Flamingo Gardens

Flamingo Gardens is a 60-acre nonprofit botanical garden, Everglades wildlife sanctuary, and historic landmark located at 3750 South Flamingo Road in western Davie, Florida, roughly 20 minutes west of Fort Lauderdale. Founded in 1927 by pioneer horticulturalists Floyd L. and Jane Wray as the Flamingo Groves citrus orchard and tropical plant research facility, it is one of the oldest botanical attractions in South Florida. Today, the sanctuary houses over 3,000 species of rare, exotic, and native tropical and subtropical plants alongside more than 90 species of native Florida wildlife—most of which are permanently injured, non-releasable animals rescued from across the region. Travelers visit to walk through a 25,000-square-foot free-flight aviary, view massive 200-year-old live oak hammocks, tour the 1933 Wray Home Museum, and ride a narrated tram through preserved wetlands and historic fruit groves.

What to Expect at Flamingo Gardens

The property is divided into two main zones: the walk-through front arboretum and wildlife sanctuary, and the back 45 acres of tropical rainforest, native hammock, and wetlands explored by narrated tram. Within the pedestrian grounds, brick and paved pathways wind beneath several of the largest trees recorded in the Florida Champion Tree register, including towering live oaks, earleaf acacias, and cluster figs. The Arboretum showcases specialized botanical zones such as a Fragrance Garden, Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden, Croton Garden, Bromeliad and Orchid trails, and Cycad collections. Interwoven through these shaded pathways are naturalistic animal habitats housing American black bears, a Florida panther, bobcats, North American river otters, American alligators, sea-faring pelicans, peacocks that roam freely across the lawns, and the signature Caribbean flamingos wading around a central lagoon.

In addition to self-guided trails, visitors can attend scheduled daily educational programs at the Mary N. Porter Learning Center and outdoor amphitheater. Wildlife Care specialists conduct the popular Wildlife Encounter Show multiple times a day, introducing ambassador reptiles, birds of prey, and mammals while explaining conservation challenges in the Greater Everglades ecosystem. Keepers also host scheduled public feedings at the River Otter and Flamingo exhibits, and guests can purchase food pellets to hand-feed the resident flock at designated times. For dining on site, the Flamingo Pond Cafe and Tropical Marketplace serve grilled sandwiches, salads, tropical fruit smoothies, and cold drinks on shaded outdoor picnic tables overlooking the flamingo lagoon.

• Everglades Free-Flight Aviary: A 25,000-square-foot walk-through netted sanctuary recreating five native Florida coastal, prairie, and cypress swamp ecosystems, holding over 250 wading and water birds representing more than 45 native species, including roseate spoonbills, wood storks, and white ibises.
• Wray Home Museum: Built in 1933 by Floyd and Jane Wray as a weekend country residence, this restored two-story historic house museum displays original Art Deco and Depression-era furnishings, vintage books, and archival photographs illustrating agricultural life in Broward County during the 1930s.
• Narrated Tram Tour: Included with general admission, this 25-minute guided tractor-tram ride departs every 30 minutes and travels into the back acreage through a preserved native hammock, tropical rainforest collection, wetland marshes, and historical citrus groves.
• Champion Tree Hammock: A centuries-old hardwood hammock containing 20 state-designated Florida Champion Trees—the largest known specimens of their species in the state—offering dense canopy shade even during summer afternoons.
• River Otter, Black Bear & Panther Habitats: Dedicated conservation enclosures featuring underwater viewing windows for playful North American river otters, a shaded rocky enclosure for Josh the American black bear, and an educational sanctuary for a rescued Florida panther and bobcats.

Flamingo Gardens at a Glance

Visiting Tips, Getting There & Nearby Pairings

Arrive between 9:30 AM and 10:00 AM to experience cooler morning temperatures and higher animal activity, especially around the river otter habitat, black bear enclosure, and free-flight aviary. Upon entering, pick up the daily schedule at the ticket booth to time your loop around the Wildlife Encounter Show (typically held at 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3:00 PM) and the narrated tram tour, which runs from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM. Getting to Flamingo Gardens is simplest by car: take Interstate 595 West to Exit 1B (Flamingo Road / State Road 823) and drive three miles south; a large, free surface parking lot sits directly outside the main entrance and gift shop. Visitors should pack reef-safe sunscreen and insect repellent, particularly after summer rain showers when mosquitoes gather near the back wetlands.

The botanical garden and sanctuary paths are paved or hard-packed and fully accessible for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and strollers. The narrated tram includes a dedicated wheelchair-accessible car, the first floor of the Wray Home Museum is step-free, and both traditional wheelchairs and electric scooters can be rented at the Welcome Center on a first-come, first-served basis. After your visit, pair Flamingo Gardens with nearby stops in Davie and Weston: Tree Tops Park (5 minutes east on Griffin Road) features elevated boardwalks through freshwater marshes and horseback riding trails, Vista View Park (5 minutes south) offers panoramic views from the highest man-made hill in Broward County, and Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise lies 12 minutes north along Flamingo Road for shopping and dining.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the operating hours and the best time of day to visit Flamingo Gardens?

Flamingo Gardens is open seven days a week from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with the ticket booth closing at 4:00 PM. The best time to arrive is right at 9:30 AM opening, when the resident panthers, bears, and river otters are most active and before midday humidity peaks. Winter and spring (November through April) bring the mildest weather and peak dry-season bird activity.

How much do tickets cost, and is the tram tour included in admission?

General admission is approximately $24 for adults (ages 12+), $17 for children (ages 3–11), and free for toddlers aged 2 and under, with discounts available for seniors, college students, and military personnel. Both the 25-minute narrated tram tour through the back 45 acres and entry to the historic Wray Home Museum and Wildlife Encounter Shows are included in the standard ticket price. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online via flamingogardens.org.

How much time should I budget for a full visit to Flamingo Gardens?

Most visitors spend 2.5 to 3.5 hours exploring the property. That timeframe allows you to take the 25-minute narrated tram ride, watch a 25-minute Wildlife Encounter Show, tour the Wray Home Museum, walk slowly through the 25,000-square-foot Everglades Aviary, and have lunch at the Flamingo Pond Cafe.

Is Flamingo Gardens wheelchair and stroller friendly, and can we bring outside food?

Yes, the pathways throughout the arboretum and aviary are paved and flat, making them easy to navigate with strollers and wheelchairs, and the tram includes a wheelchair-accessible ramp car. Outside food, coolers, and pets are not permitted inside the sanctuary gates, though guests can use picnic tables outside the entrance or dine at the on-site Flamingo Pond Cafe and snack bar.

When planning your Pembroke Pines travel guide or comparing verified attractions and nature preserve in Pembroke Pines, pair this stop with standout local spots including The Juicy Crab, Vista View Park, Brio Italian Grille, and Long Key Natural Area & Nature Center (1.1 km away).