The Ol’ Gator Hole *
EXHIBIT
The Ol’ Gator Hole
Visit our historic, deep-water habitat designed to mirror the natural “alligator holes” found deep within the wild Florida Everglades. This exhibit is home to Grandpa, one of our massive founding alligators who arrived at the park in the late 1950s. It provides a peaceful look at how fully-grown alligators bask, swim, and thrive in a perfectly recreated cypress swamp environment. These massive reptiles thrive in slow-moving freshwater rivers, marshes, and lakes, dining on a diverse diet of fish, turtles, wading birds, and local mammals. Thanks to successful conservation efforts, the wild population density of American Alligators in Florida is incredibly robust—often exceeding several hundred gators per square mile in prime wetlands—which is mirrored in the active, dense community swimming safely within our cypress-lined habitat.
Swamp School
Fun Fact: During the dry season in the Everglades, “gator holes” dug by alligators stay filled with water, providing a vital lifesaver for fish, turtles, and birds until the rains return!
Gatorama Explorer Question: Can you find “Grandpa” basking near the water’s edge, and how many other big gators can you count sharing his favorite swimming spot?
