Live Your Best Lives
Babcock Ranch Preserve Reviews
4.6
5 of 48 Best Attractions in Punta Gorda
Reviews
Great way to spend 2 hours in very diverse Florida terrain seeing dozens of animals from wild pigs, alligators, to many types of birds. The driver tour guide was very professional in every respect. The ranch location is a little remote and hard to find so give yourself an extra 15 minutes of travel time. The complex itself consist of several interesting buildings. Certainly worth the money.☺☺
Lots of native wildlife including deer, turkey, alligators and much more.
Good to see a working ranch and wildlife. The ride was about an hour or so and we saw alligators,big and tiny babies and even got to pet one, white tail deer and babies and a big cat. The bears and boars were hidding though. Beautiful ranch with many horses, cows, bulls and calfs. Our driver was nice and very entertaining along with knowledge of the environment there. Great place to take the kids (we didn't have any with us) but with all of the wildlife you see it should not be boring for them. Don't go on a rainy day because all of the windows on the vehicle are open air. There is a little restaurant, burgers,fries and alligator bites. It was not open the day we were there Sunday (in season) and that was a surprise but we went to Laisley Crab House after anyway. Yum. There is a small gift shop. Worth the 30 minute drive from the Cape.
We loved our early-morning swamp buggy (bus) tour! Michelle was our guide; she is knowledgeable, fun, and has a great sense of humor. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. What a great way to see our state's interior regions and the precious wildlife that rely on this land. Several ecosystems to learn about on a 90-minute tour. Highly recommend!!
Make a reservation! Take your guests there for a fun family time.Ride thru the different earth zones of fl and see many animals. Great for kids and adults alike.
We took our family visitors on a guided tour of Babcock Ranch. Our guide was well informed and very good at describing the activities, ranching operations and livestock. She showed us a lot of native wildlife such as wild pigs, alligators, deer, wild turkeys. We stopped several times while she described the history of the ranch. A great job of describing early Florida life.
The Babcock Ranch is located north of Fort Myers on what was a 98,000 acre private cattle ranch. Today it is still working but under the guiding hand of Florida State parks.
You will find it off SR-31 8 miles north of Palm Beach Blvd. Babcock offers walking and everglades bus tours back in time. Excellent for all ages.However, you must be able to transfer to the connverted school bus for the 2 hour tour. Snack and gift shop available on site.
After your Babcock tour take a drive 9 miles further north on SR-31 and watch on the west side of the road for the bisson (Buffalo) herd that contains hundreds of mature and young North American Bisson. This herd looks larger the famous Black Hills, SD herd. A real glimpse into our historical past living today.
This is a very authentic tour appropriate for
All ages. It is worth the ride out to the ranch. The tour bus is a fun and the guide is very informative.
Knowledgeable staff and a fun, Friendly atmosphere with some hands on experiences, especially for young children.
My family took this tour with a 16 year old and a 10 year old. We took the special tour with dinner, stories from those working on the ranch, and then a bus trip through the area. We saw wild hogs, alligators, and a variety of birds. The tour guides were extremely knowledgeable on the plant life and wildlife in SW Florida. In addition, despite going at a "dry" time, we could easily see the "wet" season and the impact. My kids found it interesting - and there's a special surprise (which I don't want to spoil) that really leaves an impact with a certain animal (at least for our tour). A great way to spend a few hours with managed wilderness not far from civilization.
This was amazing there was so much wildlife and history to see. The workers were vary nice and it was an amazing experience
This is a place we often take guests to, especially during the dry season, when more alligators are visible. We especially like the wild pigs and the baby alligator housed on the back of the swamp buggy.
All we saw on the bus ride were turkey, alligators, and cattle (could've seen turkey and cattle anywhere for free). There was no cougar, but they are trying to capture one to lock up in a cage (how inhumane!). The whole place is rundown. Overall this place is way overrated and way overpriced.
I am about to go on my third trip there and I am so looking forward to it. There is so much to see and experience for all ages. The tour guides are so friendly and extremely knowledgeable. It is well worth the cost!!!
This area is amazing, with an unexpected abundance of water (large, meandering lake) and miles of scenic drive. Quite surprised at the lack of people - we nearly had the Preserve to ourselves save for one or two fishermen. Great place to relax or have a picnic. Bring your camera.
I absolutely loved this experience and only wish that I had been able to bring my grandkids...and that I hadn't eaten a big breakfast!
My 90 minute bumpy (holes in the dirt road covered by recent rain water so unavoidable) ride in the old school bus was with Shark Tooth Stephan. He is native to the area and able to answer every question about the animals we saw, the environment, history of the rance, etc...
I felt like the tour had enough info to keep adults happy and enough to see to keep kids entertained (none on our trip--a weekday). Just an FYI: the panther is no longer living (lived to a ripe old age). I saw plenty of alligators, various birds, cattle, drove through a few different ecosystems, and touched a couple of young alligators, He did mention there are some beautiful spring flowers--I'd love to go back during a drier time!
When we got back, the smells were amazing! apparently, they smoke ribs on the weekends! I was still too full from breakfast unfortunately.
Great tour of the SW Florida eco system. Rhonda, our guide had so much knowledge of the preserve and the history of Babcock Ranch that I wished I took notes. This is a must do for your out-of-town guests.
Great experience. Tour guide was very knowledgeable. Very informative. A hidden gem. Great for kids too! Your is on a converted school bus. You need to be able to climb steps
A few model homes and lots available for new home building. They are in the early building stage. It was a shorter drive to shopping etc than I thought it would be so good location.
My husband and myself visited Babcock Ranch about 15 years ago. We enjoyed it and saw a wide variety of wildlife. We really like riding in that big truck with the big wheels. Flowers and trees were very pretty too along the ride.
We took our friends out on the bus tour (with 4 small kids) and had a great time. It was very informative and the kids thought all of the animals were very cool. It is a nice little trip, which takes you into places you didn't really know much about here in SW Florida. They always have great deals on Groupon, so if you plan to go, check there for cheap tickets!
Babcock Wildlife Adventure is middle of nowhere. Bit difficult to find - the signs are too small for tourists. Please make them bigger !
We were well served and this is a very good quick look for Floridan wildlife and nature. You will be driving with a camouflage school bus and driver will stop every now and then for letting you take photos. We saw alligators, cows, horses, cougars and all kinds of birds - real swamp with water and without. Narration was informative and humorous - we had many good laughs.
There is a restaurant at the starting/arriving point together with souvenir shop.
I would recommend this adventure for families with kids and people who want to explore the nature in short time.
Gators, wild pigs, cracker cows and so much more. We took the eco-tour into the swamp. Great driver/tour guide and 90 minutes well spent seeing the real Florida. Bring your camera.
Called to check if reservations were needed in advanced. Got generic voice mail with “leave your name and we will call back”. Drove an hour to get here. Then we learned you need reservations (no info online indicating that) . Same happened to the family in front us us. The woman said, sorry I have 34 messages to today and haven’t got to them. Terrible operation.
I can’t imagine how they manage the dangerous animal safety part if they can’t manage the need for reservations.
We had so much fun! The bus ride was a real look into Florida's past. So much wildlife! Our tour guide really knew her stuff also. We will be going back!
Four of us took the Babcock Ranch tour, and we were interested, amused and educated. We now recommend it to other friends. Boarded on an old, converted bus, we went through tropical wetlands, grassy meadows and what seemed like ancient jungles. All the while, our guide provided history, wildlife facts and amusing anecotes. Don't expect some slick, re-enactment of old Florida, but sit back and open yourself to the moment and you will believe you are there. Money is for a worthy cause, too.
Like the others have said. It really is good, even better than I expected. I took my parents and my teenagers. We all enjoyed it. A lot to see, both the the land (fields, swamp, woods) and animals (pigs, gators, big variety Of birds, cattle). Part way through, we got out of the “buggy” and walked on the board walk through the swamp. Yes, it’s a school bus with out windows and not a swamp buggy like most would think, but was still fun. My 15 year old son said twice- “this is cool.” My parents are now recommending to their snow bird friends.
Cool up close view of wildlife. Great tour bus guide.
Me and my 3year old son took this tour one morning. It was a lovely way to spend time together and we got to see some wildlife, my son was fascinated when they brought in the little alligator onto the bus. The staff were very friendly and we seen so much wildlife and got a history of the Ranch which was quite interesting!
I think when we return to the area i shall bring my husband along too, it is a lovely relaxing family tour!
Hop on the bus, Gus! You have the chance to see Florida´s great wildlife including Osceola, the Florida Panther, lots of gators, birds and a part of the old Florida trail. Nice place and great tour guides. Kiss a gator (if you want)!
We went on the eco-tour with our 2 year old. He loved it!
Our tour guide (Peggy) was excellent! We learned so much about the history of the Babcock Ranch, Southwest Florida wildlife and the ecosystem. The tour was informative and entertaining. Will definitely return for a second tour after the rainy season when the swamp has more water!
Deb took us on an amazing tour through old Florida swamps and farm ground. Feeding corn as we traveled. Birds,gators, cattle. A Florida panther named Osceola is on the tour. Deb and Babcock Ranch are special.
I had no desire to visit this property based on Trip Advisor reviews about the bumpy bus ride and crowded seating. However, we had friends visit who wanted to take the tour so we went. We were so glad we did. There are some bumpy sections of the road but the terrain has to be taken into consideration. The seating on the swamp buggies (old school busses) was a little tight but without a full bus, each person has adequate room. Our tour guide Rhonda was outstanding. She gave a running narrative about the history of the Babcock Ranch, the eco systems we were driving through, and the animals encountered, both wild and domestic. We saw alligators, multiple types of birds, wild hogs, deer, and "cracker cattle". Because they are fed by the guide, the animals were next to the bus for easy viewing and pictures. The tour included a rescued Florida Panther and the chance to view and pet a small alligator. After the tour, we ate at the Gator House on site with great food. Every employee we met was friendly and helpful. I will go back.
Every visitor to Florida should visit here if they want to see what REAL Florida is all about. We took my 6 year old grandson and had a ball. Take a tour through a real working cattle ranch aboard an old bus with stops along the way to see alligator, florida birds and all nature has to offer. The tour culminates at a swamp boardwalk with a Florida panther in residence.
Has an awesome gun range. Great for skeet, pistol, and rifle shooting. I've been many times and always leave satisfied
Great place to take children to see what Old Florida is all about. Very knowledgeable tour guides will bring the past to life and all of the wild life that is all around us all of the time. FUN
Very informative tour. Our guide Brad was excellent. This is a slice of the real old Florida. Saw gators, hogs, deer, birds. Highly recommend.
We live in Punta Gorda for 8 months and return to Maine each summer. We take our children and grandchildren here when in town. Great adventure for all. We really like this place and the friendly staff.
Narrated tour through farm land and forest. Interesting history of old time Florida and viewing a working ranch.
This is the best kept secret in Florida. An authentic nature tour in an untouched corner of the state by people who are passionate about showing and preserving life as it was decades ago. Wildlife is so abundant that it almost comes across as surreal.
This is one of my favorite places to take family and friends from out of town. You are able to experience Florida wildlife up close and personal. I have a priceless picture of a baby alligator just inches from my brother's nose! Riding around in the bus is fun and you really get a picture of what living on a Florida ranch is all about from a very knowledgeable guide. There is a small museum, gift shop and a place for lunch. The food is simple but really quite good. It's a great way to spend an afternoon, learn a lot about the locale, take memorable pictures and see unusual wildlife.
While the tour through the diffetent eco systems was amazing. The best part of the trip was being treated as guest into someone's home. This is not your average tour. Our guide was very enthusiastic while introducing us , by name, to the diverse number of inhabitants which roam this beautifil working ranch. Highly recommend it!!
Great place to see wildlife and back country Buggy tour. Town is also cool for lunch or dinner. Nice community all solar powered. Definitely worth spending time there
This open bus/swamp buggy tour takes you far from the royal palms and manicured lawns of developed Florida. It also gives you a chance to see a working ranch (as large as a major city) covering a wide variety of terrains. But, calling this $18 trip an "eco-adventure" gives the wrong impression in a number of ways. There is no extreme hiking or strenuous exertion required here, that would make it unsuitable for a senior citizen. You will be sitting in a bus. Neither are you going to be venturing into uncharted wilderness to see exotic locales. Over half of your 90 minute trip will be across open, rolling ranch land. These grazing areas are not cultivated or altered by man, so cattle and pigs share the range with birds and other wildlife your guide will point out to you. The tour also takes you through wet Florida swamp, where Cypress "knees" flourish and you will spot live alligators. Near the end of the tour you can view endangered Florida cougars in a large natural but enclosed habitat. Bear in mind these creatures are nocturnal, definitely not tame, and won't wander up to pose for your camera. Children will get their chance to "pet" a tame baby alligator at the very end of the trip. Depending on your luck, the eyesight of you, your guide, and that of your fellow bus occupants, you will spot a wide cross section of the local wildlife on your trip. You will also get a glimpse at how Florida looked before it became a tourist destination. I would not consider this tour a "must see", but it is of definite interest. I feel the price is a bit high (ask for a AAA $1 discount) but am glad I went.
This place is kind of scary - is this solar city the new utopia or another Jurassic Park? Personally I couldn't wait to get out of there
About a 90 minute tour on a bus, good viewing for picture. Depending on temperature, you will see a lot of wildlife. This was our second visit and we saw twice as many animals as the first time. A great time and fun for kids, too.
We were visiting Port Charlotte and decided to take an early morning tour on this old school bus. Jeff was our guide and he was very knowledgeable and made the trip fun. We saw many alligators resting on the bank as well as farm and wild animals. It was a Fun Day!!!
Babcock Wilderness Adventures is a great experience that everyone in my family appreciated, even though we all have different interests. It's an incredible immersion into actual Florida and an absolute contrast to the Disneyfication of everything else. We saw multiple alligators, so many birds, a Florida panther, and tons of beautiful foliage. It's absolutely worth the cost, and I'd go again to support this wonderful institution.
We bring all our visiting friends here, especially those who think that Florida is just going to the beach or riding around on a boat. All are very surprised at what they see and learn in a short period of time.This should be the first place all visitors are urged to experience.
The bus tour is great, with an exceptionally knowledgeable guide explaining the ranch. Nice gift shop. Cafe wasn't open when we were there. (possibly closed for the season?)
I absolutely loved this place. We came here on Christmas Eve and it was so magical and relaxing. We saw all of the animals we hoped to see and more. This is the real Florida and in the neighborhood you can find a lot of farmers markets and farmer stands , think local honey, strawberries, tangerines etc.
Off the beaten path, mile & a half of "driveway" past 2 solar farms [off of hwy 31]. It was cold that day so wear warm clothing - the bus is open air seating! Tons of wildlife, history & cattle ranch: guided by knowledgeable staff. $47+ tax for two adults - well worth it.
If you can keep from gasping every time you see an alligator, it is fun. Never any reason to be afraid of your surroundings, because you are in an open bus for the whole tour. found out that there a lot of environmental and habitat facts about the wildlife.
Informative and interesting afternoon. The tour is motorized with 20-25 people on an bus. Most of Florida's trees are represented here. We went on a very cold day, still enjoyed the experience. Tour guide was informative. Not much walking involved. Good for older people or children. Baby alligator was there to hold.
We took the bus ride around the eco park. Our informative and entertaining narrator/bus driver made the day very interesting. The ancient bus with open sides provided a bumpy ride around the Babcock ranch. The driver feeds corn to cattle and deer. You see alligators, exotic birds, feral pigs, and a panther. The scenery is slash pines, saw palmetto, cypress trees and the like. Cost is $23 each. It is in a rural area about 40 miles from Cape Coral. It is difficult to find even with a GPS so watch directions closely.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when we booked our tour. 90 minutes on an old school bus with no windows? The time flew by as we saw birds, wild pigs & piglets, deer, countless alligators—big and small. Cracker cattle were elusive the day we visited but are in the preserve. Our guide Brad was knowledgeable and passionate in his narration. Memorable visit.
Ever feel the difference between the soft belly of a baby alligator and its rough back? Ever been on the set of a Sean Connery movie, a very good movie? Ever see more gators than you could count on the road ahead of you? Have you seen a large remnant heard of cracker cattle? Has your bus ever driven through a cypress swamp? Watch for the deer and a wild sow and her piglets. This eye-popping tour will hold the attention of your grandkids and your drowsy elderly aunt equally and you'll be talking about this experience for hours or days afterwards with lots of belly laughs.
We took this trip last year and its interesting. We saw gators and actually touched a small one that was held by our driver. They had a panther on display and many walking trails. We boarded an open truck to go around the property.
This place is very interesting. There is a great tour with plenty to see. lots os FL wildlife and good naration. Everyone has a good time there.
We took a 90 minute tour with Rhonda and saw TONS of wildlife. Rhonda was SO informative and full of enthusiasm. This is a fun day for all ages.
This is an interesting and entertaining ride through a number of different ecosystems where you will see birds, alligators, cattle, and turkeys. At times they were so close that we had to wait for them to move before we could continue. Our guide was knowledgable and entertaining. My favorite part was the swamp, and we were able to walk on the boardwalk there. It is a nice contrast to the usual tourist attraction. I had heard and read about the cracker cattle and actually got to see them on a ranch.
Our adventure into this sprawling 73,000-acre wildlife preserve began aboard a school bus, with the lively and knowledgeable Katherine as our guide. Her passion for the land was infectious as she recounted the area's fascinating history and pointed out its diverse flora and fauna.
It turns out this land's story began with a Montana gold miner who came to Florida, fell under the spell of its wild beauty, and bought 165,000 acres—including vast swamplands—for just $40,000. What might have seemed like a questionable investment turned into a goldmine, thanks to the valuable cypress trees within the swamps. He employed hundreds of workers during the Depression, offering them free accommodations for them and their families. Later, the land became home to cracker cattle, complete with hardworking cowboys roaming the range. Later, 92,000 acres were sold to the State of Florida for $320 million...not a bad investment!
As we bounced along the dusty dirt roads, Katherine guided us through distinct ecosystems, each supporting its own unique wildlife. From lush wetlands to dry, grassy plains, the preserve was a living mosaic of natural wonder. We made several stops to admire the scenery and even feed some wildlife.
Every few years, the preserve conducts controlled burns to rejuvenate the land and encourage certain trees to thrive—a practice that speaks to its careful stewardship. One of the highlights came when Katherine dramatically pulled a small alligator from a box on the bus, holding it up for everyone to see. It was thrilling to be so close to a creature we spotted countless times lurking in the waterways.
Wildlife sightings were plentiful—majestic birds, mischievous raccoons, wild hogs, and, of course, those ever-watchful alligators. The hour-and-a-half tour felt perfectly timed, blending nature, history, and moments of awe.
After the tour, we explored the charming gift shop, grabbed a bite at the on-site restaurant, and visited the small museum, which showcased skeletal remains of various species and fascinating ranch tools, including branding irons.
This tour was a captivating blend of education, history, and raw natural beauty—a trip well worth taking. If you're looking to connect with Florida’s wild side, this preserve is the perfect gateway and Katherine is a top notch guide.
Had my youth been filled with days going to school where each morning was an adventure just getting to school, I would have been a better student! I'm kidding to a point, but seriously, I had not been on a bus in years, and this reminded me of the old days when I was still a kid. The bus our journey begins on in the Babcock Ranch has no windows, is painted a military green, almost camouflage, and not even a windshield! A group of about 24 of us departed and we rode around for about an hour and a half with an informative tour director, that loved her job and the things she was describing to us. We saw first hand the old ways of raising the calves that are world renowned , the village and the work buildings still in use from years past, the various wild creatures that inhabit the ranch lands and are now somewhat familiar with the drill of some tossed out snacks from the driver. I suspect that the tour will present different creatures and different plant life depending upon the time of year you visit. It is mid winter, dry season on my day, and that means things are more apt to be out that require heat from the sun and more localization due to less abundant water supplies. The term Old Florida is tossed around often, and I am guilty of that myself. This does represent a simpler time, and more dangerous time when pioneers claimed the lands and fought the discomforts of nature. The little displays scattered about are informative, and just interesting and offer a great alternative to the themed modern attractions . There is much to be said for history and nature, and this is a place to experience both in a very fun way. Highly recommended to everyone looking for a bit of an adventure!
There are clean rest rooms, a nice gift shop, free parking and a restaurant that was closed the day I visited but in season should be open.
The swamp buggy ride was very interesting. Learned a lot about the natural Florida environment and the history of the are. The lunch was very good,
This is a great place. Right at Exit 158 Tuckers Grade off of Route 75. There is a 5 mile road suitable for driving, hiking, running, road or mtn bikes. There is 30 mile rectangular loop of dirt/ gravel road for steering wheel model side by side atvs, cars or mtn bikes. This is wilderness. Saw deer and a lot of snakes. Not seen but present are wild pig, bear and panther. Of course alligators. Take food and water. There is a large well maintained gun range up near the entrance. Range officer on duty at all times. Open to the public. $3 admission per person to all the above activities. Well worth it. Visited several times during our stay.
We saw all floridian fauna. It was a great experience to re-visit again.
Florida's natural beauty and local wildlife, are the highlights of a guided ride with Babcock Wilderness Adventures.
This is a wonderful way to see a working ranch and a preserved part of Florida that takes you back in time and back to a time when this state was in its natural state
Our group of five had a terrific time. Our guide Rhonda was very knowledgeable about the history, ecosystems, and various wildlife that we encountered. She knew many of the animals by name and shared stories about their heritage, age, habits etc. This tour exceeded our expectations. Because there are no windows on the buggy, it was also a pandemic friendly event. Some of us want to return for a night tours (I believe they start in the fall during cooler weather and are appropriate for anyone over the age of 5 years).
What a wonderful experience today. Roger was so informative on the tour. We had just an absolute wonderful time. Seeing all the wildlife was great. Today was my birthday and I just wanted to be able to see alligators and I was not disappointed at all. Would love to come back during the wet season and do the swamp tour again.
My family and I had such an amazing time on our Eco tour with Ken! We saw so many different animals, alligators and birds. The kids (9-16 yrs old) all enjoyed the 90min tour as well. Ken was very knowledgeable about the ranch, animals and plants. The gator shack afterwards was perfect place to eat and enjoy this country atmosphere.We will definitely be back again because not all tours are the same.
A wonderful tour of the history of the Ranch from an amazing and knowlgeable tour guide. We rode an open air tour bus and saw lots of interesting wildlife. Don't miss the Florida Panther "Osceola".
Babcock Ranch was a nearly 100,000 acre working ranch and the tour on an old school bus is very informative. The tour has a very informative guide who will point out the various flora and fauna as you drive through the heart of the ranch. You'll see wild hogs, cracker cattle and a variety of wildlife. Gators will be out if it's warm enough but even if not you might still be surprised to find one on your bus ready to be held and petted.
You'll see some of the old ranch buildings and also get a chance at the small gift shop and restaurant. I recommend it to everyone.
We were part of a bus tour. We saw lots of wild life and had lunch at the little restaurant on the premises. Would definitely take visitors because we enjoyed it so much. Our lunch was a bbq type lunch and normally that is not something I would order, but, it was very good. Also included in the tour was a visit to Babcock Ranch. It is something everyone should see. A nice park in the center of town and shops, restaurants and open houses to view.
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Informative and fun tour for the whole family. You are driven through the ranch and its varied landscapes. Lots of wildlife sightings, aside from Cracker cows. This isn't Disney World....it's the real Florida.
We had a wonderful tour of the reserve with our tour guide, Anne. The natural beauty and viewing and interaction with the wildlife and flora was great. We also enjoyed a very nice lunch in the restaurant after our tour. A delightful and educational day out.
Hop in their transport buggy and get a glimpse of a cracker outpost/farm. Interesting out of the way spot.
Wonderful place to have an awesome lunch. Heard dinner and entertainment was even better. Lunch was superb! From the specialty soup, salad, Rueben with an egg on top, skirt steak, appetizers, etc. it was delicious. Chef did an excellent job of creating a gastronomical experience par none! Wait staff was and is very entertaining and friendly. Decor is fitting to the Babcock ideals as sustainable! Great choice and worth the drive!
This is a great little tour, especially if you are unfamiliar with Florida's history as a center of the cattle and timber business. Tour guide was full of fun facts about history and plants. And of course you get to see the obligatory alligator and Florida panther. I am concerned about the Ranch's future - when Governor Bush acquired this property from the Babcock family for the state to preserve he stated that it would be maintain "as is". Apparently that status is under serious review by the present Florida administration - and it really should be left as is!
Most people who think Florida think Beaches. That is only part of what Florida is. Many do not know that Florida is a big player in the beef industry. The Babcock tour gives you a look into Florida's past and present.
Well worth the time it take to get there and take the tour.
This was one of the most enjoyable and educational afternoons during our trip! Perfect for families, or couples! The tour guides and employees are sincere people who really go out of their way to teach you about the preserve, and make the tour enjoyable. I can't wait to go back and repeat the tour! It was so neat to drive right beside turkeys and gators, not to mention the 'wetlands' the bus drives right through!
This is a must do if you have a wildlife lover in your party. We saw tons of wildlife—alligators, birds, hogs, cracker cattle and more. Rhonda was awesome about pointing out various animals and stopped the buggy frequently so we could all see. Worth every penny! While you are there, be sure to stop by the solar panels as they are mind boggling!
We went here for the first time a few days ago. It was wonderful. Saw lots of birds, alligators, and cattle. Our tour guide was great and very informative. Great spot for adults and kids alike.
We have taken this tour twice now. Both trips were great. Lots of animals to see and experience. The narrator does a nice job pointing out the points of interest you may have missed on a self drive tour. Overal, take the trip!!
This was a great tour, our guide/bus driver was so informative. It was obvious she loves animals and how they are perceived and cared for.
This was a hidden gem of an experience!! We were visiting the Ft Myers area during spring break and the beaches were jam packed so we were looking for alternatives and found Babcock Preserve Eco Tour!! Ticket prices were very affordable for a 90 minute tour through a preserve/swamp that has 4 different eco systems and is a working ranch!! Not only were there tons of gators but there were heritage cattle and wild pigs (with many cute piglets) that come running after the swamp buggy for corn! We saw tons of different cranes and other birds!! Kids to grandparents enjoyed the ride! I would definitely recommend checking out Babcock Eco Tours!! Our guide Andrea was very knowledgeable about the history of the land and the animals roaming about
Great tour. Only bad thing was the speaker did not work well on the bus and it was very hard to hear the driver. We saw lots of wildlife...alligators, wild hogs, cracky cattle, birds, turtles, deer. Very scenic views of the swamps.
This is an exciting new development that offers a new way of living! It's all about sustainability at Babcock Ranch with water, energy and solar efficiency. The new homes must qualify to meet the Florida Green Building Coalition. The selection of homes keeps growing and the planned community seems to be drawing the attention of many even with the location being a bit remote. We've visited 4 times just to see the growth and to introduce friends to this new concept. It's worth a trip!
Super place to take the family. Get a taste of old Florida and the way things used to be.
Enjoyed a great 90 min tour today. Terry was knowledgable and shared a great deal of the history of the ranch. A little bit of everything. Great slice of Florida as it should be seen. Up close of several wildlife, cattle, plants, etc. she even a caught small alligator and brought on board the tour buggy for all to see and touch.
It took me 5 years to finally find the time for something I've been desperately wanting to experience; a BABCOCK Eco Tour!!! WOW!!! As an animal lover, a proud of Florida resident and as a Travel Professional, I was in Heaven! If you love NATURE and animals, just GET THERE!!! Our wonderful tour guide, Rhonda, LOVES her job and it shows! She's excited to get there in the morning and sad to leave at night and I can see why. Each season has it's own beauty so don't feel you have to wait. I know I plan to go as many times as I can possibly squeeze in! It just offers the best of everything; preserving Old Florida, nature, animals, ecosystems, and history as well as surreal beauty. It's an amazing treat whether you're alone or with others. Thank you so very much to all the incredible folks who make this possible!
A 65,000+ acres wildlife habitat preserve, with several wild animals. You may even spot a florida panther, if you time it right. We saw alligators, cattle, water birds, snakes and more. Watch out for the rainy season or go with a 4WD. Free and open to the public. Loved it!
By reservation only. Go on the internet for the phone number,website,etc. fee:$21.00 and with lunch $7.50 extra. We were in an old open air bus. Our driver was also our guide. the trip lasted 90 minutes. We saw many alligators, wild hogs, turkeys(adult), beautiful scenery. We stop and walk into the woods and see different kinds of birds, and small aquadic creatures. The driver brings around a 2 year old gator and you hold it. Next year when my family comes to visit we will come here again.
Intesting view of "old Florida". The tram/buggy seats need some attention. Fortunately it was not full when we visited, but many of the seats need repairs. Interesting way to spend part of a day. Bring a picnic lunch and eat on the grounds. They have a beautiful barred owl, plus a few other animals in cages. On the tram, the guide stops and brings around a baby gator, which is fun for the little ones.
We had a fabulous on our eco tour this weekend. Lunch is a good deal and the gator bites are tasty. Our guide on the swamp buggy was knowledgeable and entertaining. Sit on the RIGHT side of the Swamp Buggy if possible. (Many of the things to see are on the right side.) Winter is the dry season, so the swamp was almost completely dry. It would be cool to go again at the end of the rainy season (summer), maybe in October, and see the cypress swamp filled with water and wildlife.
If you are looking for excitement, adventure, or thrills...this is not your trip. This is a laid back tour around a property, viewing a wide variety of Florida eco-systems and Florida history. It was beautiful and interesting.
had a great tour with guide,Rhonda. she was great and very knowledgeable. saw lots if critters and their babies. gaters, deer, bore (cutest babies), cows, birds. Will do again. if am in area.
Well worth the trip and time. Experienced guides describe animals throughout the ranch and feed the wild and domestic animals.
We all had so much fun on the tour. The preserve is so nice and the bugs are not real bad so that made the trip even better. So much land and things we seen. The young ones had a blast riding in the bus
May 12, 2019, I took a trip through the Eco Ranch. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Deer, Hogs, egrets, turkeys, alligators, other birds, and this time...an owl and its baby! Loved the water starting to collect in the cypress knees forest area. The driver/guide ensured we all had ample time for photos! Can't wait to go again!
As a pre-birthday gift for my hubby I bought us tickets to ride the "swamp buggy" aka an old school bus, through the Babcock Ranch Preserve.
I had heard about it a little from hubby who used to hunt on a portion of the land set aside for that activity. However, I thought he might enjoy this type of adventure. Well, he sure did! I also enjoyed it! I want to go back again.
Just an FYI - when you turn off State Road 31 to this attraction, you'll drive quite a while before you turn right into the driveway to the parking lot.
We saw so many animals and birds. For nature enthusiasts this is a must-do. I love animals so I really enjoyed the wildlife. Our driver, Terry, was very informative. She did a great job driving and talking into a CB microphone. We did stop at one point and exited the bus for a little walk through a special area. I won't give anything away.
It is a rough ride a one point so if you have back or neck problems be aware. There is no air conditioning on the bus so if you go during warm weather bring a bottle of water or purchase one at their gift shop or restaurant as bottled water is only allowed on the bus. There are no windows so you get plenty of air.
I highly recommend this attraction. You can buy tickets there but I highly recommend going to their website as the times are limited as to when you get on the bus. This land is just beautiful so bring your camera as you will take lots of pictures. And don't forget to tip the driver. She deserves it!
Teri, our guide and buggy (old school bus) driver was knowledgeable and fun. She shared with us that she has been doing the swamp tour for 11 years. If your an alligator lover, this is heaven. The wild pigs were a stitch along with the numerous white tail deer. We saw snakes, turtles, turkeys, egrets, wood storks, ducks and terns. Teri our guide gave a wonderful history lesson on the ranch.
What a fun way to enjoy nature in Florida! Alligators and birds abound! Friendly and informative drivers to enhance the experience! Our first trip here was in 2000, and it was a fun repeat trip.
Wonderful tour. Highly recommend so that you can see "Old Florida."
Babcock Ranch is about 30 minutes outside Punts Gorda and they have fun and rustic bus rides through their huge preserve where you will see dozens of types of native birds (from egrets to storks to hawks), mammals, like native deer, cattle, a caged Florida cougar, and (separately) pigs, and wild Florida reptiles, like alligators! I work at Peace River Wildlife Center, taking care of injured wild animals, and we have a terrific partnership with Babcock Ranch. I highly recommend taking a tour, especially after a rainy day where you can see how the environment looks in wet conditions. It is beautiful. (Also please visit Peace River Wildlife Center in Ponce de Leon Park in Punta Gorda)
With all of the golf courses, gated communities and shopping malls it is refreshing to see the real Florida. We spent two days riding bikes along a beautiful lake and driving dirt roads to see a large variety of birds. At a stop next to a small lake, six alligators rose one by one to greet us. I cannot wait to return.
We have visited Babcock many times for ourselves and visitors. Every time we learn anew about old Florida with interesting tid-bits narrated by capable, knowledgeable, and pleasant drivers/guides, I would recommend this for everyone who has a few days or forever in the Punta Gorda area. 10 stars, not 5!
Took our daughter and grandchild. They wanted to see alligators which we did see,but it was the dry season so the swamp was all dried up. We saw a few deer and some cows and a turkey and that was it. Cost us alot. We can see deer,cows and turkeys at home for free!
Exceeded our expectations! A hidden gem in FL! As locals to south FL, we have done many different little outdoor excursions and we really loved this one! Ken was a phenomenal, knowledgable, and charming tour guide. The 4 year old loved it (only complained when she was thirsty lol) and the 9 year old really leaned a lot! We saw cows, lots of gators, boars, and many different birds. Would totally come back again :)
My wife and I booked this tour based on previous reviews not sure what to expect. . We were pleasantly surprised. The eco tour was both very informative and personal Rhonda was our guide and was very enthusiastic. She was genuinely excited to give us the best experience she could. Her knowledge and history of the ranch was very impressive. She knew the names of all the animals we encountered and told us many enjoyable stories. From petting the baby alligator to the cypress walk we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. After the tour we ate at the Gator. The food was delicious and not overpriced. John is the chef and prepared excellent meals He was very personable and sat down with us and let us try some samples of his dishes. John prepares all the food in the cafe including the key lime pie. You won't be disappointed. I would definitely recommend Babcock Ranch as a stop if you are in the area .
Roger and Sheri from Iowa
We had such a fabulous day today on this amazing tour!.. Rhonda was our tour guide, and she was incredibly knowledgeable, sharing so much in the way of the ranch.. the animals we saw and the area in general.. There were 3 of us and we would recommend this tour to ANYONE who is looking for a fabulous day with great staff.. From the minute we entered the little building to show our reservation.. to the awesome lunch that we ordered when finished with the tour.. It could not have been a more incredible day.. Thank you for making this a highlight memory for our guest and us.
What a wonderful experience. The Ecco tour lasts about 90 minutes. We traveled in an old school converted bus no windows in. We Sat at the front and some animals came quite close ,especially a very large bull with massive horns! The tour guide Anne was amazing so full,of knowlege. We saw baby alligators very large ones. Lots of birds including egrets etc also turkeys ,I didn't realise that they sleep,in trees and come down in the daytime. We went threw rough terrain in swamps and saw lots of wildlife and vegetation. Also an area of cypress trees some very old and tall. Also saw cattle special to that area and tail deer and horses and wild boar and baby ones .There were solar farms as well. Very interesting and enjoyable trip
May be the salvation of Florida with its sustainable ideas and development. Need to check out this new development out for retirement and family enjoyment.
I loved seeing the different animals. Our guide, Rhonda's, love of the preserve was infectious and made our experience special. We will go back on our next visit for sure!
We had 5 couples who were looking for a day trip from Ft Myers. The tour, led by Brad, was great and exceeded our expectations. Gators, young and large, wild pigs, cattle, birds, turkeys, deer, all were seen. Gator Bridge was great seeing 30 -40 gators. some were on the road as the bus was arriving. It is as close to going to the Everglades without making the trip. Brad did a great job of the Babcock Family and the History of the past 100 years and the History of the Explorers of Old.
This is an experience for young and old. We have visited many times with young grandchildren. Our current adventure included an older grandchild and his girlfriend. Gators, wild pigs, turkeys cattle, and a variety of water birds. The bus driver was very knowledgeable and provided ample opportunity to learn about the swamp, the culture of life in the early 20th century, and the importance of maintaining the swamp and the environment.
Our narrator and driver was Roger.
This was so informative. The tour guide was so pleasant and we believe has a true love for this place. The history of the land has such immense background you will be shocked of how it all came about. The alligators to birds and many other species including the land and its resouces alone are a wonder. You must see with the family . I would go again.
This trip was amazing. I think it's very different to take this tour in the summer times when it's rainy season than in the dry season, because it's so much water in the park and you are driving with an old school bus into the water. We saw different types of animals like cows with big horn, alligators, birds and a water moccasin. We all love this trip.
I brought my senior parents and aunt on this tour after having a great experience here a couple of weeks ago with our adult children! The 23/24.00 was a reasonable price for 1.5hr tour - I think they could charge more! Our guide Camry was very friendly and knowledgeable. I learned a lot on this second tour for myself. We will definitely come back again when we have more company in town.
We go about once a year, with my son getting older, he's able more to appreciate it.
Gotta go when it's not the rainy season, that way there are more alligators visible.
It's half nature reserve, half working cattle ranch.
The tour guides are personable, and the 'canned' part of the narration is a corny as
you would like. The knowledge of what you are looking at/for that these obviously dedicated
guides have is top notch.
They have a short tour, and a really nice extended one for the hardcore nature watcher.
This is our 3rd return as a family, more to come.
This is a great way to entertain out of town company. It's beautiful landscape, and the guides are excellent. All in all it's a great way to give guests a flavor of Florida other than beaches.
Love it!😃 It is a beautiful preserved park. I enjoyed the safari ride,and the their lunch was delicious.Thanks. 😎
One day we went to the Ranch spent 2 hours on the road and must admit was rather disappointed, expected more should have found some reviews and what to expect. Don't get me wrong I'm not upset we went just could have found a better way to spend my time.
from entrance a 5 mile smoothly paved road meanders between fields, lake and lightly wooded areas. very little auto traffic, occ birdwatchers and good place to bicycle. Round trip 10 miles. in wet season road tends to flood about 2 1/2 miles in. Area does get a bit crowded in hunting season, don't wear fur!
We had a great time on the buggy tour , saw lots of alligators, pigs and more ! Don’t hesitate to go especially with little ones. The gift shop was very reasonably priced we did purchase a few souvenirs.
The tour of the ranch is quite interesting for children and adults. The vehicles journey into Florida's wilderness providing sites that are not typically on the tourist's itinerary. An array of native animals (including alligators, birds, and panthers) are seen throughout the tour. The guides are very informative and point out many interesting facts. This also makes for a good day trip for us Floridians.
Babcock Ranch is a jewel in South West Florida. It gives you a chance to see Florida in a different light. It's not "Theme Park", it's real and it's interesting and it's a great way to spend the day.
I enjoyed the tour of the Babcock Ranch a great deal. I got on the
"swamp buggy" which is just like an old school bus. It's all open-air but has a cover on the top. The lush, tropcial scenery was beautiful. I saw a herd of cracker cattle. Then some wild pigs chased
after the swamp buggy and the tour guide stopped to give them some food. They were very hungry (see photo). Everyone got off the buggy to roam around the boardwalk. It was the perfect opportunity to stretch my legs and see and touch some of the beautiful trees. The best part of the tour was when the tour guide brought out an alligator for everyone to touch. I felt the gorgeous creature and he seemed to like it. (See photo for guide and alligator). Then the tour went into a cypress swamp area where I saw many Florida wading birds and some alligators (larger than the one I touched). My tour guide was very knowledgable about the Babcock Ranch and was always eager to please those of us who wanted a photo stop. After the tour,
I visited the "Country Store" gift shop which was nice. In addition, I saw Lulu, the three-headed cow, in her own stable. You gotta see this one! Very unique. A great attraction for all ages. An easy ride from Fort Myers. I took route 78 (Bayshore Rd) East then went North on route 31. Tip: Avoid I-75 if you can because there are too many traffic tie-ups on it every day. Accidents are a common occurance on that interstate. I was there in January 2007.
Great place, while you take the tour the bus driver tells you about the history of Babcock. I have been there several times and take my guests. There is always a fun surprise at the end of the tour.
Great time! We had a great tour guide (Cheryl). She was super knowledgeable during the whole tour! Will be back again!
what a fantastic way to experience old Florida. A very knowledgeable guide and a trip to the swamps/streams,ranch in rural Florida. much wildlife, of course, alligators. would recommend to all. after trip, a great way to experience alligator bites in their restaurant. only negative was that the speaker on the bus should be "replaced", not very clear.
If you happen to be one of the unfortunate few who's parents kept them in a small box or closet your entire life, and you've never seen the light of day, until a DCFS agent, tipped off by a suspicious neighbor, came into free you, this tour may be right for you.
This "ecotour" takes you to see wildlife such as cows, horses, and pigs.
This takes up more than half of the trip.
For you, who has never seen the light of day, I'm sure this will be an amazing experience.
They bill themselves as an "ecotour", and then take you to see their destructive practices of deforestation, sod farming (you have never seen ANYTHING like a SOD FARM!), and cattle raising.
After this tour, I actually felt a little bit dumber.
For those of us who didn't grow up in a closet, the only way I can imagine this tour being the slightest bit interesting, is if you were Jim Morrison-high. I'm talking Elvis-Pressley-before-he-died-on- the-toilet-high.
As of now, I am one ecotour closer to death.
My wife and I and another couple decided, based on friends recommendation to take the Babcock Wilderness Adventure tour. You should have reservations and depending on the temperature forecast, it may be cooler taking the 10 AM 1.5 hour tour.
The bus is completely open with now windows and you should take cameras. (Note that they use school buses with the fixed seats designed for children. If you have legs like mine, be prepared to be cramped.) We saw cattle, alligators, turkeys, sand hill cranes, turtles, lots of different kinds of birds. Our guide and driver did an excellent job of narration.and she was very knowledgeable on plants, wildlife and cattle on the preserve, along with the history of the ranch.
The only suggestion other than relocate the seats for more leg roomI would have is to fix the sound system on the bus. Those close to the speakers were overwhelmed by the high volume. Provide a better sound system with more speakers along the bus.
The Babcock Wilderness Ranch was a kick! We rode in a windowless school bus through the Ranch. On tour we got to see several animals including cattle, horses, wild turkeys, soft shell turtles, a Florida Panther and magnificent ospreys. One of the highlights of the trip was when the guide, who lives on the 91,000 acre Ranch, brought a small 2 year old alligator on the bus. We each got to pet the reptile. He felt very "leathery". The guide, who was extremely knowledgeable about the area, said that the animal would be released into the wild soon.
The Ranch is great for families and a terrific experience for all visitors.
Off of 31 in Charlotte county at Babcock ranch there's a little town area and general store it is worth the trip to go to the store and have breakfast they also have farm-to-table which I haven't tried yet the breakfast was good the atmosphere of a total ecologically friendly town that is being built with driverless cars solar panels a big lake was worth the experience.
Visited with my wife and grandson. Excellent and engaging 1.5 hr bus tour that was well narrated. My grandson is 8 and he enjoyed it. You should make a reservation as it was full the day we took it. I would recommend for all ages.
We have been intending to visit the Babcock Ranch for a couple of years and finally took the tour today. The Babcock Ranch is a working cattle ranch as well as an area rich in wildlife. The 90 minute tour on an open bus (no windows or door) offers a view of cracker cattle, historic ranch buildings, and a ride through wetlands teaming with wildlife. Our group witnessed many bird varieties, numerous alligators, and even a (captive) Florida panther. The center is working with state wildlife officials to mate this panther to help restore the endangered species. Overall a great chance to see "old Florida" as early settlers might have done.
Lots of land preserved as natuarl habitat camping , kyacking and much more. I even saw a shooting range.
Make time to take a tour here and learn about SW Florida. A fun trip while you learn. We are lucky tohave such a well maintained Preserve for future education of all visitors.
Very interesting and informative. Worth the time and effort to drive and spend time their. Guide was very informative.
Birds, will pigs, cracker cattle, alligators, cypress. Florida the way it use to be. A wonder filled trek thru 4 Florida eco systems. Brad, our tour guide was knowledgeable about the wild life and history and get us engaged on the hour and a half tour. We loved it!
A nice day out with kids and family. The bus tour is good, with an excellent guide explaining the ranch and surrounding terrain. The tour is 1.5 hours and well worth it. Bring your own food-the cafe is fair with limited menu.
This is a very interesting outing make sure you go you will not be disappointed. You will see a lot of wild life and the guide is very knowledgeable about the wild life and vegetation.
Thank you Brad for the private tour of this fantastic special place in South West Florida. You were a fantastic guide and so knowledgeable of the eco- environment, the creatures who live there and the history of Babcock Ranch. I can not believe I haven’t heard anyone speak of this great adventure since moving to Cape Coral over 5 years ago. It should be on everyone’s list of things to do. Never saw so many alligators🐊🐊🐊, as well as Cracker cattle 🐂, deer🦌 and birds 🦅,🦃. The environment is beautiful! Riding in the Swamp Buggy (converted school bus) was lots of fun. The one and a half hour trip went so quickly. The Gator Shack Restaurant on the premises serves very good food. They have a country/gift store, a museum and outdoor exhibits. There are great photo opportunities of animals in their natural surroundings. We will be back to visit and bring our family and friends to this special place. Loved it❤️! Loved it❤️
Visited here today and our guide was Sharktooth Stefan. Wow what an awesome ninety minute tour. Our guide was very impressive with his excellent knowledge of the preserve. We had an excellent time and would do it all over again. If you are in the vicinity stop by and check it out. Thanks Sharktooth for a memorable day!
Be sure to book a reservation before you go. It is about 35 minutes from Port Charlotte
and hard to find as there aren't any signs outside and the GPS takes you to 4 miles
before the place. The entrance has a white fence and palm trees and is actually a
sod farm and take the road for 2 1/2 miles in. They sell lunch there reasonable
$4.50 for a sandwich but you can bring your own as there are picnic tables. They
have tours at 10am,12n and 2pm and put more on if there are enough reservations.
The 10am is too cool outside to see many aligators. The jungle bus takes you on a 90
minute tour threw the pine fields seeing cows, bulls and wild turkeys, birds then to
a cypress tree boadwalk very interesting. You actually get off the bus at cypress trees
and take the boadwalk to see the panther. It is 17 years old and doesn't move much.
The bridge at the end of the tour over the alligators is worth seeing with all the nature
birds such as herons, snake birds. The tour operator actually carries a small alligator
on the bus for you touch and see. You can get a discount for $1.00 off tour in coupon
map of the area. The eco nature trail about 1 hour long isn't worth taking as it only goes threw the pinelands and isn't very interesting to take. It is a great tour and would do it
again. Be sure to sit on the side of the bus opposite the driver as you see more on that
side. In the front two or three rows it is very windy as the bus has open air windows.
What an outstanding eco tour! We rode around the Babcock Ranch Preserve in an old school bus with the windows knocked out. It was perfect! We saw lots of native wildlife: deer, birds, cracker cattle, wild pigs and piglets, and scores of alligators. That was really something! When the bus drives through the grassland areas and wild brush, both the cracker cattle and pigs of all ages hear it and come running. Why? The guide has food for them. The animals come up close to the bus, and present a great opportunity for photography. The cattle stick their heads inside the door frame and get fed by the guide. A hoot to watch! And the wild pigs --- well --- they sure acted like pigs. The guide was knowledgeable and entertaining, both concerning the history of the Ranch and the various animals there. Partway through the tour, she brought out a baby alligator and we got to hold it. One of the highlights of the tour were the two alligator ponds. I never saw so many of those animals in one place. Stay inside the bus! A wonderful tour for both children and adults, although really young children might find it too taxing. Don't bring babies and toddlers. I will definitely do this tour again. It was a great way to spend the day. And afterwards, we ate at the cowboy restaurant right beside the gift shop where the tour begins and ends. That was also an experience!
a must see for new comers to doth florida, tour a working ranch see alligators and other wildlife.You tour in an old school bus with the top removed so everyone has a great view.
Once we found it the tour was great! Lots to see and learn about all of Florida's nature. Staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. A must see and do while visiting Florida.
We took our first tour early march with our neighborhood association and decided to take a 2nd tour when our grand kids visited. Both tours were great and each was little different. The water was lower on the 2nd trip and we saw even more gators than the first trip. Plan to visit again during the rainy season to see how different the place will look with more water.
Had a great couple of hours here. The ranch is expansive but we had a great 90 minute tour that was well informed. Saw lots of gators, birds, snakes and other wildlife. Also got to see lots of their native pigs and cattle. All in all I would really reccomend a stop here! Very worth the price!
If you like animals & adventure the bus tour is for you! We had a great time 7 got to see so many animals. The alligators & boars were so up close. Loved it. I will go again when I am back in the area
A self-contained gone green Eco community development in very early stages. "Downtown" will feature its own Charter School. Large lake with water sports and Eco tours. Recommend visiting during week as weekends are crowded. Good restaurant on site for lunch. Some home sites are quite a distance from central development. Open house very disappointing. Too long a wait for tour of models.
We really enjoyed our 1.5 hour swamp buggy (school bus on steroids) tour of South Florida wilderness. Our buggy driver tour guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the wilderness flora, fauna, wildlife, and history of the area. We saw many alligators, turtles, wild turkeys, fish, and birds. It was a great way to spend an afternoon!
We have been here a couple of times and have enjoyed it each time. If you love nature it's a no brainer. You will have a very knowledgeable guide with you and will learn many things that I will not spoil here. Well worth the money.
Our tour guide kept the youngsters engaged as she described the local domestic and wild animals and local flora. The tour itself is worth going through but the grub afterwards, not so much.
AWESOME! Lots of wildlife and nature. Very informative. Our Tour Guide, Rhonda, was terrific. You can tell she loves her job. We had a great time! Will most definitely go back.
Learning so much about Florida Eco-systems as well as seeing so much native wildlife was an enjoyable time.
A very nice day trip. Easy to get to, staff is wonderful, our driver well informed and personable. Saw lots of wildlife and would like to return to walk it. The Swamp bus is a fun way to tour the acreage.
My wife and I took the 1-1/2 hour tour through the Babcock Ranch wilderness, and declared it a worthwhile experience. Our tour guide explained the history of the property, which is an actual working ranch, and well as acres of natural Florida as it should be.
We saw various birds, critters, and since it is Florida we also saw numerous alligators.
The tour is historical, educational, and scenic. A little costly at $22/person, but worthwhile.
We visited Babcock on December 28 with our two children aged 4 and 7 and my parents. The tour is billed as an "eco adventure" - ironic since there is not much adventure involved and the ranch's activities (mining, forestry, vegetable growing) are not terribly helpful to the local environment.
The bus ride through a small portion of the property leads to encounters with such dangerous wild animals as cows and pigs. The children got to touch a baby alligator (kept in a box on the bus) and see two caged cougars.
To be fair, we did see a lot of alligators and some herons, the two-block trek through the watery swamp was pretty, and the guide was knowledgable.
However, for $19 per person there are other attractions in the area that are cheaper and more interesting.
See the working Babcock ranch while riding along in a camouflage windowless bus. The bus driver is a wonderful tour guide, she stops frequently to show you the wilderness and a wide variety of animals. We stopped a few times and fed some cows and turkeys. They come right up to the bus, so you can take some great pictures. Along our ride through the swamps, we saw many alligators with their young! The tour is fun for the family.
Babcock Wildlife area is HUGE to say the least. A few of the pictures posted on this review is from the Wilderness Tour they provide. If you search tours in Punta Gorda you will find two other options for reviews on that tour.
By accident I drove a few miles into the farm. Dont do that, they get mad LOL. There is two entrances for babcock, one is for the tour. If you pull up to one of the entrances and see a little piece of paper with an arrow to the right saying tours, go to the other entrance.
Anyways tour was fun although I seen one person on here that hated it for some reason. Going off of her remarks of it being run down I would disagree. Nothing seemed to be run down to me at all. Yes you see cattle, turkey and alligators, but you also receive a lot of info about the grounds. I have been to the Everglades to see gators and payed a lot more money. This place was a great deal compared to other attractions. I will do it again
Honestly, I didn't expect much from this - you know how you just agree to do something on vacation because somebody else suggests it? You don't want to go, but okay whatever, you go along with it.
And then, you have a GREAT time! The best adventures are unexpected and this was one of those! Take the kids, take Grandma, take everybody! This is so much fun and you WILL see alligators along with plenty of other wildlife. Our driver was so funny and this was honestly a highlight of our vacation.
We didn't eat at the restaurant, but talked to people who did and they said it was really good. Oh, and BUY A T-SHIRT! I'm sorry I didn't. When I go back next year, I certainly will be getting one.
Experience Florida's past where cattle was king, gators thrived in swamps, birds or many kinds migrated to nest, and nature dominated man. The tour was educational, informative, and very user friendly. Bring a camera to enhance the fun, especially, seeing a full grown wildcat in its natural setting.
Great way to learn about Florida history and ecosystems. 90 minute tour is interesting and informative. Lots of wildlife. Knowledgeable guides and easy to get to.
Great experience. We called the day before to make a reservation. The tours leave every 30 minutes. We rode in a camouflaged school bus with the front door, right front window and all the passenger windows removed. Our guide, Linn, was very knowledgeable. Saw a variety of wildlife to include lots of alligators. Highly recommend this tour.
This was one of the best nature/wildlife tours we have ever been on, and the tour bus is comfortable. We saw wild boar, cracker cattle, plenty of gators and birds. There is a tiny museum and a gift shop and a very simple but tasty restaurant. The tour guide Peggy was awesome and she let us pat a baby gator. If you are in the area please do not MISS.
This was a great tour of a preserve and working ranch. This is a nice change-of-pace from a typical beach destination. This is great for kids as well. I was surprised regarding the history, as well.
Great day viewing wildlife with the family. Did one of the morning tours so the animals were more lively. Sorry to hear that the Florida panther had passed. Loved seeing him.
The narrated bus trip through the ranch was interesting, we liked that the "semi" wildlife were encouraged to come close to the bus for closer viewing. The restaurant menu is poor, I think maybe they should close this portion of the attraction.
The range is a good place for 200 yd rifle and 20 yard pistol. If your new to the range ask about the shooting rules. You will get an ear full if you cross the orange line after cold range is called. Watch out for young guys trying to show off for girl friends and old people who should not shoot or drive. Its 3 bucks a person or 6 a car load to get on the property. If you don't shoot its still a nice place to visit.
I booked a ticket for saturday morning and travelled for one hour 30 minutes at 530am to receive an email at 7am (half hour before the start of the tour) that it was cancelled for 'car trouble'. BEWARE. This was extremely disappointing, never happened anything like that. They could have offered some alternative but did not care. Not very professional at all.
I never experienced this level of customer service in the USA
The guides were great but busus a bit rickety, however very informative
We went on the swamp tour and since the tour ends right at lunch time and it is over half an hour from anywhere this is where we went for lunch. If you tell them you are going for lunch there when you buy the swamp tour ticket you get a discounted price for your lunch. The burgers were pretty good and the gator bites were worth trying.
The almost two hour ride, on a camo-painted school bus with no windows, through the wildlife management area was so interesting. The historical facts about the cattle ranch and the old buildings that were a part of the story were so informative. We saw gorgeous sand hill cranes and cattle that came right up to the bus to eat a handout from our driver. We saw different kinds of herons and egrets, and a mother deer with her fawn. There was a pond where about 15 alligators were just dozing and a cougar that lives on the property. The driver then brought on board a baby alligator and we all got to pet it. The whole ride was so exciting, just waiting to see what wildlife we would see next. I loved it here and am looking forward to going again someday.
I purchased this tour from Groupon as something to do with family while on vacation. I had read very positive reviews and this did not disappoint! Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the preserve, its history as well as the wildlife that we encountered. I would recommend this to anyone who likes nature, learning about the history of the area or just fun! Our tour was full of people of all ages and everyone enjoyed themselves.
Shark tooth Stephen was a great guide he is a local Floridian and his knowledge was very good.We had a bus drive into the real Florida we saw numerous Gators and different birds a great place for adults and children.
The cafe served very good pulled pork and beans.
Thank you so much to our tour guide Rhonda, for making our tour today so enjoyable. She was very knowledgeable and obviously loves her job. We saw so many creatures close up, what an amazing day!
Cool bus ride through the ranch which is old And not well maintained. We saw birds, turkeys, alligators and farm animals. The wild boars have been removed from the property. The cougar died and the bison were relocated because they did not do well in the Florida humidity. A neat afternoon but it was overpriced.
I like history and this was very informative relating to the history of Punta Gorda. Kids and adults should enjoy this.
Although we've driven by the entrance on US31 many times, we recently visited the Babcock Ranch Eco-Tours for the first time. What a great experience! The converted school bus takes you through four Florida eco-systems and on the way you see a variety of flora and fauna: wild pigs, cracker cattle, white-tailed deer, alligators, and beautiful birds. "Sharktooth Stefan" our guide was informative and fun. It was a great place to visit as local Floridians and it will be a great place to bring our out-of-town guests. We'll be back: we've already booked an upcoming "Photography Tour!"
Our guide was very pleasant. She was so informative. It was an enjoyable afternoon. We had the best lunch at the restaurant. Friendly staff with delicious food.
Michele was amazing tour guide, knowledgeable and personable. Passionate for Florida conservation activities and animal safety
I go here during and off season Just to get away from the crowds of Naples and Ft Meyers ... It is somewhere I enjoy
taking friends from out of town, to get out into the woods but not too far from Everything!
I took my grandson, his girlfriend and great-grandson to Babcock Ranch on Tuesday and had a wonderful trip. It is definitely a good place to visit and learn about "old" FL. Lynn was our guide and gave us a lot of information about the area and how it came about. I am sure every day is different depending on what is going on. We saw many animals but the cattle herd was a fun experience. They come right to the bus and you can look eye to eye at them. The alligators seemed few and far between until suddenly the small lake was filled with them. We were able to have a very close up view of a baby. After our 90 minute tour we stopped at The Babcock Ranch Gater Restaurant for a late lunch. The BBQ was outstanding and the 7 year old had hot dog that couldn't be beat. Make a day of it and visit soon.
You will be THRILLED that you visited this one-of-a-kind, out-of-the-ratrace wilderness excursion! Panthers, alligators, boars, deer, snakes, REAL Cowmen on their vehicle of choice---their trusty horses and MUCH< MUCH more!
Incredible views of wildlife in several ecosystems. Little Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, Alligators, and Wild Boars with a very knowledgeable guide.
Me and my family were looking for somewhere to see local wildlife and came across Babcock on Google. The guided tour was so much better than we ever expected, Brad was very informative with the history of the area and wildlife we came across. At one point on the tour we got to stop off and walk around and came up close to lots of wildlife. My 2.5 year old was on the tour with us and she loved it! Highly recommended activity if you'd like to see wildlife and hear about the history. Great value for money too!
Great place to experience local knowledge of the area. Tours are in an old school bus, great for kids. Not ideal for physically less able.
We had Brad for our tour guide. He was SO knowledgeable and just an awesome tour guide! If I ever go back, I would ask for Brad to be my guide because he was just a nice person overall and extremely friendly!
We just took the tour 3 days ago, our guide Michelle, was wonderful. Can't say enough about all AMAZING animals we saw!! Highly highly recommend!!
We brought some northern family to visit Babcock Ranch. It was a nice cool day and not very crowded. Our tour guide/bus driver was so very informative & fun. We saw alot of native Floridian animals (alligators, turkeys, deer, boars, sandhill cranes, bald eagles, & tortoises)
in this wild habitat. Kids will love this tour. I feel this is right up there with Bush Gardens
& Disney Animal Kingdom on a smaller, more primitive scale that it very reasonably priced.
Property has a nice gift shop and chow house for lunch or snacks. We've visited here several times with family, grandkids, & friends at different times of the year. Winter months are more crowded & cooler. But spring & fall are good too. Summer is less crowded, a little buggy, prone to rain showers. So if you go, go in morning & wear bug repellent.
I was pleasantly surprised by this tour. The views were spectacular, the animals, birds and gators all visible. The tour guide was enthusiastic and so informative of all the species encountered. She even had a baby gator that she handled for us to touch! It is so worth the time!
As other reviewers have said it's a great tour. We took the 10:00 am tour lasting and hour and a half. Take bottles of water and snacks. You can buy them in the very neat gift shop. We saw a variety of eco-systems from plains with cattle grazing, a bull that came up to our bus for snacks from the driver, wetlands, and swamps. We did not see the panther who did not come out from hiding in the the large caged enclosure it lives in. A disappointment. We did see a variety of birds and alligators up close. We would have liked to see the cowboys herding the cattle. Kids particularly liked petting the small alligator the guide brought on board the bus. The guide provided an extremely detailed description of what we were seeing and how life on the ranch once was like. The sound system in the bus needs an upgrade as the guide was sometimes difficult to hear clearly. And she had to speak into a microphone held in one hand while she drove the bus with her other hand, which could not have been too easy. Not unsafe though as we went no more than five miles per hour. Great tour.
A ride in the woods on an old school bus with no windows. We saw some animals, but nothing that I haven't seen in the back yard of my condo. The stuffed cow with a third horn didn't impress me much either. Take water – it costs $3.
We went on a Sunday at 10am. Our bus almost filled one person per seat but had a about 6 open seats. Our group included a grandpa, two moms and both our children ages 6-12. Everyone had a great time! My kids loved when the pigs came running to the bus for food. We also saw cows, birds, horses, alligators and a raccoon. The guide was very knowledgeable and explained the vegetation which was interesting. He brought out a baby alligator which everyone was able to pet.
We had lunch on the ranch after which I would highly recommend! I loved the ribs and others got the pulled pork which was also delicious. Our waitress was awesome too!
Nice road through the wilderness area, can be good for wildlife viewing. Also has a very good outdoor shooting range for rifle, pistol and shotgun. Hunting and fishing areas also.
Had the grandson (also known as the bottomless pit) visiting, and we were looking for somewhere to take him. Saw the ad in the paper, and decided to take a chance, and we were NOT disappointed! The Property is huge, (160,000 acres) and dates back to the turn of the century. The guided buggy tour through the property is both entertaining and enlightening (I now know where the term Florida Cracker comes from), and the hour and a half flies by. The cypress swamp is gorgeous, and the gators and birds are everywhere. A terrific place for the family.
So many areas to fish. Lots of birds and several alligators. Low water made choices slim but we were able to fish off the dock. Camping areas, gun range and plenty of areas to walk. A very relaxing and scenic area.
Darlene was our tour guide and she was very knowledgeable regarding the cattle ranch, eco tour & wildlife. It was a fun informative 90 minute tour. Great photo opportunity’s for wildlife pictures.
We traveled on a converted school bus, that makes you feel like you’re back in the bush. Our guide was terrific! Telling us the history of the property, and introducing us to its inhabitants including gators, pigs, deer, turtles, and many different species of birds. At one point, we stopped the bus and she took out “baby girl”, a 12” to 14” long gator, so we all could feel the texture of her tail. It was a mix of adults and children and, I would venture to say, every one of us completely enjoyed the 90 minute long tour of Old Florida!
I always stop here on the way to see family to drive the loop around the lake to see birds. This time I was 2 months earlier than usual and saw so many great birds I had never seen before. Just remember that once you start around the lake when you turn right, it dead ends and you have to come the same way back.
The lack of signage is probably intended to get you to travel around the country's 1st all solar community. 100's of acres of solar panels, an abundance of wildlife, new homes -over 250 sold in 2018 and spectacular sunsets makes this a fun attraction. If you have time, the Tap & Pour Restaurant offers some really tasty farm to table cuisine. (if you can find it!)
go early the animals are every where. the guides are very knowlegeable. the buses are not air conditioned so if is warm take something to drink. priceses arn't bad.
You've got to know going into it that the Babcock ranch is one of those older, deteriorating, little bit tacky, touristy types of places. That said, I am a wildlife biologist and I really enjoyed getting right out into the swamp, you get to see alligators, lots of birds, and riding in the swamp water with huge cypress trees all around us was very cool! Plus, we got to get out of the bus and walk on a boardwalk through the swamp and touch some of those amazing trees. There were Florida panthers to view in a cage at the end of the boardwalk and they let us touch a small alligator before we continued on our tour…so all in all it’s a great experience for kids ages 7 and up (younger is ok if they can sit still on the bus).
A nice, narrated ride around a typical Florida ranch on a converted school bus. OK as an introduction to south Florida for someone who's never been here, but nothing out of the ordinary.
I wasn't sure what to expect on this tour. It's quite a drive to get there and when you do the initial impression is sort of, "Is this all there is? Why did I drive this far?" But then, you do the tour and you know why you drove that far. The tours are in sturdy buses that can travel into the swamp-like areas of the ranch as well as on dry ground. Your driver is also your narrator. As I have only been one time, I don't know whether our driver's narration skills were indicative of what could be expected with all Babcock Ranch drivers but she was very good and very knowledgeable. The "WOW factor" of the tour was the journey through the swamp. We all agreed we could have spent the day there. When we reached the interior, the bus stopped on a bridge. Below, we counted some 20 alligators and a ton of different birds. It's hard to describe the look and feel of that area. We felt like we were in the forest primeval or a scene from Jurrasic Park. It was haunting and ethereal. Although we were all adults on the trip, I think my son would have absolutely loved it. We had a shorter version of the regular tour because of time constraints but I can't wait to go back to do the longer version. A camera is a must. You'll hate yourself afterwards it you don't bring one - or at least your phone. I left my phone in my car and regretted it.
Rhonda ROCKS! She was our driver and did an amazing job. Wild pigs, Cowboys, cracker cattle, eagles, assorted cranes and birds and gators, gators, gators. Rhonda was very informative and funny. It was a great tour. I highly recommend it.
Well, at first when the nice lady said it was twenty three bucks for the Eco tour, I thought, no way. My friend kinda talked me into it and I was so glad afterwards. It was just fun. We saw all kinds of wildlife. And cattle. And a panther. And turkeys. And all kinda birds. Tons of alligators. It was fun on the bus. Oh, and deer. And wild pigs. Just do it. You won't be sorry. Everybody at the ranch was so accommodating. The tour guide was excellent and fun. Jungle Jim, I think.
One of the better / must see tours in the area. They take you by an old school bus through the woods,. See lots of animals and very old Florida. They have a snack bar for lunch.
My wife and I went here to go on a tour and we had an exceptional experience ! The bus driver and tour guide was Brad who did a great job with his knowledge of the ranch and It's history . The gator shack restaurant was incredible as well. Darlene and Kerry made us feel as if we were having lunch with friends and the food was great . We enjoyed the Gator shack so much we will come back here again even if it's just for lunch . Great job lady's oh and Brad you were good as well !!!!
Do not waste your time or your money going here. Especially if you're a tourist and only have a short time to be here. Luckily, I live here so it didn't ruin a vacation day.
There is nothing special about this supposed "tour". You ride around in a schoolbus looking at empty fields, and cows and pigs, and then you get to walk around for 5 minutes and look at some trees, and then you get to look at a small alligator that has been inhaling exhaust for the entire trip. They keep it in a cage attached to the back of the bus, right above the exhaust pipe!! Weird.
I'll put it this way.......you can do everything that this tour does on your own for free. Take a drive down zemel road, or any road in that area. Thats basically the same thing as the tour, but they charge you for it. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME.
we spent the afternoon here with our 5 year old boy and 6 week old daughter. It was an enjoyable and informative tour. The bus was a little crowded and slightly uncomfortable.
My son enjoyed seeing the little alligator being brought onboard the bus.
I have been before and will more than likely return on our next visit to the Punta Gorda Area.
We visited the preserve to see the various ecosystems and wildlife. However after making the trek from Port Charlotte we discovered we were unable to see any of the wildlife or variety of ecosystems without taking the 90 minute tour. We were disappointed with the access. We only saw the gift shop, disgusting stuffed cow and closed restaurant.
Fortunately (or unfortunately) we took the wrong entrance and stumbled upon some of the local wildlife however I would not recommend the dangerous unmarked roads!
We took the "off-road" trip on a converted school bus. The driver was full of information about the history of the ranch and the local wildlife. Beautiful back country. Be sure to pet the alligator that rides the bus with you.
Went with a large group for lunch---food was moderately priced but not the best I've eaten. However---there is an ice cream shop with the best Moose Tracks I've ever had. Worth the drive for that.
We were visting friends in Port Charlotte for a week in March 2008. We spent most of our time on the boat or at the beach, but this tour was a nice relaxing break. I really enjoyed the tour. Our friends had never been on this tour before, but they are planning on taking other friends on the tour in the future. We thought it was reasonably priced and I enjoyed seeing the alligators, being from the upper midwest, I don't ever get to see these animals in nature. I would also highly recommend this tour for kids. The kids in our tour group seem to really enjoy it. We also got to pet a small alligator, a highlight for the kids!
Excellent 90 minute tour with our guide, Shark Tooth Stefan, who was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and passionate about Florida history and wildlife. We saw lots of gators (even got to pet little Michelangelo, the cutie!), wild pigs, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, cracker cattle, more birds than I have the time to list, and lots of facts about native plants. Would definitely recommend this tour to everyone.
My husband and I did the bus tour and saw “Cracker Cattle”, wild turkeys, and hundreds of alligators.
We take our tourist friends here often. It gives them an instant understanding of Florida's diverse eco-systems and interesting flora and fauna. There is so much more than golf courses and Disney and this is the place to prove it.
We had a driver called gator Rob! He was amazing!! Funny and very informative. We saw gators, birds, cattle, and a cougar!! 😱😱😀 our 6 year old had an amazing time!! We loved our experience. We saw so much. The driver was awesome. It was a bumpy ride but what would you expect from a bus. And you are told ahead of time. We totally loved the experience. Highly recommend Gator ROB!!!!
We always enjoy the Babcock Ranch to experience an authentic piece of Southwest Florida. We are never disappointed in our tour and see many alligators and birds which are our favorites.
We took this for the first time in November and had Shark Tooth Stefan as our guide and boy was he good - he is a gem that knows so much about Florida and wildlife. The eco tour and all the animals and wildlife could not have been better and we learned so much. You have a great employee and don't let him leave as I have never ever learned this much history and facts from any tour. We did not eat at the restaurant but we will be back and that will be a part of the experience. Thank you, thank you.
It's a little off the beaten path, but worth the trip past citrus groves and ranches on Florida 31. The Eco Tour on a converted bus passes through 4 ecosystems: prairie, swamp, forest and marsh. You can tell the guide loves her job as she points out wildlife (birds, alligators, feral hogs on the day we were there) and identifies plants in each habitat even while driving through standing swamp water. There is a raised boardwalk so guests can walk through the swamp which was peaceful and beautiful. This attraction definitely exceeded our expectations. A tip for finding the entrance: red, white and blue flags mark the turn off Florida 31. Reservations highly recommended.
Wonderfully entertaining tour. The restaurant is unexpectedly good. The chef serves a great variety of choices, all 5 star quality.
We were blown away!
The Albert family
We bought the groupon and enjoyed a tour and lunch it was an enjoyable time for all ages!! My 4 year old LOVED all the various animals that we saw!!
Well run preserve showing Florida's wildlife. Interesting for kids as well as adults. Good place to see interior of Florida and land conservation.
Skip the Everglades.. this was awesome!! Gators, wildlife galore. Had interesting history and eco- lessons all in one.
We found this on Trip Advisor and thought we would give it a try. What a pleasant experience. Spending 90+ minutes in an open air school bus may not seem like a comfortable way to spend time but it will fly by enjoyably and quickly. Plenty of deer, birds alligators and several other surprises (have you ever petted an alligator?), Our driver Terry keep us entertained and informed for nearly 2 hours and no one was bored, If you take my advice, here is a tip: sit on the right side of the bus with the shortest guests near the window. Most of the action is on this side. Should you need to sit on the left (drivers side) you still will enjoy the trip. If you enjoy the attraction and want to return more than once during the season buy the season pass for $48 (verus $25@ for multiple visits).
Call for directions as this site may not be on your GPS system.
There is alot of wildlife at Babcock Ranch Preserve mostly alligators 🐊🐊 on my trip we saw alligators,birds and a Panther we saw no snakes apart from two of them at the fronton glass boxes . Our guide Joe was really good except the speaker system is not very good I had a great time there and I hope you do to there . enjoy😎
If you like animals, you need to try this place. The little cafe that was here was okbut i think it may have closed. The ride through the woods is in a old bus, be ready to get close to the out doors!
We were late for the tour due to our own error but another tour bus was pulling in shortly after we got there and they were wonderful enough to let our little guy have a couple minutes with the baby alligator. This was above and beyond our expectations they did not have to do that! We are greatful they made his day!!! We will absolutely return on time for the tour before we head back to Minnesota!!!!!
This is a fun adventure if you have children. The price is a tad on the high side. You basically have three places to visit while you are at the Babcock Ranch: the bus tour, gift shop and restaurant. YOU MUST MAKE RESERVATIONS ONLINE FOR THE TOUR. The tours are usually packed, so make those reservations.
At the time of this review, The restaurant had a rating of an "A" and a score of 95. The rating is almost a year old and they just opened for the season. Make sure you download the app, "What the Health - Fl". This app will tell you the rating of any restaurant in Florida and what infractions they were written up for. Your favorite restaurant may not be your favorite any more after you get the app. It's free, so why not get it. One big disappoint with the restaurant is they had no gater bites. So we opted for a PB&J in a to go container for the kiddo and left.
If you are a honey enthusiast, stop by the gift shop and pick up some Palmetto Blossom Honey. It is produced on the Crescent B Ranch.
The bus tour was about an hour and a half long. You get to tour through several ecosystems. One of the pictures I uploaded us going through the swap on the converted school bus. Watching the free range turkeys chase after the bus was pretty amusing. They really wanted that feed corn. You get to see plenty of gaters in the swamp and surrounding water holes. You stop about 1 hour in and walk along a board walk to the panther habitat. After the walk, you get back on the bus and then a baby florida alligator comes out for pictures and petting. Keep it a secret from your kiddos so they are surprised.
BOTTOM LINE: As long as you don't mind the drive out there, it is kinda neat to see Florida as it once was in the early 1900's. Viewing the different ecosystems will be a neat educational experience for the kiddos. We did it a few years back and will probably do it again in a few more years. Go now, during the rainy season so you can enjoy the swamp.
Fun guide Deb. Well spoken historical some nature facts generally easy going loves her job!
Terrific sights. Always different
Very natural not fancy not Disney
Great small home cooking restaurant
I took my 8 year old son and his buddy for the 1.5 hour open bus tour. We had a great time! Saw lots of animals and even got to pet a baby gator! Definitely something we would do again. Friendly staff, very knowledgeable. Just remember to bring some cash to tip the tour guide.
Really enjoyed the eco bus ride. The driver really seemed to enjoy her job.
The little restaurant was also a surprise. Good food, wide menu at a fair price.
Great place to see nature as is! Staff is super friendly and informative! We definitely appreciate how much they keep it in the most natural and safe way for the animals to thrive! Highly recommend and our tour guide guy was great!
Took the 1 1/2 hour "buggy" tour today and enjoyed it very much. Peggy, our driver/guide, was very enjoyable and knowledgeable.
The swamps/waterholes were quite dry but we did see several baby gators and many full-sized ones. Got a glimpse of a few deer and saw lots of different birds. No bears or hogs showed themselves for us. The on-board, up close baby alligator experience was very cool. It was great seeing the look on the kids' faces who got a chance to hold it. :-)
We thought that the buggy was comfortable considering the terrain we drove through. I don't know what else you would expect!
The info about the cattle ranch was fascinating and got to see lots of them right up next to the buggy.
This visit isn't cheap but worth the time spent there.
A really interesting tour of this lovely wildlife centre. The guide really knew her stuff and I enjoyed stroking the alligator.
We visited Babcock in May 2011 as part of our two week Florida trip. My girlfriend and I are into animals and wildlife so based on other reviews we had to check this one out! Like said before Babcock is hard to find in the middle of nowhere. We drove from one direction past it and after 5 miles we realized that we missed it. They should place a bigger sign next to the road!
We made a reservation a couple of weeks before we went. It was very quiet with only 8-10 other people in our group. It was on a monday, I think the weekends can get pretty crowded.
The tour starts from a little "museum/visitor centre" The terain is huge (90,000+ acres) You get in a bus and the driver (also the host) will tell things about the wildlife. You can spot alligators, allot of birds and other animals. The tour is about 1,5 hour! The best thing is that the driver realy knows whats going on and stops the bus for the tourists to take pictures long enough.
I would recommend Babcock to everyone who doesn't want to spend there whole vacation near the beach!
The tour of the Babcock ranch is really cool for nature lovers. You ride in back of open air truck and get to see true Florida wilderness.
The tour guides simply love their job of sharing their knowledge of the ranch and animals. They are patient with the questions of well behaved children.
The Guided bus tour was fun,educational adventurous and plenty to see I highly recommend this!
The tour guide was great
This was an amazing experience. We learned so much about the Preserve and animals from our tour guide Terry. Her love of what she does is evident and we are so luckyto have her as our guide.
Had a fabulous tour guide, Terry who knew everything and made it such a pleasurable day. Very fortunate to see a lot of wildlife. A relaxing tour, did not feel rushed.
Went on a Monday which we figured would be less busy. It seems we were right as tour bus was only about 2/3 full. Nice tour that was just short of 90 minutes. That was the right length for my 6 & 7 year olds. Tour guide, Cheryl, was friendly and very knowledgeable. Saw quite a few gators and they also have a small one they bring around you can touch. The cost of the tour (almost 100 for two adults and three kids) was a bit more than I thought it should be. Note that the restaurant there is closed on Mondays but you can bring a picnic lunch and use their facilities.
A pleasant surprise. Turkeys, baby pigs, Florida birds and other wildlife. Some reviews criticize the food, but I didn't go for the food, I went for something to do. It is in it's natural setting, it is not glamorized, it's a ranch what do reviewers expect. I was hoping to see the panther, but this is not a zoo, there are no cages. I really enjoy the eco / wildlife conscious preserves and this one is no different. Our bus driver was very knowledgable. It was a good lesson in local history and education. The vast amount of land that was once owned and utilized by one family is just astonishing. If your looking for something to do, this is a good option.
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This is not your slick mouse world tour: this is a real experience of what Florida came from and is today.
Our guide was knowledgeable and easily heard in the windowless school bus. It was a little too full: adults having to sit over wheel wells is way past uncomfortable.
The tour itself was excellent. We saw the cattle on the grasslands, alligators in the swamps, learned about the history of logging, the cattle drives, the towns that were there and what was left of them. The guide took us on a boardwalk through the hushed beauty of the swamp. And even getting the bus stuck was part of the adventure.
The "museum" needs curating and interpretation. The documents could be copied and blown up so more than one person could read them, and the history should be chronological.
Highly reccommended.