Everglades National Park’s Flamingo Lodge opens

The new Flamingo Lodge at Everglades National Park is now open for guests. 

The all-new 24-unit Flamingo Lodge features contemporary boutique-style studios and one- and two-bedroom suites with kitchenettes and balconies overlooking scenic Florida Bay.

The adjacent stand-alone Flamingo Restaurant, scheduled to open in December, will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with South Florida cuisine and a full-service bar.

The park’s Flamingo area is located within Monroe County, which encompasses the Florida Keys island chain.

“Flamingo is back to life — a world-class destination we can all be proud of,” said Pedro Ramos, superintendent of Everglades and Dry Tortugas national parks.

The all-new Miami Modern-style facilities, with Art Deco elements, are built from elevated and enhanced climate-resistant modified shipping containers.

The lodge includes eight two-bedroom suites that each accommodate up to six guests.

There are 12 one-bedroom suites for up to four, and four studios for two.

Four ADA units can be accessed by a walkway and elevator.

Each unit has a balcony facing east for viewing sunrises and sunsets over Florida Bay, as well as full baths and kitchenettes.

“Development of these 24 lodge rooms and a 4,000-square-foot restaurant is a testament to the vision, hard work and dedication of many, many people over the last five years,” said Nico Foris, chief executive officer of authorized concessionaire Guest Services Inc.

The original Flamingo Lodge opened in the mid-1960s for the National Park Service’s 50th anniversary, but had been closed for more than 18 years after sustaining storm damage.

The park’s Flamingo area is a 50-minute drive from its South Florida entrance in Homestead, Florida, and an approximately 90-minute drive from Key Largo, Florida.

The area’s fully renovated pink Guy Bradley Visitor Center reopened in July and is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm.

It features 6,000 square feet of interactive nature and art exhibits and expansive views of Florida Bay.

A Florida National Parks Association bookstore sells books and Everglades souvenirs.

The center is dedicated to Bradley, an Audubon game warden shot and killed in 1905 while protecting wading birds from plume hunters.

“That event crystalized the conservation movement throughout the world,” Ramos said.

Everglades National Park, the United States’ largest subtropical wilderness, is designated a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, a Wetland of International Importance and a Cartagena Treaty specially protected area.

The park’s 75th anniversary was celebrated last year.

The 2,400-square-mile park — famous for wildlife such as the manatee, American crocodile and Florida panther is also home to more than 300 bird species.

The continental United States’ third-largest national park, Everglades is popular for activities including sport fishing and star gazing.

Flamingo Lodge rates range from $259 to $399 per night plus tax through May 2024 and from $159 to $299 per night from June through October 2024, with a 14-day maximum stay.

Park entrance fee is $30 per vehicle for up to seven days.

The on-site Flamingo Marina and Store Boat offers slips, boat and houseboat rentals.

Other rentals include 20 eco-platform or “glamping” tents, campsites, kayaks, canoes and bikes.

Visitors can also enjoy backcountry and Florida Bay boat tours.