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Parrot Jungle
A most unusual attraction, the Parrot Jungle in Miami Florida was opened in 1936 by a curious man named Franz Scherr.  Franz came to America in 1911 and was possessed of a love for nature and wild life. After going through many trials and tribulations, including surviving the depression by living of the land, Franz finally purchased a feed and supply store in Homestead, Florida. This was the beginning of the crazy idea that would one day turn into Miami's hottest tourist attraction. By studying the behavior of the birds he had in his store, the idea to open an attraction where the birds would "fly free" occurred to him, and he started working on it. He has a 20-acre land in South Miami and began building his simple yet extraordinary park. Starting with just 25 Macaws from Laredo, Texas, the park opened its doors to the public on December 20th 1936. It received about 100 visitors. Today the park has grown tremendously both in size and popularity. It is now home to 1,100 tropical birds and 2000 varieties of plants and flowers. The Parrot Jungle is open daily from 9.30am to 6pm. As times change, so have the park and its surroundings. Since the area is being overrun by residential construction, the park owners have decided to move it to a more terrific location, at Watson Island, right smack in downtown Miami! The move is planned for 2003, so make sure you plan your vacations to Florida in time to witness the park's magnificent re-opening. The island is located on the Mac Arthur causeway (I-395). The new and improved Parrot Jungle will occupy an 18.6 acre land and includes additional attractions such as the Jungle Dock, a Serpentarium, Jungle Theater, Flamingo Lake and much more.
The Serpentarium holds a 500-seat theater for reptile shows, educational programs and various seminars.  The Jungle Theater is a newly designed covered amphitheater that will seat 800 people. You will be able to watch the in-house wildlife shows, as well as touring shows and special presentations. There is also a café for indoor and outdoor dining called the Flamingo Café, overlooking the gorgeous Flamingo Lake. They will also be maintaining such exhibits as the Parrot Bowl and the Everglades Exhibit. A brand new Picnic Ground has already been designed to accommodate family and children activities. One of the greatest things about Parrot Jungle is its non zoo like atmosphere and this is what attracts their visitors to come back again and again. The parrots are released every morning to fly free and they never stray more than about a quarter of a mile away from the park, returning again at dusk. The atmosphere and liveliness of the surroundings make the park a great place to take your kids. Be sure to check out the Parrot and Snake Photo Opportunities, and take the chance to pose with a live Boa! There are also hands-on experiences such a feeding time where the kids are allowed to feed the birds and experience close proximity to these magnificent flyers. Among the shows offered by the park are Monkey See, Monkey Do, Petting Zoo and the Parrot Show of course. Adult admission is $15.95 plus tax, child admission (ages 3-10) is $11.95 plus tax and children under 3 are free. Although some consider the admission fees to be rather high, considering the excellent condition of the park and all its inhabitants, it is a worthy contribution to the preservation of a historical and beautiful park. The park is so popular and well known, there are even books written about it!
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Writer: Sunita D.
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Nearby Spots: Seaquarium · Vizcaya Musuem and Gardens ···
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