Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Biscayne National Park Photos

    You might also consider

    More like Biscayne National Park

    Recommended Reviews - Biscayne National Park

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos - Biscayne National Park

    Sunset at the boardwalk
    Joyce T.

    This's a pretty cool visitor center which is not inside the national park. There are many things to do here, including the boat tour to snorkel around the ocean of Biscayne National Park. It's fun to scroll around the Cp Elevated Boardwalk and Cp Jetty Walk, they were many people fishing.

    Nancy G.

    Hubs and I were already planning a trip here (it's my goal to visit every National Park) to paddleboard, when Stephanie H. and her husband told us about the boat cruise at the park. So, we scrapped our plans for paddleboarding and booked tickets for the cruise. https://www.biscaynenationalparkinstitute.org/heritage-of-biscayne-cruise/ TOTALLY WORTH IT!!!!!!! You can bring food and drinks (except, I think, alcohol) along with your phones/cameras. Sunscreen and bug spray are necessities that are not provided. There is a cooler of water on the boat that you can refill your water bottle with. We boated through the mangroves, learning the different types and how to tell them apart, and then headed out to open water (it was maybe 4-12 feet deep). We didn't see any dolphins, but we did see a sea turtle (not sure which one)! We could also see the Miami skyline. We eventually ended up at Boca Chita Key, once a privately owned island used for parties. We docked and were allowed free time on the island to explore. We were warned that the mosquitoes were horrible this year, so no one on the boat went on the hiking trail. We all strayed off to other parts of the island. I can't speak for the others on the cruise with us, but hubs and I saw various tropical fish, including a pipe fish, a jellyfish (pretty sure it was a moon jelly), and several iguanas. We also saw coconut-producing palm trees (the ones in CA and AZ grow dates). We chilled out for awhile at the covered pavillion, then got back on the boat where we cruised back to the dock where we boarded. The whole trip took about 3-3.5 hours and was informative, entertaining, and relaxing. Once ashore, we headed to the "museum" and gift shop. The "museum" consisted of a help desk, and several displays depicting the history of the park and the land before it was made a park, as well as the ecology. We're talking archeological finds of pottery, weapons, cooking implements, animal skeletons, types of coral and rocks, and dioramas depicting different habitats for the different species found throughout. The gift shop was tiny, with not much available. The t-shirts were from a company that ran super small. I'm not a large person, but the XL shirts fit me like an M, and XL was as large as they went. There was a HUGE selection of postcards to choose from, and a few other things like hiking stick medallions, pins, and a few magnets. I was surprised that there were no books on the park! Biscayne is the only National Park that is almost exclusively water. It is such an underrated park that many locals don't even know it's a National Park, and outsiders don't know it exists! It's right on the way to the Keys, so if you're in the area, you MUST visit! And another incentive? It's FREE!!!!! 100/2025

    Stephanie H.

    My husband and I came to Biscayne National Park and had a great time exploring. The waters were crystal-clear, and the lush mangrove forests were super cool! We took a boat ride so we can explore the keys, and he park rangers were incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, making our guided tour both fun and educational. If you love nature, this park is a must-visit for you!

    Marilyn B.

    No Admission Fee Because There's Not Much To Do Here. I agree with others that said this should not be a National Park. It's better suited to being a State Park because unless you're a diver/snorkeler or like to pay for boat tours, you can't do much here. Spend about an hour walking along the shoreline on the boardwalk, definitely do that with a Ranger who can give you interesting information along the way, otherwise you're just looking at water and trees and not knowing what's happening. Most of the park is under water. Maybe the scenery down there is National-Park-worthy, but above the water it certainly is not. Don't go if you're thinking this will be like Zion or even Acadia. It's strictly for underwater activity. I get seasick easily so boating is not for me. The best things about our time here were seeing a water bird 4 feet away catch a crab, and listening to a Park Ranger give us interesting historical information as we walked along the boardwalk.

    Julie M.

    Great boardwalk trail! Enjoyed the walk and so accessible for wheelchairs. Great little eco adventure close to Miami or Lauderdale and you cross a national park off your list. We visited in February, and it was super cold, rainy and windy. Tough to boat or snorkel and 90% of park is in the water. Definitely visit this park in warmer weather so you can enjoy water activities.

    Stiltsville
    Alyssa A.

    Definitely one of the more unique national parks as 95% of this park is water. As a result, it requires a bit more advanced planning than a lot of the other national parks. The only portion of the park you can get to by car is the visitor center. Once there, they have a little museum and bookstore as well as the short Jetty Walk trail that takes you onto the water. It's a very easy walk that gives you your first beautiful view of Biscayne Bay and Biscayne National Park. They do allow fishing here, so you'll find many people fishing off the side of the walk. But there's so much more to Biscayne National Park than just this small, car-accessible area. To really experience all this park has to offer, you'll need to explore the area by boat. We booked a tour through the Biscayne National Park Institute that took us through Stiltsville and Boca Chita Key as well as gave us a great history lesson about Biscayne. If you only have one day to visit the park like we did, this tour was perfect because it hit two of the iconic aspects of Biscayne. Stiltsville is so unique with such an interesting history, so it's pretty cool to get to see the area. And Boca Chita Key is beautiful with simple hiking trails and calm, blue, clear waters perfect for swimming in. Since it is only accessible by boat, even though we went during a high tourism season, there still was not that many people there. Much better for exploring and enjoying the nature. If we had planned ahead better, we would've loved to go snorkeling in the park but all of our opportunities to book an experience for this were full. Their Maritime Heritage Trail is supposedly wonderful for both snorkelers and scuba divers to explore some of the park's ship wrecks. While some are really only accessible to scuba divers, it looks like a wonderful experience and definitely something worth looking into. This park is both unique and beautiful, and absolutely worth your time to explore.

    Kimmie B.

    On my quest to make my dog a BARK ranger to multiple national parks. The person at the info desk was really nice. I called ahead and they answered courteously and were very helpful. There was enough parking. The day was rainy and cold, but beautiful and peaceful. Facilities were clean. Entrance is free.

    Claudia J.

    This park that has a great view of the bay is the best hidden spot for a quiet picnic, fishing, kayaking and more!! Big parking lot, even for camping RV's!! If you look at a map, Biscayne National Park starts just south of Key Biscayne and all the way south before Key Largo. It's a big area! The Dante Fascell Visitor Center organizes paddling, snorkling, evening cruises, cleanups, kayaks and more! Check out the Center, it has a small show and tell area of nature explaining mangroves and wildlife. Lots of greean area for picnics. The views to the water are incredible.

    KayAnna S.

    Such a beautiful national park! Since 95% of the park is underwater, I do suggest their snorkeling and/or paddle boarding tour to really see the park. Snorkeling was so much fun and we saw a great amount of sea life. Such a rich history as well. Not many locals even know it's a national park, nor many tourists so it isn't crazy busy and pretty easy to book tours same week you plan to go. The 5% of land has a beautiful view too!

    02.21.23
    May A.

    95% of the park is water... Biscayne National Park often gets overlooked by the more popular Everglades and even Dry Tortugas. Biscayne NP is Florida's third national park and is located in the Florida Keys, somewhere on the drive from Miami to Key West. We arrived at the park around 10:30a. We stopped by the Dante Fascell Visitor Center in Homestead to get my NP Passport stamped and there so happens that a free tour led by a park ranger was about to start shortly. Sweet! We did not have to pay park fees, they are open 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, and is completely free to visit -- there are no entrance fees or passes required. You do have to pay for the boat tours. Felt like we were worlds away in this southern part of Florida but in reality we were only 15 miles away from Miami. Greg was the volunteer tour guide. We learned among many things the importance of the mangroves as it protected its offshore barrier reefs. Know what the difference between the "key" and an island? Keys are formed by living things on the surface of a coral reef. An island is formed by a volcanic activity. Our visit to the park was short and sweet and we knew this coming in. There was only a few things we could do at the visitor center since the park is mostly water (like 95% water), coral reefs, and a couple islands. We would have to join a boat tour to explore most of the park. These tours will take visitors to the islands, see old lighthouses, and if lucky, may even see wildlife like green sea turtles, pelicans, manatees, dolphins, sharks, and many species of birds and fish. This is the place to come for kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Make sure to bring mosquito repellent! In 1968 the area became a national monument then officially a national park in 1980. Review #2878

    Shipwreck

    This park is one of the hidden gems of National Parks. Unlike most of the National Parks there are no hiking trails. To experience this park, you have to do so from the water, book a snorkeling, scuba, or a boat tour of the park and it's coral reef. One of the highlights, was snorkeling above a sunken ship above a coral reel where the wildlife was abundant!!

    Brett A.

    Cannot recommend Biscayne National Park enough! Make sure you book some type of tour through the Biscayne National Park Institute as 95% of this incredible National Park is underwater and you've got to get out on some type of boat to truly experience it in all of its glory. This particular section of the park at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center provides you with a really great walking path to catch some amazing views. We had an unforgettable time here!

    Jeffrey C.

    It's amazing nature in the water, hard not to like! The boat/snorkeling experience is pretty much a must to be up close and personal with the habitat - highly recommended!

    Chilled

    See all

    25 days ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 4
    Love this 11
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Marilyn B.
    288
    347
    1570

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 73
    Thanks 20
    Love this 66
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lin H.
    220
    1468
    583

    1 year ago

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 57
    Thanks 2
    Love this 51
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    A Beautiful nature preserve with soothing sight and sounds to restore the soul and retreat from life's busyness. Visit and walk the path.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 0
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa H.
    80
    64
    25

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 15
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Biscayne National Park Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Biscayne National Park

    Review Highlights - Biscayne National Park

    And Boca Chita Key is beautiful with simple hiking trails and calm, blue, clear waters perfect for swimming in.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Redland Farm Life School

    Redland Farm Life School

    5.0
    (1 review)
    8.9 mi

    I enjoy exploring the Redlands, a rural agricultural community in Miami. It took its name from the…read morepockets of red clay that cover a layer of oolitic limestone. The Redlands produce tropical fruits, many of which do not grow elsewhere in the US. You can find farm stands and roadside tables selling fresh grown produce next to fields. Other highlights of the Redlands include Schnebly Redland's Winery and their fruit wines, Knaus Berry Farms and their cinnamon rolls, and Robert is Here and their fresh fruit milkshakes. I especially love all of the historic buildings from the early 1900's that you can find here like this one, the Redland Farm School. In 1916. William Anderson the owner of Anderson's Corner Store donated 10 acres of land to the Dade County School Board for the construction of a new school. Financing for the new school was secured by Dr. Hyram Byrd, the assistant state health officer of Florida. He had come to the area for his health and to work with rattlesnakes to create antivenom. He was able to get an agricultural land grant under the Morill Act of 1862 which paid for an agriculture school. This school opened to 195 students on October 16, 1916. The Farm School consolidated seven one room schoolhouses in the area. For the first time students attended school by bus. The school had classrooms for for grades one through twelve. The building had indoor bathrooms, electricity, a cafeteria, and a 300 seat auditorium. The school offered two curriculum, a standard one and one for rural students. After the Civil War Farm Life schools were popular. Girls learned cooking, sewing and homemaking skills and boys took agriculture classes. The school also served as a community center where fairs, elections, agriculture meetings, dances, sports, and community events were held. The school was the heart of the close knit Redland community. On August 24, 1992, category 5 Hurricane Andrew made land fall in Homestead. Like many of the buildings in the area the Farm Life School was severely damaged. The school board built a new school further north and the Farm Life School was set to be demolished. The community didn't want to see the school taken down so they came up with a plan to save it. They were able to get the School Board to give the title to the county. The nonprofit South Florida Pioneer Museum leased the property and applied for grants to pay for the repairs. They raised enough money to install impact-resistant windows, fix the roof,and make structural repairs. Th future plan is to turn the school into a agritourism center. In 2018 the Miami-Dade Commission approved $1.6 million in funds for the interior renovation of the school. Plans include adding commercial kitchens for farmers, a community event space, and a hub for agricultural innovation. The school currently has a fence around it and it looks like construction is being done. it is going to be exciting to see how this project turns out.

    Photos
    Redland Farm Life School
    Redland Farm Life School
    Redland Farm Life School

    See all

    Silver Palm Schoolhouse

    Silver Palm Schoolhouse

    4.0
    (2 reviews)
    9.1 mi

    The Silver Palms Schoolhouse is located in the Redlands, a historic rural agricultural community in…read moreMiami. It took its name from the pockets of red clay that cover a layer of oolitic limestone. The Redlands produce tropical fruits, many of which do not grow elsewhere in the US. I love a trip to the Redlands which is filled with farm stands and roadside tables selling fresh grown produce. Other highlights of the Redlands include Schnebly Redland's Winery and their fruit wines, Knaus Berry Farms and their cinnamon rolls, and Robert is Here and their fresh fruit milkshakes. I especially love all of the historic buildings from the early 1900's like this school house that you can find in this area. In the early 1900's, the town of Silver Palm developed near the intersection of Silver Palm Drive and Newton Road. The area was known for it's pinelands and good hunting. The name came from the small silver backed palm fronds that grew in the surrounding pinelands. In 1900, Charles Gossman, Charles Hill, and William Anderson who built the first general store in the area filed the first homestead claims in Silver Palms. The Silver Palms Schoolhouse is located at Silver Palm Drive and Newton Road. It was built across from Anderson's General Store giving rise to calling the area Anderson's Corner. In 1902 the community contacted the Dade County School Board and were promised a teacher, if they could provide a building. The men got together and put up a log schoolhouse. The first teacher Charles R. Ross was hired at $40 a month. Ross took a roll call the first day and only had nine students but they needed 10 in order to open the school so one of the kids went out and brought back Gossman's four year old daughter Mildred. A typical day at school started at 8 AM and ended at 3 or 4 PM. Subjects taught included arithmetic, penmanship, spelling, grammar, and history. Lunch was one hour and the occasional bobcat might run through the area. Two years later there were more children in the area so the two story Frame Vernacular building was built in 1904 and became the first rural school built in the area making it the oldest school in south Dade. In 1916 the school closed when it was consolidated into the Redland Farm School. On July 2, 1987, the school was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Silver Palm has now been absorbed in the Redlands. The only two buildings left are the school house and general store. The school is now a private home. I was out exploring the historic structures in the area when I found the school. I started chatting with the owner who was working in his yard and he invited me in to see the living room. According to him after the school closed the building was purchased by a doctor who used it for his practice and residence. I would love to live in a building with so much history. It was such a treat getting to see the inside of the house.

    A nice historical building…read more The Silver Palm Schoolhouse is an historic school in the Silver Palm Historic District. It is located in the unincorporated community of Redland, Florida, United States. It is located at Silver Palm Drive and Newton Road. On July 2, 1987, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places

    Photos
    Silver Palm Schoolhouse
    Silver Palm Schoolhouse
    Silver Palm Schoolhouse

    See all

    Homestead Seaboard Air Line Railway Station

    Homestead Seaboard Air Line Railway Station

    3.0
    (1 review)
    9.6 mi

    The Seaboard Air Line Railroad was an American railroad which existed from April 14, 1900, until…read moreJuly 1, 1967 when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. AIr Line does not refer to air travel but instead is a common term for the shortest distance between two points. The railroad operated 4,000 miles of track running from Richmond, Virginia down through Jacksonville and ending in West Palm Beach. Solomon Davies Warfield, chairman of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad at the time, extended the railroad further into South Florida to Miami in 1925 and to Homestead in 1927 where it ended. Solomon Davies Warfield was the uncle of Bessie Wallis Warfield Simpson, the woman whose love affair with King Edward forced him to abdicate the throne. The Homestead station is southernmost Seaboard station and the southernmost railroad station in the United States still standing at its original location. Built in 1927, it was both a passenger station and a freight depot. The Homestead station is identical to the original construction of the Delray Beach station which was destroyed by arson in 2020. The only other Seaboard Air Line Station torn down is the one that was in Boynton Beach. The Delray Beach had plain stucco arches, while the Homestead station has the Corinthian arches used in the Naples and Hialeah station. The stations were designed by Gustav Adam Maass Jr. from the Harvey & Clarke architectural firm. They were designed in the ornate Mediterranean Revival style that was popular during Florida's land boom years. Today the station is abandoned. It likely closed sometime around 1967, when the Seaboard Air Line Railroad merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad to form the Seaboard Coastline Railroad. The adjacent tracks next to the station are sometimes used CSX Transportation. The condition of the building is very sad. It is boarded up with a for sale sign. When you see how magnificently the Naples station has been restored, your heart really bleeds for the state of this historic building.

    Photos
    Homestead Seaboard Air Line Railway Station
    Homestead Seaboard Air Line Railway Station
    Homestead Seaboard Air Line Railway Station

    See all

    Chinese Bridge

    Chinese Bridge

    5.0
    (3 reviews)
    10.5 mi

    Beautiful walking path and landmark. Easy, flat walk that is shady and surrounded by trees.read more

    The Chinese Bridge is an iconic landmark in Palmetto Bay. The bridge is located on a pedestrian…read morestreet within a natural wildlife preserve of the Charles Deering Estate which is owned and operated by Miami-Dade County. The entrance to the trail that takes you to the bridge is a little past the Deering Estate. You can park your car on the side of the road and walk down until the road ends. That is where you pick up the trail that is only open to foot and bike traffic. Half way down the trail is the colorful bridge. The bridge was built in 1918 by Charles Deering who was a Chicago industrialist. The bridge was built to allow him to cross Cutler Creek to his retirement home. When Mr. Deering built the bridge he moved a portion of the original Cutler Road, which was located on the property he purchased that included the abandoned town of Cutler. The Chinese theme of the bridge reminded him of his travels in the Pacific as a young naval officer. I have wanted to find the bridge for quite some time. The hike to the bridge is an easy one that anyone can do. On my way to the bridge I saw a cardinal fly right past me. If you are in the area this is a very pleasant walk to take and this is a nice place to take a picture. I really like the history of this area which not only includes the Deering estate but ten thousand years of human occupation including 10,000 years of nearly continuous human occupation including Paleo-Indians, Tequesta settlements, Seminole hunting grounds, and Bahamian and Florida Cracker homesteads.

    Photos
    No motorized vehicles permitted - nothing gas or electric. | Miami is already too noisy. Let people have just one quiet and peaceful place.
    No motorized vehicles permitted - nothing gas or electric. | Miami is already too noisy. Let people have just one quiet and peaceful place.
    Chinese Bridge
    Chinese Bridge

    See all

    William Anderson General Merchandise Store

    William Anderson General Merchandise Store

    4.0
    (2 reviews)
    9.1 mi

    Shame to see some Redlands history going to waste…read more The William Anderson General Merchandise Store (also known as Anderson's Corner) is a historic site in Redland, Florida, United States. Built in 1911 by William "Popp" Anderson, who worked for railroad magnate Henry Flagler, the wood-frame structure is located at 15700 Southwest 232nd Street. It served as a general store for the thriving Redlands agricultural community until the 1930s, when it was converted into apartments. Condemned in 1975, it was granted a reprieve for rehabilitation, and was eventually converted into the successful Harvest House restaurant. After being ravaged by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the building was partially restored, although it has remained vacant since.

    I enjoy historic building hunting and this one has been on my radar for a long time. It is located…read morein the Redlands, a rural agricultural community in Miami that took its name from the pockets of red clay that cover a layer of oolitic limestone. The Redlands produce tropical fruits, many of which do not grow elsewhere in the US. I love a trip to the Redlands which is filled with farm stands and roadside tables selling fresh grown produce. Other highlights of the Redlands include Schnebly Redland's Winery and their fruit wines, Knaus Berry Farms and their cinnamon rolls, and Robert is Here and their fresh fruit milkshakes. I especially love all of the historic buildings from the early 1900's that you can find here. This one may be the most famous of all. The William Anderson General Merchandise Store was built in 1911 by William "Popp" Anderson, who came from Indiana to join his friend and hunting partner Charles Grossman, the first settler in the area. Anderson worked for railroad magnate Henry Flagler. East of Grossmans homestead, Anderson established his own homestead in Silver Palm which used to be the name of this area which was known for it's pinelands and good hunting. He built the wood frame structure that would become his store at the midpoint of a logging road that connected the Everglades to the shipping port of Black Point in South Biscayne Bay. It was a well traveled road and across the street from the store was the Silver Palms School. Popp Anderson operated the general store selling a variety of items to residents and businesses in the agricultural community. The store was on the first floor and Andersons living quarters were on the second floor. It was the only store for 15 miles. The store was in open until the 1930's when it was converted into apartments. The building was condemned in 1975 but received a reprieve when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 18, 1977. It was listed as a historic site by Miami-Dade County in 1981 and received a restoration in 1985. In the late 1980's the building was the successful Harvest House Restaurant but it closed after suffering devastation from category 5 Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The building has remained empty ever since. It is currently on the market for 1.1 million dollars and it is completely gutted inside. The building is on the Dade Heritage Trust list of the 12 Most Endangered Sites in Miami-Dade County. I hope someone takes an interest in saving the store but it is going to take a lot of money to do so. Right now it's only residents are a bunch of stray cats. There is so much history here that it deserves another chapter.

    Photos
    William Anderson General Merchandise Store
    William Anderson General Merchandise Store
    William Anderson General Merchandise Store

    See all

    Coral Castle

    Coral Castle

    3.9
    (346 reviews)
    7.3 mi
    Walk-ins welcome
    99 years in business

    This is an interesting pit stop if you're in South Florida. We went because it was mentioned in…read moresome TV shows and was something that stood out as unusual. But, it is really quite small. If this was a $10 admission fee, I'd probably add one star. But, they charge $25/pp and there's not much to the place. All that said....is it interesting? Sure. It makes you wonder why the guy who built the place obsessively worked to make it. The story about his lost love gives his the motivation. Still, pretty incredible that he went to this effort by himself.

    My husband has wanted to come here ever since he was a kid, after hearing Leonard Nimoy talk about…read moreit on his show In Search Of.... Hubs told me about it, and then we heard about it together on Coast to Coast Am, early in our marriage. I had forgotten all about it until we were planning our trip to the Keys and my husband brought it up, so, we made it a priority to visit. Homestead is basically the last city you hit on the mainland before you begin your journey through the Keys, so you don't really have to make special plans to get here if you're heading there. Admission is $25 per adult, slightly less for children. With tax and a credit card convenience fee of $1.50, our total admission cost was $55. Personally, I think it was worth it, but then, I am into the weird stuff. The place can accomodate at least 100 people, but due to the oddity of the place and, I'm guessing, it's lack of notoriety, it doesn't seem to get very busy. There were maybe 25-30 people in the 2.5 hours we spent there. Coral Castle is almost entirely outdoors and exposed to the elements, so it is not really a castle. There are sitting areas, a dining area, bathing area and one enclosed living (sleeping) area. The living area could be called a tower, as it is two floors, but 1) You only get to see the lower floor which is now kind of a tool shed museum and 2) You can peek in it, but you can't actually go in it. Everything is made of a type of stone called oolite limestone. It is extremely strong and very heavy. The mystery of the castle is how it was built. How did one 5' tall man move multiple stones, weighing a ton or more, by himself? How did he make his stone chairs rock, and his stone gates turn? He claimed to know the secrets of the pyramid builders, and to this day, no one really knows how he did it. There are guided tours at regularly scheduled intervals, and you can join in anytime at no additional charge (recommended), or you can walk around and look at everything yourself, but there is no signage. You can stay as long as you want and take as many pictures as you want as well. There is a gift shop which has a cutout of Edward Leedskalnin, the man who built Coral Castle, that you can take a photo of or selfie with, along with the usual gift shop fare of shirts/sweatshirts, postcards, magnets, books, and other items. If you're looking for something interesting and unusual to do on the way to the Keys, I highly suggest a stop here. 99/2025

    Photos
    Coral Castle
    Overlook of the park in 2010
    Overlook of the park in 2010
    Coral Castle

    See all

    Biscayne National Park - landmarks - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...