The Everglades Wonder Gardens was hit hard by Hurricane Irma, the pandemic, and, most recently, Hurricane Ian. The staff and volunteers have worked hard to build back and make this historic landmark better than ever.  Their latest project, Otter Grotto, will add some fun new friends to the already diverse group of rescue animals that call the Wonder Gardens home.

The Wonder Gardens, a non-profit, successfully raised $400,000 to fund their new Master & Strategic Plan at the Enchanted Gala aptly named “Whiskers on the River.” This impressive fundraising will mainly be used to build a new on-site Animal Care Center and the new Otter Grotto exhibit.

Keeping up with the Wonder Gardens’ focus on Florida’s native flora and fauna, Otter Grotto will model a naturalistic river bank with living plants and falling water. The playful otters will get to enjoy their habitat, complete with their very own water slide, while guests of the gardens watch from an array of viewpoints. The new exhibit will offer unobstructed views of the otters including a viewing dome, a crawl tunnel for the little ones, and a viewing window into the Otters’ nest. It will also feature a presentation area in the exhibit where keepers will give educational talks.

The Wonder Gardens has been working hard to get this exhibit up and running, but Hurricane Ian definitely threw a wrench into the plans. The staff and volunteers had to focus their efforts, and funds, on getting the rest of the gardens cleaned up for visitors before starting this new project. Designs for the project are not finalized and permits have not yet been granted but they are hopeful that they will be able to start construction this year.

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