Everglades Outpost: The Wildlife Sanctuary Near Del Mar

Everglades Outpost is a nonprofit wildlife sanctuary and rescue center on SW 192nd Avenue in south Miami-Dade. It is one of the places Lennar names when it describes what is around Del Mar. The sanctuary cares for more than 115 animals, from a Florida panther to American crocodiles, and it also takes in injured native wildlife. This guide covers what it is, how to plan a visit and the everyday places Del Mar owners will use most.

What Everglades Outpost Is

The sanctuary calls itself the Everglades Outpost Wildlife Sanctuary. On its own website, it describes itself as a non-profit 501(c)(3) ""wildlife sanctuary and rehabilitation center."" Public IRS records list it as Everglades Outpost Inc., with its tax exemption issued in October 1994.

Here are the plain facts from the sanctuary's site:

• It started in 1992. The site says it was ""established in 1992.""

• Its job is rescue. It focuses on ""the rescue and placement of wild and endangered animals.""

• It is home to many animals. The site lists ""over 115 permanent residents and over 16 different species of wildlife.""

Many of the animals came from hard situations. The sanctuary names a few of them: an adult Grant's zebra, an endangered Florida panther that had been kept as a pet, and an American alligator with a bone disease from life in private hands. It also lists American crocodiles and Sulcata tortoises.

Where Everglades Outpost Is

The sanctuary's address is 35601 SW 192nd Avenue, Homestead, FL 33034. Its public profile on Give Miami Day and a story by FIU's Caplin News both give that address.

Del Mar is at 35605 SW 180th Avenue. In Miami-Dade's street grid, avenue numbers grow as you go west, so SW 192nd Avenue is farther west than Del Mar's SW 180th Avenue. You can see Del Mar's location on the Del Mar page on our site.

For the roads that connect it all, read our guide to the roads that connect Florida City and Del Mar.

How to Plan a Visit to Everglades Outpost

The sanctuary's current website does not post its visiting hours or prices. An older page that used to list them is no longer online. So do this before you go:

1. Call first. The sanctuary's phone number, from its own rescue page, is 305-247-8000.

2. Ask about hours and days. Ask which days it is open to visitors and what time it closes.

3. Ask about admission. Ask whether there is a fee, a donation or a membership.

4. Ask about groups. If you are bringing a group, ask whether you need to book a guided tour.

You can read more on the Everglades Outpost website.

If You Find an Injured Wild Animal

This is useful to know as a new resident. Everglades Outpost runs a wildlife rehab program. Its site describes wildlife rehabilitation as ""the process of caring for injured, sick, or orphaned wild animals with the goal of releasing them back into their natural habitats."" It says it rehabilitates wildlife that is ""NATIVE to Florida.""

If you find a hurt native animal near your home, the sanctuary's rehab page asks you to call 305-247-8000 for help. Do not try to handle a wild animal yourself.

More Outdoor Places Close to Del Mar

Everglades Outpost is one stop. Two national parks sit nearby too.

Everglades National Park. The main entrance area, the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, is at 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034, according to the National Park Service. Our guide to reaching the main Everglades National Park entrance covers the route and what to see first.

Biscayne National Park. The Park Service lists the park at 9700 SW 328th Street, Homestead. Next to it, Miami-Dade's Homestead Bayfront Park has a beach, an atoll pool and a marina. See our guide to Homestead Bayfront Park's beach and marina.

A city park. The City of Florida City runs Loren Roberts Park at 427 NW 6th Avenue, where it holds youth football, cheer and track. See the city's Parks and Recreation page for programs.

A Simple Outdoor Weekend From Del Mar

If you like to be outside, here is one easy way to plan a weekend. Check every place's hours before you go, because they change.

Saturday morning: Everglades National Park. The Park Service lists Coe Visitor Center hours as ""9:00am - 5:00pm (April through Mid-December)"" and ""8:00am - 5:00pm (Mid-December through March),"" and adds that ""hours subject to change."" Start at the visitor center for maps and ranger advice.

Saturday afternoon: Everglades Outpost. Call 305-247-8000 first to confirm the sanctuary is open to visitors that day.

Sunday: Homestead Bayfront Park. Miami-Dade Parks lists the atoll pool as ""open sunrise to sunset, seven days a week."" Pack sun protection and water.

For young athletes. Florida City runs youth programs at Loren Roberts Park and at the Florida City Youth Activity Center, 650 NW 5th Avenue. The city's Parks and Recreation page lists the current sports and ages.

Everyday Errands Near Del Mar

Daily life is about the places you use every week. Here are the main ones, each from its own official page.

Groceries and a pharmacy. Walmart lists its Florida City Supercenter at 33501 S Dixie Hwy, Florida City, FL 33034, with grocery and pharmacy services.

Shopping. The Florida Keys Outlet Marketplace is at 250 E Palm Dr, Florida City. Our guide to Florida Keys Outlet Marketplace and nearby shopping lists what else is around it.

Healthcare. Baptist Health Homestead Hospital is at 975 Baptist Way, Homestead, FL 33033. Its page says it offers ""24/7 emergency care."" Read our guide to Baptist Health Homestead Hospital for more.

Schools. We do not name school assignments, because boundaries can change. Look up the exact address with Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

Store hours and services change, so check each place's own page before you go.

What We Could Not Confirm

We hold every fact on this page to a simple rule: if we cannot check it on an official page, we do not state it. For Everglades Outpost, three things fall outside that rule today:

• Visiting hours and days. The sanctuary's current site does not post them.

• Admission. No price or donation amount is posted on the current site.

• Reservations. We could not confirm whether general visits need a booking.

All three are one phone call away at 305-247-8000. Older third-party pages list hours and prices, but those can be years out of date, so we do not repeat them.

Why This Matters When You Buy

When you pick a home, you also pick your weekends. Del Mar puts you close to two national parks, a wildlife sanctuary and the road into the Florida Keys. If you love the outdoors, that is a real reason to look here. If you need a big city every weekend, think about the trip north and tour at the times you would actually travel.

To see how Del Mar fits the wider area, read our Florida City FL new townhome guide.

Common Questions

Want to see Del Mar and the area around it? Call 561-704-0091 or schedule a time to see Del Mar.

Related reading: Where is Florida City and the roads around Del Mar · Florida City FL buyer's guide · The Everglades National Park entrance