Overview: The name might seem odd at first for a place in the middle of Broward County. But it wasn't all that long ago that Long Key was an island, part of a small chain in the River of Grass. Of course that was before Gov. Bonaparte Broward, the county's namesake, decided to drain as much of the Everglades as he possibly could. There's not much that's island-like now, but there is a restored wetland and a hardwood hammock filled with some of the most magnificient live oak trees in South Florida.
It is a nature center, as it says in the name, but it also in part a community center with a large hall for events, and part history center that keeps alive the cultures that have lived here for thousands of year, from the Tequestas to the Seminoles to the white settlers who made a living here during the first half of the 20th century.
The area provides habitat for for birds, foxes and bobcats. And butterflies. Lots of butterflies. Long Key Nature Center is a butterfly sanctuary and hosts a host of butterfly species. The park is 170.4 acres situated off Flamingo Road. Long Key offers short hiking trails that are generally easy walks, and some equestrian trails.
History: In part, the story of Long Key Nature Center is the story of water, which is the story of Florida itself. Go back to the 19th century and this land was a part of Sam Jones's Seven Islands, ridges high and dry surrounded by the swamps and marshes of the Everglades. Humans inhabited these islands as far back as 1,500 to 2,000 years ago, by the Tequesta tribe and later by the Seminoles, Sam Jones being a Seminole chief.
In the 20th century, the push to drain Florida went into high gear, and the Seven Islands were Islands no more. White settlers turned the land into citrus groves; In the 1950s, this was the site of the Kapok Tree Inn, which became a landmark for tourists and Broward County residents alike. The Kapok Tree closed in 1988, and Broward County acquired the land. Long Key Nature Center opened in 2008.
What You'll See: Probably the thing that struck us the most is the sheer number of butterflies and butterfly species we found on site, including rare atalas and malachites. This place is almost Butterfly World without the admission fee (and of course without quite the extensive and exotic species list). We spotted dozens of swallowtails, including our favorite, the palamedes swallowtail, monarchs, daggerwings, zebras and whites without trying hard.
Amenities: There's plenty of parking, drinking water and restrooms. There is the nature center with exhibits and a hall that can be rented for weddings, meeting and the like. The one drawback: the hours — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. most days of the year — which limits access for many people during the week.
Nearby: Tree Tops Park and Pine Island Ridge Natural Area lie to the east; Vista Vue Park and its burrowing owls is to the west. Both, we're guessing, are about a five- or ten-minute drive away, depending on traffic.
Links: The Friends of Long Key can be found here. The Institute for Regional Conservation has no data for Long Key Nature Center, and it is not listed by the Great Florida Birding Trail.
Of Note: Admission is free. Long Key Nature Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day of the week.
Cover Photo: A green heron perches amid the wetlands south of the nature center building as he forages for breakfast. Second photo: A zebra longwing nectaring on shinyleaf wild coffee. The zebra is one of many butterfly species at Long Key Nature Center, which is a butterfly sanctuary.
It is a nature center, as it says in the name, but it also in part a community center with a large hall for events, and part history center that keeps alive the cultures that have lived here for thousands of year, from the Tequestas to the Seminoles to the white settlers who made a living here during the first half of the 20th century.
The area provides habitat for for birds, foxes and bobcats. And butterflies. Lots of butterflies. Long Key Nature Center is a butterfly sanctuary and hosts a host of butterfly species. The park is 170.4 acres situated off Flamingo Road. Long Key offers short hiking trails that are generally easy walks, and some equestrian trails.
History: In part, the story of Long Key Nature Center is the story of water, which is the story of Florida itself. Go back to the 19th century and this land was a part of Sam Jones's Seven Islands, ridges high and dry surrounded by the swamps and marshes of the Everglades. Humans inhabited these islands as far back as 1,500 to 2,000 years ago, by the Tequesta tribe and later by the Seminoles, Sam Jones being a Seminole chief.
In the 20th century, the push to drain Florida went into high gear, and the Seven Islands were Islands no more. White settlers turned the land into citrus groves; In the 1950s, this was the site of the Kapok Tree Inn, which became a landmark for tourists and Broward County residents alike. The Kapok Tree closed in 1988, and Broward County acquired the land. Long Key Nature Center opened in 2008.
What You'll See: Probably the thing that struck us the most is the sheer number of butterflies and butterfly species we found on site, including rare atalas and malachites. This place is almost Butterfly World without the admission fee (and of course without quite the extensive and exotic species list). We spotted dozens of swallowtails, including our favorite, the palamedes swallowtail, monarchs, daggerwings, zebras and whites without trying hard.
Amenities: There's plenty of parking, drinking water and restrooms. There is the nature center with exhibits and a hall that can be rented for weddings, meeting and the like. The one drawback: the hours — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. most days of the year — which limits access for many people during the week.
Nearby: Tree Tops Park and Pine Island Ridge Natural Area lie to the east; Vista Vue Park and its burrowing owls is to the west. Both, we're guessing, are about a five- or ten-minute drive away, depending on traffic.
Links: The Friends of Long Key can be found here. The Institute for Regional Conservation has no data for Long Key Nature Center, and it is not listed by the Great Florida Birding Trail.
Of Note: Admission is free. Long Key Nature Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day of the week.
Cover Photo: A green heron perches amid the wetlands south of the nature center building as he forages for breakfast. Second photo: A zebra longwing nectaring on shinyleaf wild coffee. The zebra is one of many butterfly species at Long Key Nature Center, which is a butterfly sanctuary.
