In a state where most things seem as though they were built yesterday or the day before, it is reassuring to find something-a tourist attraction, no less-that endures remarkably unchanged.
Parrot Jungle and Gardens (11000 S.W. 57th Ave., South Miami) has weathered feasts, famines, floods and droughts, to say nothing of fickle public tastes since it opened in 1936.
Just over a year ago Parrot Jungle was very nearly wiped out by Hurricane Andrew, the third and worst hurricane that has battered the attraction in the past 55 years. The gates were closed for just three weeks as crews cleared away the wreckage.
The marks of $4.75 million in hurricane damage are still everywhere, most dramatically in 100-year-old oak and cypress trees literally bolted together, propped up and secured by guy wires. Happily, Parrot Jungle lost none of its 1,100 animals-though one of its alligators temporarily escaped. Jeff Shimonski and his horticultural staff have made a herculean effort in restoring the native hardwood trees and 1,000 varieties of tropical plants to a semblance of their former glory.
Parrot Jungle is only 21 acres, a tranquil island surrounded by sprawling development and whizzing traffic. Once you step through its portals you enter an old-fashioned Florida that has very nearly vanished.
The concept seems simple: exotic birds, native animals and lush tropical vegetation, but sometimes we forget what attracted people to Florida in the first place. At Parrot Jungle you’ll remember.
Be prepared to laugh at the same bird tricks that have been delighting audiences for more than a half-century, five times a day, in the Parrot Bowl Theater. Please don’t alert the animal activists, but Pinky, the star attraction, has been riding his little red bike for more than 30 years, and seems none the worse for wear.
“Riding his little bike keeps Pinky in great shape,” assured trainer Randi Niles. “He’s a Moluccan salmon-crested Cockatoo, over 50 years old, and he represented the state of Florida at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York.”
Pinky enjoys performing so much that he went into a depression when he was retired in 1988, and for the sake of his health he was restored to his star status.
Parrot Jungle has a modest number of reptiles and other non-feathered animals, some of which are featured in a Wildlife Show performed four times daily.
Old Florida buffs will be pleased to see Parrot Jungle has maintained and preserved its original coral rock structures, including the 1936 entry on Red Road, which now is a snack bar. Some of the work is performed by 50 adult volunteers and the “Parrot Troop,” junior volunteers ages 13-18 who do feeding and cage cleaning duties.
Flamingo Lake will be familiar to anyone who saw the “Miami Vice” television series, as the flock of 80 shocking-pink birds was featured in the opening credits. Walkways are covered in the (likely) event of rain, but be advised there is no air conditioning except in the gift shop and buffet-style restaurant. The summer heat can get quite oppressive, so bring comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes.
Admission to Parrot Jungle is $10.50 adults (13 and older) and $7 children 3-12. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily for the Parrot Cafe and 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. for the park. Call 305-666-7834.
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Parrot Jungle is handicapped-accessible.
