Big Cypress Oasis Visitor Center — Attraction in Everglades City

We visited at opening on a Saturday morning in Dec 2024. There were already a couple cars in the parking lot. If you arrive before they open, you can hike the boardwalk they have out front.

There was soo much wildlife concentrated on this little ditch that ran the length of 41. I stopped counting how many alligators I saw. Tons of birds and fish as well. If you were unlucky and unable to see a alligator anywhere in the everglades, I can't imagine showing up here and NOT seeing a alligator. A ranger came out and talked to us about them. It was very cool. Worth a stop for sure if you're traveling through on 41.

There was a number of small exhibits when you enter focused around Native Americans. To the right is the NPS store and then even further to the right is their small theater with video.

The NPS Cancellation Stamp was available at the info desk right as you walk in and we also grabbed a Junior Ranger to work on. Unfortunately they did not have any of the patches as this was our last junior ranger to receive the special patch for Biscayne, Everglades and Big Cypress. We were also told by the ranger that the Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center was also out of the patch because he had just been there the day before and gave out the last one. He said we could email them and they would mail one out to us. We saw them at Everglades Ernst Coe Visitor Center and the Biscayne Dante Fascell Visitor Center so that was unfortunate.

We stayed for about 30 mins in the visitor center so the kids could finish their junior ranger. Then we headed to the Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center.

We did have a problem buying merch at the NPS store. The staff member accidentally over charged us and seemed very unfamiliar with the system. After a lot of back and forth and funky math we got our refund in a very untraditional process. I'd say check your pricing before you scan your...

Just a wonderful spot that has been allowed to physically deteriorate due to poor management choices. The amazing opportunity to view stunningly beautiful Florida Everglades wildlife is being compromised by a neglected physical plant.

This spectacular roadside stop highlights the failure of our governmental system that has zero accountability to its customers, the taxpayers. Although the docents are devoted, and the designers built a magical experience, clearly there is no pride in this amazing place by the managers or maintenance employees.

There is a great deal of money being spent on road access and surrounding areas but the highlight feature (the boardwalk where alligators, water birds and fish can be viewed close up) is dirty and falling apart, the signs are faded, the building looks dilapidated because it hasn’t been cleaned or painted for far too long, the rest rooms are dirty and smelly and even the EV charger has been broken for months.

It’s an example of shameful stewardship of a magnificent location that we all own.

I hope the management team gets replaced soon with people that care about physical appearance and usability for the visitors, before this roadside jewel becomes unusable due to neglect.

We are in the US and yet I’ve seen many far better maintained park attractions in very poor global south nations where people actually care about their national treasures. I visit Oasis regularly, and often hear a combination of awe at seeing the wildlife, mixed with confusion over the condition of the attraction. As an American, it is embarrassing to hear this from our international visitors.

Poor maintenance is a choice, not forced by budget. If you hear that from the people who run it, know that it is just an excuse for...

I had planned a trip out into big cypress to finish off my 8yo daughters spring break strong. I had planned on 14 miles of amazing Florida wilderness and an incredible dad/daughter bonding trip. What I had not planned on was an incredible experience with a ranger at oasis visitor center. Athena Gonzalez made the experience go from incredible to flat out amazing. She took the time to actually talk with my daughter, ask her questions and engage her thoughts about nature and just what we were doing there. She went out of her way to set us off with a picture to start the trip, an amazing app to identify plant species, and a junior ranger program that sparked my daughters imagination and desire for the outdoors. When we returned after our over night trip she yelled out to us as we passed the doors and when we returned inside to finish her ranger program activities she made an impression on my daughter that I know she will never forget. She swore her in as an official junior ranger, stamped and signed her off, and gave her the badge that is a priceless trophy to my daughter. When we walked out of the visitor center the first thing my daughter said was “I want to be a ranger just like her!”

I can’t begin to explain the enthusiasm and excitement she’s had ever since the trip and meeting Ranger Gonzalez. All I can say is thank you so much, you made a difference and may have even set a little girl on a path to being a ranger! We need more people like Ranger Gonzalez around, the world would be a much better...