Parrot Jungle Island
Published On: Oct 25, 2006

Parrot Jungle Island
1111 Parrot Jungle Trail
Miami, FL


"It's a jungle out there" certainly tells the story of Parrot Jungle Island in Miami. Parrot Jungle is sanctuary for more than 1,100 tropical birds as well as 2,000 varieties of plants and flowers. Parrot Jungle originally opened in December 1936 when the first 100 curious visitors paid a quarter to tour the 20 acre park started by Austrian born Franz Scherr.

Scherr, who arrived in America in 1911, was a carpenter by trade and worked all over America. Eventually, he purchased a feed and supply store in Homestead, Florida. The initial thoughts of Parrot Jungle began in the feed store. The feed store was home to several birds that Scherr found to be easy to train, and friendly. He later conversed with his friend and mentor Joe Dumond who, at the time, had started a similar attraction centered on monkeys.

Scherr relocated from Homestead to just south of Miami where he rented the land for the park for $25 a year. He started with a winding nature trail cut through hammock and coral rock. He purchased 25 Macaws and they arrived from Laredo, Texas just before the park opened.

The park operated at the original location until November 2002 when it closed for eight months in order to relocate to its current location. Although the park started with nothing more than local birds and Macaws, it now is home to a huge collection of reptiles and amphibians housed in the Serpentarium as well as several orangutans, including the first set of twins born in nearly 20 years.

Packages that Parrot Jungle offers, in addition to regular admission, will meet almost any group requirement. From birthday parties for children to company or school groups, they offer a variety of admission packages to fit every need.

The birthday packages allow your party to use a private party pavilion and provide a choice of either hot dogs or chicken fingers, accompanied by chips and sodas, all paper goods and the birthday cake. In addition, they will photograph your child and the party guests. You'll receive an 8x10 photo. The child also receives a Parrot Island shirt and special recognition during the exciting bird shows that day.

Larger parties can choose to use the treetop ballroom or the beautiful garden outpost that overlooks Biscayne Bay. Parrot Jungle will provide a picnic fare meal for your party or you can customize your menu.

If you are a bit more daring than the average tourist, the Parrot Jungle offers up close and personal adventures with the animals. Choose from the VIP Safari to the Jungle Encounter and even the Wild Encounter depending on your desires. The VIP Safari is a 90 minute guided tour for two to 10 persons of the animals with their trainers. This tour includes a visit with all of the varieties of animals present at the park. The Jungle encounter allows for a 60 minute tour of the reptile inhabitants for up to 40 people per group.

The Wild Encounter allows visitors to visit for 30 to 45 minutes with baby chimps and orangutans, tigers and other exotic animals. This encounter allows for up to 10 people in a group.

All of the special safaris include additional perks whether it be a discount at the shops in the park or shirts with the Jungle Island logo for each member of the group. The perks are dependent on the package chosen. Regardless of the package perks, the tours are well worth the park entrance fees.

A trip to the park also includes the ability to enjoy the Ichimura Miami Japan Garden. The garden, once housed in the center of what is now the Parrot Jungle Park, was moved just a few feet and reconstructed for the enjoyment of the residents of Miami as well as visitors to the Parrot Jungle Island.

Whether you are a bird lover or a nature lover you are sure to love Parrot Jungle Island. Rich in lavish landscape as well as exotic birds and their amphibian and reptilian friends, you will fall in love with it all just as the founder did.