Florida’s Everglades National Park Is Getting Its First Hotel — Take a Peek Inside
The 24-room lodge will open for stays starting Nov. 1.
Courtesy of Flamingo Lodge
Travelers heading to Florida’s Everglades National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s largest wetlands, can book a stay at the park’s newest — and only — hotel. It will officially open its doors on Nov. 1.
Overlooking the scenic Florida Bay, Flamingo Lodge & Restaurant will feature 24 guest rooms built from repurposed shipping containers, perched on stilts, and raised off the ground with stairs. (Four rooms are ADA-accessible via an elevator.)
The rooms vary from studios to one- and two-bedroom suites that accommodate up to six guests. Each room has a private balcony with seating facing east and tropical decor with plenty of Florida references, such as vivid blues and greens and palm tree prints.
Courtesy of Flamingo Lodge
Courtesy of Flamingo Lodge
“It is an honor to partner with the National Park Service to open the Flamingo Lodge and Restaurant,” Nico Foris, the CEO of Everglades Guest Services, a concessioner of the National Park Service, said in a press release obtained by Travel + Leisure. “We are thrilled to continue our tradition of excellence in hospitality, offering another option at Flamingo in addition to our campsites, eco-tents, and houseboats.”
Guests can enjoy classic South Florida flavors, a full-service bar, and beautiful bay views at the adjacent Flamingo restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Courtesy of Flamingo Lodge
The park’s renamed visitors center, Guy Bradley Visitor Center, welcomed its first guests in July after a multi-year renovation. Hurricanes badly damaged both the center and the 40-year-old lodge, and plans for their reconstruction began in 2018 — this time with rising sea levels and storm protection in mind. The visitor center, now painted a classic Miami pink shade, has several exhibits dedicated to the coastal ecosystem and its residents.
Courtesy of Flamingo Lodge
Courtesy of Flamingo Lodge
The National Park Service will hold an opening ceremony on Oct. 27, which will be open to the public. (You can find the full schedule at nps.gov). Just keep in mind that in order to enter the park, you will need a park pass or pay an entrance fee.
Nightly rates at Flamingo Lodge & Restaurant start from $159 for June through October, and $259 from November through May. You can book your stay at flamingoeverglades.com.
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