, campsites, kayaks, canoes and bikes. Among adventures are backcountry and Florida Bay boat tours.
Visit flamingoeverglades.com/
Everglades National Park visitor information: nps.gov/ever/index.htm
Key Largo visitor information: fla-keys.com/keylargo or 800-822-1088
Florida Keys visitor information: fla-keys.com or 1-800-FLA-KEYS
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