I Explored The Ruins Of An Abandoned Zoo On The Coast Of Florida. It Has Been Overrun By Nature, But The Eerie Cage Remains.

The author visited an abandoned building in the ruins of Crandon Park Zoo in Florida.

Joey Hadden / Business Insider

The story of the first zoo in Miami is a sad one.
The storm destroyed the coastal attraction, leaving the barn empty.
The animals that live there now are free.

Elephants, monkeys, tigers, and reptiles once lived on a corner of a South Florida beach, where I found an empty cage covered in graffiti and greenery.

The Crandon Park Zoo opened in 1948 as Miami’s first zoo, according to the Miami Herald. Then a hurricane in the 1980s destroyed it. The park was closed, and the animals that survived the hurricane were moved to a larger area. In 1991, the ruins of the zoo were reopened as a park.

I visited the park in October 2021 to see what was left of the abandoned zoo, and I found a wildlife sanctuary.

The first thing I noticed was the sign at the entrance warning of crocodiles.

The entrance to the walking zoo — Joey Hadden / Business Insider

According to Atlas Obscura, the ruins are also home to wild alligators, iguanas, and peacocks.

The paths in the park made me feel like I was in a zoo – where the animals were free.

Birds on the fence in the ruins of the zoo — Joey Hadden / Business Insider

Part of the park was paved, while others felt wild. Some of the land used to be coconut plantations, according to the Miami Herald.

In one of the dark areas, I saw what appeared to be an animal cage left in the rock.

The cage at the zoo is in ruins — Joey Hadden / Business Insider

I thought it looked like it could have been a unique, immersive attraction and wondered if animals had also lived there a few decades ago.

Some abandoned buildings are fenced off and covered in graffiti.

The abandoned structure extends beyond the fence — Joey Hadden / Business Insider

I peered over the tall chain link fence and spotted the remains of the destroyed building.

But one large structure remains accessible.

Seen in one house many barns.

At the back, I saw a barn door that looked like it was used to feed the animals inside.

Inside a cage in an abandoned zoo — Joey Hadden / Business Insider

I could see inside some of the animal enclosures, which were now empty except for a few leaves, branches, and a large amount of vines. The door was still locked.

The scene inside the building was a bit disturbing.

Peeking inside made me think of the animals that might have gotten stuck when the storm water filled the fence.

I tried to imagine what kind of animals could live in that place. Based on its size, it might be a monkey, I thought.

I left the park thinking it was now a better home for the wildlife that had taken over.

trees in the ruins of the zoo — Joey Hadden / Business Insider

After my visit, the zoo celebrated its 75th anniversary of serving the public in November 2022.

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