Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area — Attraction in Punta Gorda

The pay machine doesn’t work for a day pass and you WILL get in trouble for not having one - though they refuse to admit it’s their own outdated pay entry system. I have been coming here for over two years with my dog, friends, family. The ticket system DOESN’T work, yet I still insert my money into the entry box - with no day ticket printed in return. A few weeks ago I was stopped by a young angry, (newly hired) park ranger who told me I needed to leave because I didn’t have a day pass. I explained I always pay and no day pass is printed.

I was so traumatized by his attitude I hesitated to come back to this solace of nature.

When I first arrived here two years ago, there wasn’t so many angry park rangers. I was greeted by happy, older, mature, nature, peace loving gentlemen who simply care about keeping you and nature safe

The new park rangers are akin to angry officers whom don’t have peaceful intentions nor care anything about nature. They are very scary. How can I park here ever again - if I am told without a day pass I can be fined - yet I paid, just no ticket given because their entrance fee/ ticket system needs to be replaced.

I always pay, and never get a day pass. It’s incredibly unacceptable to hire angry men who don’t care about nature, give them wildlife county cars, to bully me around about a payment I already made.

Nature is PEACE. Hire those who adhere to that. Not rangers awaiting transfer to be an angry police officer to punish random people or something, and I love justice. But justice is not punishing random people.

FIX YOUR ENTRANCE FEE TICKET PRINTING so I , and no one else, gets in trouble for PAYING yet BABCOCKS system won’t print them a ticket. Stop bullying nature lovers.

I come here to clean up, praise the lord, walk with my dog, and enjoy NATURE & PEACE. That experience was horrendous and the police had to arrive HERE at such a peaceful nature trail due to the park ranger.

Please make Babcock great again: Clean Ticket system that works Kind rangers who value nature and nature lovers

PS: After my call today to Babcock wildlife center to bring up the ticket not working - I was informed another location had the same issue. So I was put in trouble for THEIR TICKET SYSTEM issue. I called back after the phone transfer didn’t work to the office - and now it says the office is closed though they are open until 7PM. They don’t want to face their mistakes. The truth sets you free. Don’t brush wrong doing under the rug. Something’s gotta give. Don’t cover up bad in your establishment or rangers. Fix it because all of us nature lovers ARE paying for...

I always loved this place (5 stars), Loaded with wildlife, quite and serene. Very disappointed today. Have not been there for about a year. Wife and I packed up a lunch and fishing rods and headed for Babcock/Webb. We were heading to the ponds out off of Tram Grade on the RT 31 end. We went up Seaboard to Tram. After a short distance we ran into a locked gate on Tram. We were very surprised and turned around and went back to Tuckers grade. Went a short distance on Tuckers and again ran into a locked gate. Apparently the whole eastern end of the WMA is now closed to vehicles. Apparently there is no way to get to the ponds and picnic tables unless you walk 10 miles. I don't know why they would close these roads. They were very lightly used during the non hunting season. According to what I've read the roads are now only open during hunting season and cannot be enjoyed during the off season like it has been in the past. Don't know what the FWC is thinking with this one. Love to...

The Babcock/Webb Wildlife Preserve is an amazing spot to bring your family fishing! However, you should keep in mind that there are PLENTY of gators present. So I recommend that you just be mindful of your surroundings and where you’re at.

There are camp sites, parking spots, picnic benches, viewing platforms, and bathroom amenities available. Just please, please, PLEASE pick up after yourselves… especially if you can help it.

I’ve found plenty of discarded fishing line and other junk while fishing. There’s even one pond that has a cast net stuck on a log at the bottom, which I unsuccessfully tried to remove.

Let’s keep our parks beautiful and healthy for future generations to come enjoy!

Entrance fees are $3 per person or $6 per vehicle.

Other than that, safe travels and best of luck...