Flamingo Gardens: A Guide to Wildlife, Botanical Gardens and Things to Do

Flamingo Gardens is open daily at 9:30 a.m., with the last entry at 4 p.m. and closing at 5 p.m. The gardens are closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, with early 4 p.m. closings on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Daily Shows & Keeper Talks
Wildlife Encounter Shows: 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the amphitheater
Keeper Talks: Flamingos at 2 p.m., Otters at 2:30 p.m. (weather permitting)

Step through the entrance and 60 acres unfold around you. Ancient banyan trees create pockets of shade, while free-roaming peacocks wander the grounds. The property has changed considerably since 1927, when it began as a commercial citrus orchard founded by Floyd L. and Jane Wray. Today, it’s home to The Arboretum of Flamingo Gardens, featuring hundreds of native and exotic trees. Of note are 12 towering Florida “Champion” trees, among the largest in the state. 

Pathways wind past bursts of heliconias and bromeliads in vibrant reds and oranges, while thousands of orchids bloom throughout the grounds year-round. Elsewhere, you’ll find fragrance gardens, towering oak trees and a tropical fern collection. Don’t skip the 1,600-square-foot butterfly conservatory, where native butterflies are raised and released, and you can watch the whole life cycle up close.

The grounds also host the Wray Home Museum, a restored 1933 residence that offers a glimpse of life before the region’s rapid development. Your admission covers entry, which can be explored via guided or self-guided tours.
Consider taking the narrated tram tour before continuing your exploration. It winds through 42 remote acres that are not easily reached on foot and resembles what the area would have looked like when Seminole Indians occupied it. The tour runs every 30 minutes from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Flamingo Gardens is home to the Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary, one of South Florida’s largest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facilities for permanently injured or nonreleasable native Florida animals. It’s not something most visitors expect, but it quickly becomes one of the highlights.

It first opened in 1990 with the Bird of Prey Center, which houses owls, falcons, hawks, and both Golden and Bald eagles in naturalistic habitats. The aviary goes even bigger, with over 250 birds representing 45 Florida-native species, displayed across five Everglades ecosystems, from mangrove swamps to cypress forests to sawgrass prairies. Each year, roughly 100 birds are hatched and raised here before being released into the wild.
The American Alligator Habitat lets guests get close to Florida’s native alligators rescued from the illegal pet trade, with several smaller rescues nearby. While the sanctuary cares for river otters, bobcats, parrots, and panthers, the flamingos remain the main attraction. These birds gather around a lush pond with waterfalls, and children can book a Flamingo Encounter to feed them up close. It’s best to reserve in advance, as these experiences sell out and are unavailable during mating season from March through August 15.

The sanctuary’s newest residents are already drawing crowds. In June, Flamingo Gardens welcomed Bentley and Treena, two orphaned American black bear cubs donated by the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve in Georgia after their mother died. Now fully acclimated to their new home, the playful pair is on view for guests, giving visitors a chance to see them explore their habitat and learn more about the sanctuary’s mission of caring for animals that can no longer survive in the wild.

If you’d rather skip the standard self-guided experience, choose from three behind-the-scenes tour options. The first is a three-hour tour that explores the grounds by tram and golf cart, includes a guided visit to the historic Wray Home and botanical collections, and comes with a gift card for lunch or the gift shop.

The second option is a four-hour guided tour that adds a Wildlife Encounter Show, lunch at the Flamingo Cafe and an up-close meeting with one of the sanctuary’s animal ambassadors. Plant enthusiasts may prefer the separate 75-minute VIP Garden Tour, available for groups of up to five people, which explores the full 60 acres by golf cart alongside the Director of Horticulture. Reservations are required at least 10 days in advance, and all tours are limited to five participants.

Flamingo Gardens hosts year-round events and seasonal programming for visitors of all ages, from holiday celebrations and educational exhibits to family-friendly festivals and special wildlife experiences. Before your visit, check the calendar to see what’s happening during your stay, as many events are included with admission or available for an additional fee.

To make the most of your visit, especially during the busy summer months, explore the savings and additional attractions available with the South Florida Adventure Pass, which gets you unlimited admission to Flamingo Gardens plus three other Greater Fort Lauderdale attractions: Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS), Butterfly World and Sawgrass Recreation Park. Each pass is $45 for adults and $35 for kids ages 3-12. It’s an affordable way to pair a visit to Flamingo Gardens with other top family attractions in South Florida.