T+L’S Flamingo Lodge Study in National Park Everglades Florida

As an alternative to RV or tent camping, visitors to National Park Everglades Florida can now check in Flamingo lodgeHotel accommodation only.

Covering 1.5 million acres, Everglades Florida National Park was established in 1947, initially as a desert park for daily visitors, but local tourist supporters lobbied for overnight accommodation. In response, in 1966, the flamingo lodge opened. The two -storey lodge has 60 units and swimming pools in the ground, and in the next 40 years, the property has become a popular vacation place for local and rural visitors.

Damage from Katrina and Wilma storms forced Lodge to close in 2005, and the structure was eventually demolished in 2009. In the years of proceedings, visitors who want to spend the night in the park can rent a ship, set up a tent, or place their kemping van or RV, but the nearest hotel is about an hour in Florida City.

Flamingo Lodge is finally reopened by the end of 2023 Almost 20 years after his demolition. The Lodge is a public-private partnership between Florida’s Flamingo Adventures and National Park Services, and 24-room property built from long-lasting steel shipping.

“The flamingo area in everglades national park has been an important destination for decades of park visitors looking to explore the nation’s largest subtropical wildness,” said JJ Condella, General Manager of Flamingo Adventures, in an interview with Travel + free time. “The original Flamingo Lodge is a popular place for nearly 40 years, and we are proud to announce a new Lodge – the only hotel in the National Park – together with our National Park Service Partner.”

Being excited to see a new excavation, I arrived at the Florida National Park Everglades on a fresh January evening – my first overnight visit to the spacious park. Although I have lived in Florida for more than two decades, I am a declared glamper and hesitant to camp in the park all overnight until now. As I stayed, I rode in the bay, enjoyed a sunset boat through the swamp, and climbed a quiet path – grateful to return to the hot bathroom and a comfortable bed every night.

If you’ve been thinking about a overnight visit to Florida’s largest National Park, here’s everything you need to know about accommodation at Flamingo Lodge.

Room

My 420 -square -foot bedroom suite has waterproof laminate floors and kitchen with kitchens, refrigerators, and microwaves. The main living room has a compact but comfortable sleeping sofa, workspace, and four ottomans. Although the huts are made from shipping containers, the only trace of industrial materials in the room is a white corrugated metal ceiling.

The rest of the suite features tropical decoration peppy walls teal, lime curtains, and gold palm art prints, and bedrooms are equipped with queen -sized beds and standards for storage. Other guest room choices include the top two bedroom studios and suites at 640 square feet, and although there are no televisions, you are not here to watch TV when there are rocks and wilderness to explore.

Food and drink

Food is served at a 4,000 -square -foot restaurant next to Lodge, and a counter service restaurant has a casual dish influenced by a local florid flavor. Breakfast burritos and smoke salmon bagels complete the morning menu and lunch and dinner menu including coconut shrimp, crispy, and chowder conch soup.

The restaurant also has a choice of, and the chef will grill, fry, or cool the newly caught fish and serve a number of fries, salads, or plantain chips. You can take your food outside the core, and the exterior grill between the accommodation building is available at the first, first serving.

Experience and amenities

Although the new cottage does not have a swimming pool, the surrounding park is a true playground for water activities. Activities can be booked through the National Park Service or Flamingo Adventures, which provides both rent of water equipment and guided tours. On my first morning, I signed up for my kayaking and guidance, Tim Taylor, an experienced garden ranger, gave me a colorful history in the park during our two-hour kayak trip. We were excited about the racing and manatees that slid just a few feet from our kayak and the eagle curved on the water, hunting fish.

I also booked a evening boat visit, which was packed with family, and we floated on the Payau Water Road during the guide to showing Herons, Ibis, and black crocodiles standing perfectly for our photos. The surrounding path is great for biking or walking, and I spend my morning walking around a half -mile around the stop house.

Located just a few feet from Lodge, the Guy Bradley visitor center, named in conjunction with bird conservation, offers an interactive display that tells the story of the first population of the park. Pastel-Pink Art Deco Building reopened in July 2023 after renovations to repair the widespread damage from Irma boys. There is also an outer amphitheater about one mile from the house where the natural talks are conducted several nights a week.

Accessibility and sustainability

Built to withstand the wind of the storm and rise in the sea level, the house is built from steel shipping containers with impacted windows, and the entire structure is elevated on a 13-foot stage, filling the Florida building code for high-cost zones.

“Combining considerations for durability in the face of climate change for both Lodge centers and the new visitor center provides resilience for the convenience of this visitors,” said Allyson Gantt, Head of Communications and Public Affairs, Everglades National Park, in interviews. “We hope Lodge, restaurants, and new visitor centers will encourage more tourists to discover and rediscover this unique public land.”

The visitor center also has new low -flow pipe fixtures, energy -efficient windows, and LED lighting. The property has a solar panel in place (though it is used to heat the bathroom and shower in a nearby eco), and its huts are filled with sustainable and environmentally friendly soaps and shampoo. Four rooms are accessible to roads and elevators.

Location

The Lodge is located in Everglades Park, about two hours from Miami City Center and 45 minutes from the park entrance. You need a car because there is no public transport or transportation to the park, but when you are in Lodge, Restaurant, Visitor Center, and Marina within minutes of walking with each other.

How to get the most value from your stay

Flamingo Lodge is the best for campers who want to retreat at the end of the day. Although there are no bells and bells like spas, gyms, or tennis courts – the lodge only provides a comfortable and easy choice for overnight accommodation.

If you consider the journey of multi -generation camps, older family members may appreciate access to air conditioning, warm rain, and clean sheets (daily housekeeping can be found on demand), and Lodge will appeal to travelers who prefer to slide on lodging in tents or RVs.

You can enjoy lower rates during the high season of Florida; The rate starts at $ 159 from June to October and starts at $ 259 in the high season November to May. There is a maximum limit of 14 days for accommodation, and garden entrance fees are required to enter the National Park Everglades to access Flamingo Lodge and restaurants. Bookings can only be made by phone (855-708-2207) or through Lodge’s official website.

The T+L hotel study was written by an editor or journalist who had been staying on the property, and each hotel was selected in line with us Core value.