Corey Billie's Airboat Rides — Local services in Marco Island

My experiences here since 2011 have always been great!!! We have been back several times more recently 2 years ago with our kids and cousins. Today was different, disappointing to say the least. My husband and I brought his daughter and 2 of her children. They were nervous about the boat ride but excited about touching an alligator. We had spoken with 2 lovely ladies at the front desk explained the children were nervous about the boat ride could we learn about the gators and could the kids take a picture with it. After buying souvenirs and With permission we walked to the back to talk w Pat about the children taking a picture with the alligator. Pat was giving a brief education to the family who had ridden the boat and we stood around to listen and for the children to take a picture. After he gave the family before us their time to hold the alligator and our children were standing on the steps waiting their turn quietly and patiently. Pat asked again if we rode the boat I explained the situation abruptly put the alligator away and hurried off mumbling he needed to have a talk with those girls. Maybe Pat was having a bad day… but the disappointment on the kids faces I not my husband will not forget. Clearly it was about spending the money on a boat ride, although then I tried to get a reservation that would be for hours later. Funny because after I then asked Pat again if 4 of us ride would he let the youngest kids who were scared and not going to ride, take a picture … he said sure…. Needless to say that was our last time visiting or recommending BC again. Thankful for all the other polite...

The airboat ride itself was entertaining. We had a great time gliding through the Everglades, saw some alligators and birds, and the captain was enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the area. The cost ($40 per person) seemed a bit pricy for a 45 minute boat ride, but this is par for the course for a tourist attraction. The reason I'm only giving 2 stars is because Corey Billie's needs to invest in better equipment/air boats. Half way through our ride the boat's engine started to smoke and the boat could no longer be driven. Thankfully the boat did not catch fire, but what would have happened if it did in alligator infested waters? We drifted in the water for over 30 minutes in the hot August Florida sun. Another boat came to the rescue, but this boat also would not start. The captain left us to get another boat and we were just drifting in the water and eventually crashed into the mangroves (which we were earlier told were home to snakes). The boat didn't have an anchor so we were constantly drifting around waiting for the rescue boat. Once we finally were on a working boat we went back to the loading station, but I feel we did not receive the entire 45 minute ride we paid for because of the break down - there were other people waiting for the next ride because this company tries to get as many customers as they can in the least amount of time possible not taking the customer's experience into consideration. Later I was told a few days earlier a boat broke down 3 times with one group. This company really needs to fix their equipment or invest in better boats. This ruined the...

As a local true born Floridian, it’s hard to impress us when it comes to local stuff… Welp, when I tell you I was flabbergasted by my experience here it’s not a stretch. The staff at the ticket office is friendly and welcoming, expectations are clear from the start and so are the prices.

We were fortunate to have gotten “captain Josh” another true born Floridian. Request this man if you’d like to experience hair pin turns, wide open throttle on the straights (and sometimes through the mangroves 🤫🤣) and at moments saying wtf out loud ( no one can hear you over the roar of the big block) with pure adrenaline driven excitement, then again, captain Josh is your guy.

AFTER and only AFTER (Please read the damn sigh so this man doesn’t have to repeat 1,642,687 times a day “back over there till you’ve gone on your airboat ride” or “read the sign”), you’ve had your fun on the airboats go see “Pat”, I feel like is everyone’s uncle in a way, dude is just a down to earth man who loves gators, America and teaching folks about gators.

Anyone on the fence about going on an airboat ride here, please understand I’m not someone who takes the time to write reviews, cause I usually genuinely don’t care.. but, these guys deserve every word of this review. I will also be coming back with my family soon to do a private tour because the airboat rides by us (2 hours East) are boring as hell.

In captain Josh’s words: “I drive this boat more than I do my own damn truck” 🙌🏼🏆

P.s. TIP YOUR F**KING...