If you’ve ever wanted to explore the Everglades but don’t have the gear to trek through the wilderness, swamps, and lakes on your own, touring the terrain on an air boat ride may be a better option. Air boat operators around Florida have been taking visitors on countless tours of the Everglades to see native plants and animals up close, learn about the foliage and vegetation of Florida, and enjoy the swamp land from a fresh perspective. However, the Park Service recently announced that it will stop granting new licenses to privately-owned air boat operators meaning Everglades air boat rides may be a thing of the past.
Park Service General Management Plan Ends Private Air Boating
The most recent proposal from the Park Service would end all private air boating in the East Everglades for the next 15 to 20 years. Existing commercial air boat tour operators along the famous Tamiami Trail may be bought out so that the park can turn them into concessionaires. If the new plan is adopted soon, more than 80,000 acres of the East Everglades would be designated as open wilderness which would mean no vehicles of any kind would be permitted on the grounds, according to the Miami Herald.
The Problem with the New Proposal
While the Park Service is making every effort to protect the Everglades for the next few decades, eliminating all air boat tours may not even be necessary. Airboats do not damage vegetation or interfere with wildlife. They provide a convenient and affordable mode of transportation for visitors that may not be able to access certain parts of the parks on their own and also serve as a safe and secure vehicle across multiple types of terrain.
Everglades air boat rides are designed to maneuver over water, swamp land, and dirt with minimal impact to the environment while providing a comfortable ride. Travelers have the chance to see Florida alligators up close, explore natural habitats, and enjoy scenes of the swamplands that aren’t accessible by foot or boat. If the proposal does pass, you will still be able to enjoy the headwaters of the Everglades at Wild Florida.
