Wild Florida

What Wild Florida does

Wild Florida is a privately held, direct-to-consumer wildlife adventure park founded in 2010, operating from a 170+ acre site on Lake Cypress in the Headwaters of the Florida Everglades in Kenansville, Florida. The company runs three core attractions: U.S. Coast Guard-certified airboat tours through the Everglades ecosystem, an 8-acre walkable Gator Park housing over 200 native and exotic animals with live educational shows, and Florida's only 170-acre Drive-thru Safari spanning four miles of dirt terrain with over 150 free-roaming animals. The company supplements these attractions with a growing portfolio of premium animal encounters (sloth, capybara, lemur, giraffe feeding, giraffe painting, VIP safari), bundled adventure packages (Half-Day, VIP Safari, Ultimate Experience), on-site dining at Chomp House Grill, and subscription-style annual passes.

The business operates a multi-channel DTC go-to-market: tickets are sold through the company's own e-commerce site, the Peek.com booking platform, phone reservations, and in-person at the gate, with separate handling for group bookings of 10+ and corporate events. Pricing is tiered by attraction and residency, with Florida residents receiving a 30-50% discount across most products; base admission starts at $15 (Gator Park adult) and top experiential packages reach $245. Customer segments are tourism-led (Orlando/Central Florida visitors seeking an alternative to theme parks), with secondary segments in local Florida residents, Osceola and Orange County school groups, and corporate and group events. Annual passes ($35-$99) represent an emerging recurring revenue layer.

Wild Florida has built a defensible footprint through 15+ partnerships spanning conservation NGOs (Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge, Giraffe Conservation Foundation, Lemur Conservation Foundation), official tourism bodies (Experience Kissimmee, Visit Orlando, Visit Florida), and school districts. The 2018 launch of the Drive-thru Safari and the Croc Squad animal care team marked a material expansion beyond the original airboat operation, and the company created National Alligator Day (May 29) as a brand asset. The company holds 11-50 employees, is privately held with concentrated founder ownership (Sam Haught as co-owner), and reports no external funding, parent company, or institutional investors in the available source material.

Name

Wild Florida

Legal name

Wild Florida Airboats

Website

https://wildfloridairboats.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wild Florida is a privately-held wildlife adventure park in Kenansville, Florida, offering U.S. Coast Guard-certified airboat tours, an 8-acre Gator Park with 200+ animals, a 170-acre Drive-thru Safari, and premium animal encounters to Orlando tourists, Florida residents, school groups, and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Adventure Park

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Safari Parks & Drive-Through Wildlife Parks (THAAAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Safaris & Game Drives (THAJAIAB), Safari & Wildlife Adventure Tour Operators (Land-Based) (THAAADAD), Safari & Overland Wildlife Adventures (4x4/Jeep) (THAJABAD)

Keywords

• Wildlife adventure park
• Airboat tours
• Drive-thru safari
• Animal encounters
• Everglades experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Kenansville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Attraction Admission Tickets: Revenue from selling tickets to Gator Park, Drive-thru Safari Park, airboat tours, and animal encounter experiences. Prices vary by attraction type and residency status.
2. Food and Beverage (Chomp House Grill): On-site restaurant serving barbecue, burgers, catfish, gator dishes, and Swamp Slushy frozen beverages. Includes kids menu and vegetarian options.
3. Gift Shop and Merchandise: Souvenir shop selling gator-themed merchandise including plush toys, gator tooth necklaces, and memorabilia.
4. Premium Animal Encounters and Experiences: Additional revenue from add-on experiences such as Sloth Encounter ($45), Capybara Encounter ($45), Giraffe Feeding ($5), Giraffe Painting Experience ($145), VIP Safari Tour ($175), and Ultimate Experience ($245).
5. Annual Passes: Year-round access passes for Drive-thru Safari and Gator Park ($99), offering unlimited access, guest tickets, animal feeds, and member discounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Wild Florida is a wildlife adventure park in Central Florida that operates U.S. Coast Guard-certified airboat tours through the Headwaters of the Florida Everglades, an 8-acre Gator Park with over 200 native and exotic animals, and a 170-acre self-guided Drive-thru Safari Park with more than 150 free-roaming animals. The company sells admission tickets, paid animal encounter experiences, bundled adventure packages, on-site food and beverage, and annual passes, primarily to families, tourists, school groups, and corporate event customers.

Product overview

Wild Florida Adventure Park is a direct-to-consumer wildlife attraction offering a unified portfolio of experiential products centered on Florida Everglades wildlife and exotic animals. The core offering is organized around three main attraction pillars: (1) Airboat Tours — U.S. Coast Guard-certified boat excursions through the Everglades with free Gator Park admission; (2) Gator Park — an 8-acre walkable wildlife park with over 200 animals, live shows, and educational exhibits; and (3) Drive-Thru Safari Park — a 170-acre self-guided safari where guests drive through from their own vehicle to see over 150 roaming exotic and native animals. These core attractions are supplemented by paid Animal Encounter Experiences (sloth, capybara, lemur, giraffe, alligator interactions), bundled Adventure Packages (Half-Day, VIP Safari, Ultimate Experience), Chomp House Grill on-site dining, and Annual Passes and Gift Cards for repeat visitation and gifting. Tickets are sold directly online via Peek.com booking links, with Florida resident discounts available across most products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Airboat Tours Guided airboat tours through the Headwaters of the Florida Everglades, exploring pristine marshes, swamps, and rivers on U.S. Coast Guard-certified vessels. Guests spot native wildlife including alligators, eagles, wild hogs, and turkeys. Each airboat tour includes free admission to the Gator Park.
• Gator Park 8-acre walkable wildlife park with over 200 native and exotic animals including zebras, sloths, lemurs, Watusi cattle, bobcats, and monster alligators. Includes live educational shows (Crusher Show, Gator Feeding Show, Exotic Animal Show), a walk-in bird aviary, Hawk Swamp boardwalk, and petting zoo. Standard admission $15 adult / $12 child; Florida residents $8 adult / $6 child; included free with any Drive-thru Safari or airboat ticket.
• Drive-Thru Safari Park Self-guided drive-thru safari across 170 acres of Florida wilderness covering 4 miles of dirt terrain, where guests explore from their own vehicle and encounter over 150 free-roaming exotic and native animals including giraffes, zebras, bison, wildebeest, watusi, and oryx. Includes free admission to the Gator Park and access to the Giraffe Feeding Platform ($5). Out-of-state tickets $35 adult / $25 child; Florida residents $25 adult / $20 child.
• Animal Encounter Experiences Interactive in-person animal encounters where guests hand-feed, hold, and interact with specific animals under trainer supervision. Offerings include Sloth Encounter ($45/person), Capybara Encounter ($45/person), Lemur Encounter, Porcupine Encounter, Gator Feeding Encounter, Giraffe Feeding Platform ($5/person), Giraffe Painting Experience ($145/person), and VIP Sloth Encounter (private 30-minute experience). All include admission to the Gator Park.
• Adventure Packages Bundled ticket packages combining multiple attractions. Half-Day Adventure Package ($96 adult / $82 child) includes 1-hour airboat tour, Gator Park admission, digital souvenir photo with an alligator, basket lunch from Chomp House Grill, and bag of gator feed. VIP Safari Tour ($175/person, ages 12+, max 3 guests) includes giraffe feeding, guided 60–75 min safari drive, Fluffy the alligator encounter, alligator feeding, and lunch with slushy. Ultimate Wild Florida Experience ($245/person, ages 12+) is an all-day all-inclusive package covering all animal encounters, airboat tour, Drive-thru Safari, and Gator Park.
• Chomp House Grill On-site restaurant at Wild Florida serving barbecue, burgers, catfish, gator nuggets, and the signature Swamp Slushy frozen beverage (mango, orange, and passion fruit blend). Offers vegetarian options including a veggie burger and house salad. Located at the park with indoor (Cypress Ballroom) and outdoor (Gator Pavilion) seating.
• Annual Passes Year-round membership options providing unlimited access to park attractions. Drive-Thru Safari & Gator Park Annual Pass includes unlimited Safari and Gator Park access, 2 free guest tickets, 5 animal feedings, 10% discounts on food/merchandise/encounters, and a birthday bonus. Gator Park Annual Pass ($35/person) covers unlimited Gator Park access, goat selfies, bird aviary access, and wildlife shows. Passes go on sale each November exclusively online.
• Gift Cards Gift cards available for purchase, allowing recipients to book any Wild Florida Adventure Park experience of their choice.

Quantifiable outcome

• Wild Florida has educated thousands of visitors about Florida's natural habitat and wildlife since 2010
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Experience KissimmeecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial tourism marketing partner promoting Central Florida attractions. Cross-promotional relationship for visitor outreach.
• Visit OrlandocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Orlando tourism organization partner for marketing and visitor promotion.
• Visit FloridacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial state tourism marketing partner for Florida visitor promotion.
• Osceola County Chamber of CommercecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal chamber partnership for community business development and tourism promotion.
• St. Cloud Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal chamber membership supporting community business initiatives.
• School District of Osceola CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership providing field trip opportunities and learning experiences aligned with curriculum standards.
• Orange County Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership offering field trip experiences for OCPS students.
• Florida Attractions AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry association membership for Florida attractions.
• Advent HealthminorOthersHealthcare provider partnership for employee wellness programs and community health initiatives.
• Friends of the Florida Panther RefugecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner. Wild Florida donates a percentage of alligator picture proceeds to support Florida panther conservation efforts. The approximately 100 remaining Florida panthers benefit from this partnership.
• Giraffe Conservation FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner. A portion of Giraffe Painting Experience ticket sales is donated to support giraffe conservation in the wild.
• Lemur Conservation FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner supporting preservation of critically endangered lemur populations.
• APPC Panama (Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner working to rescue and conserve critically endangered amphibian species in Panama.
• Back to Nature WildlifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWildlife rehabilitation partner committed to rehabilitating and releasing injured or orphaned Florida wildlife.
• The Rattlesnake ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner committed to conservation of venomous snakes and their habitats through education and research.
• CrocfestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent partner raising awareness and funds for crocodile conservation efforts worldwide.
• Osceola County Education FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational nonprofit partner receiving support for educational initiatives and resources for local schools and students.
• Osceola Council on AgingminorOthersCommunity partner supporting services and programs for elderly well-being in the community.
• SIXTminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCar rental partner providing transportation options for visitors to reach the park.
• Bogin MunnsminorOthersLocal law firm partner with mutual business referrals.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Gatorland: Historic Orlando-area wildlife attraction specializing in alligators and crocodilians, with similar gator shows, wildlife exhibits, and zip lines. Direct competitor targeting the same Florida tourist market with overlapping product mix.
• Everglades Safari Park: Florida Everglades attraction offering guided airboat tours, wildlife viewing, and animal exhibits. Closest direct competitor on the airboat-and-wildlife-tour combination that anchors Wild Florida's product offering.
• Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures: Orlando-area airboat tour operator offering Everglades wildlife excursions with similar captain-led tour formats. Direct competitor for the airboat tour segment of Wild Florida's business.
• Spirit of the Swamp Airboat Rides: Florida Everglades airboat tour operator near the same Central Florida corridor, focusing on guided swamp and wildlife experiences — directly comparable to Wild Florida's airboat offering.
• Audubon Swamp Tour: Guided swamp wildlife tour experience in Louisiana operated by the Audubon Institute, comparable in nature-based wildlife boat tour model and educational positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Discovery Cove Orlando: SeaWorld-owned premium animal encounter resort in Orlando offering all-inclusive wildlife experiences (swim with dolphins, sharks, rays). Broader incumbent competing for the same premium wildlife-experience tourist dollars in Orlando.
• SeaWorld Orlando: Major Orlando theme park with extensive animal exhibits, shows, and encounters. Large incumbent competing for Central Florida tourist share, though its offering is broader amusement-park style.
• ZooTampa at Lowry Park: Florida zoological park with animal encounters, shows, and conservation programs. Comparable on public-facing wildlife exhibits, education programming, and conservation partnerships.
• Jungle Island Miami: Miami-area wildlife attraction featuring exotic animals, encounters, and shows. Comparable in Florida wildlife park positioning with animal encounter experiences and premium ticketed admission.

Regional players

• Florida Eco Tours: Eco-tour operator running wildlife-focused excursions in different parts of Florida. Comparable as a nature and wildlife experience provider, though operating in a distinct regional geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WildFlorida
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Wildfloridairboats
• Facebookfacebook.com/Wildfloridairboats
• Instagraminstagram.com/wildfloridairboats/?hl=en
• TikToktiktok.com/@wildfl?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wild-florida

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wild Florida