On my yearly summer drive to Marco Island, I saw this giant panther and wondered, what in the world is a Skunk Ape Headquarters?
This year, on the trip back to Miami, I stopped in with my wife, Marcela. We needed to check out what exactly is the deal with the Skunk Ape Headquarters in Ochopee, Florida.
You walk into what amounts to a gift shop selling t-shirts, magnets (alright, I’m a sucker, I bought one), and the Everglades Skunk Ape Research Field Guide. The Field Guide is cheapy looking, which is why I decided against buying it.
Let’s not forget about The Ochopee Skunk Ape Movie, which is also on sale.
Once you check out the gift shop area, you can walk into the back area for a meager $6 and see gators, iguanas, turtles, snakes, and birds. A guided tour will cost $12 per person.
The Skunk Ape Hunter Video
Only Six Bucks to Get In?
Not bad for $6 if you ask me.
I did feel that, at any point, someone was going to jump out and kill us (we were the only people here other than the two guys who worked here), but my burger sense did not issue any warnings. The man who works with the animals is fantastic.
He removed the baby gator and the birds from their living areas so we could see them up close. I have a sneaking suspicion that you could ask him to remove the snakes.
He also talked to us about the Skunk Ape and how it’s the Big Foot of the Florida Everglades. This is a fun place to check out if you have an hour or less to kill, and you can’t go wrong for $6.
UPDATE: We’ve revisited Skunk Ape Headquarters a few times, and based on what I’ve seen, a lot has changed for the better.
Skunk Ape Headquarters
40904 Tamiami Trail East
Ochopee, FL
(239) 695-2275
Website – https://www.skunkape.info
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/skunkapehq
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/SkunkApeHeadquarters
Monday 9 am – 5 pm
Tuesday 9 am – 5 pm
Wednesday 9 am – 5 pm
Thursday 9 am – 5 pm
Friday 9 am – 5 pm
Saturday 9 am – 5 pm
Sunday 9 am – 5 pm