The Everglades Alligator Farm is known as South Florida’s oldest alligator farm! Alligator farming began in the 1980s due to poaching in the 1950s, making alligators nearly extinct! The Everglades Alligator Farm takes in nuisance alligators (alligators that are found in pools and backyards) and gives them a place to call home, but the Everglades Alligator Farm is not just an alligator farm; it is home to many animals such as foxes, bobcats, different species of birds, snakes, reptiles, and so much more you have to check out! There is even a chance to feed an emu for $3 a bag! There are three main packages to choose from; the biggest and most expensive is the Alligator Encounter ($80 for adults, $67 for kids 6-11), which is a 40-60 minute tour where you get to hold different size gators from hatchlings to 4-foot gators, and you get to feed alligators up to 13 feet! This tour is great for adventure seekers and people who want to learn more about the gators and interact with them! This tour is available for ages 6 and up and groups of 8, so be sure to book online to secure your spot! The second package, and the most popular, is the General Admission with the airboat ($39 for adults, $29 for kids); this includes the airboat, two shows, a handling show, and a feeding show, and a chance to hold a baby alligator! The last package is the General Admission ($29 for adults, $23 for kids) without the boat. With this package, you still get the shows and an opportunity to hold a baby gator! If you’re looking to stay dry, this is definitely the package I would recommend! The airboat rides are a great way to have fun and catch a glimpse of the Everglades. If you have small children, please be wary, as the airboat ride is fast and loud! The airboat ride is a 20-minute ride where the first 10 minutes are slow, and the last 10 minutes are fast and include 180-degree spins! Each of the shows is 10 minutes long, but they are action-packed! The show staff is so informative and nice! As far as food, the Everglades Alligator Farm has a food truck on-site where they sell gator bites and finger foods such as hotdogs, hamburgers, and chicken tenders with fries. The food truck pricing is kind of pricey, so make other arrangements if you don’t want to pay too much. On the property, there is a gift shop that has a great variety of merchandise from teaspoons and t-shirts to toys and plushies that won’t break the bank! The Everglades Alligator Farm is definitely a hidden gem you will want to check out if you’re down south! I would definitely go again and we would rate it a 9/10! If they had an actual restaurant on site that isn’t too pricey, it would be a 10/10!
