As fall approaches, it’s prime time for outdoor activities and spooky thrills! The perfect place to kick off your adventure into the land of the mysterious and uncanny is by learning all about one of the Everglades’ oldest folkloric creatures: the Skunk Ape.
Much like Sasquatch or Bigfoot, the Skunk Ape is a 5-to-7-foot-tall hairy, humanoid and foul-smelling creature said to roam the swamps. It’s actually nicknamed the “Sasquatch of the Southeast” and reports on its sightings go back for generations.
Whether you’re a believer or not, the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters in Ochopee is one of the state’s most unique roadside attractions, offering visitors a chance to see a plaster cast of its footprint and other evidence of the legendary beast stalking Big Cypress.
What can you see at the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters?
Enter the quirky landmark to learn about the lore, four-toed footprint tracks and research surrounding the cryptid. Founder and cryptozoologist Dave Shealy claims to have encountered the Skunk Ape himself on several occasions, first as a child in the ’70s.
“It was a rural area back then, but everyone in town just knew these creatures existed,” Shealy told Florida Weekly. “After my first sighting, I got immediately obsessed. I made a camp like a treehouse and spent hours out there thinking about the Skunk Ape. I would go out scouting for it, and that is how it began.”
The attraction also functions as a small zoo, where you can take a guided or self-guided tour of the animal enclosures to see American alligators, caimans, tortoises and other reptiles. The onsite gift shop is filled with kitschy Florida souvenirs and Skunk Ape-themed merch to take home, including t-shirts, hats and shot glasses.
Details
The Skunk Ape Research Headquarters is located at 40904 Tamiami Trail East in Ochopee, about an hour and a half from Miami. It makes for the perfect stop if you’re driving through the Everglades alongside your family, friends or solo. The museum opens every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
It also serves as an operating hub for Everglades Adventure Tours, offering kayak and canoe rentals. Learn more on their website.
