Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium
Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium
Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium
3.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium is a public charity dedicated to environmental education and preservation. Our 105-acre site is home to many rescue animals, two nature trails, a planetarium theater, a bird aviary, a walk-through butterfly aviary, dozens of exhibits including terrariums, aquariums, dioramas and historical artifacts from both Earth and space - plus welcoming areas available to rent for your gatherings and celebrations. We showcase and talk about certain animals daily at 1:15 pm. We have a cool planetarium (44-foot dome with a Media Globe II planetarium projection system) with two different shows Tuesday - Saturday, and three per day on Sundays. The Planetarium shows are different each month. There are special events happening all throughout the year. Check out our weekly Summer Classes ranging by week and grade from June 3rd to August 5th!
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
3.5
229 reviews
Excellent
53
Very good
60
Average
44
Poor
41
Terrible
32
Deanna K
Fort Myers, Florida, United States5 contributions
Dec 2021
This is a small, loved, volunteer motivated, informational facility. I have taken my kids here many times over 25 years. There is just enough to see and hear about without it being overwhelming or too much. It's not a circus, but a true nature conservatory where you can see live animals, stuffed animals, walk a beautiful nature trail (especially when it is lit up for the Holiday walk, and the kids can get right up close to some exhibits which they love (like the fish)! They have the different stages of butterfly development on display and then the butterflies are released into a garden that you can walk through. The price for admission is quite reasonable and the workers clearly love what they do. My husband always enjoys the planetarium shows. There are native pollinator and butterfly plants for sale. It is a really nice place. Our group consisted of people from 17 years old up to 70. ANd there was a family with small children ahead of us on the trail.
Written 24 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carol M
Niantic, CT16 contributions
Mar 2023 • Solo
Small and lovely nature center. It’s important to bring our children to learn an appreciation for animals, nature, and our environment. Enjoyed eating “hi” to the animals, walking the paths, and the planetarium is amazing.
Written 27 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Escape693398
2 contributions
Jan 2020
Where do I start? $54 for 4 adults and 3 kids. No up to date signage for exhibits. Faded, disheveled, rotted roofs on buildings. Small garden area filled with weeds. Butterfly exhibit? Sad and rundown! Only saw 2 staff and neither was outdoors to help navigate.
There was a long list of local donors on display but I'm curious where the money is going. We left after 20 minutes and took the grandkids to Six Mile Cypress Slough. Paid $2 to park and had a fantastic experience.
There was a long list of local donors on display but I'm curious where the money is going. We left after 20 minutes and took the grandkids to Six Mile Cypress Slough. Paid $2 to park and had a fantastic experience.
Written 25 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Valerie G
North Port, FL288 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
Took our kids here on a day trip. The place is pretty rough looking. There are some reptiles and animals but they don't seem well cared for. The eagles are in a cage barely large enough to spread out to their full wingspan. The butterfly enclosure has holes in it so there was only 1 butterfly inside at the time. Trails were all flooded. Honestly the enclosures for the animals outside made me sad as a guest. The planetarium is really the only one in the area, but the images were all blurry and me and my daughter both left with a headache. We are somewhat local and definitely wouldn't come back or recommend anyone to come here. They really need a large donation to keep this place alive and redo all the enclosures outside and update the planetarium seating and buildings.
Written 23 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Indy_gal2018
Indianapolis, IN72 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
When we arrived, we noticed there was plenty of parking available. We could tell that it is an operation largely dependent on donations but the staff seems very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about what they do, which is endearing. Being that I’m from Indiana, there are animals on display that I never really get to see in real life (thank goodness!) or only in a zoo setting. The gentleman who gave the planetarium presentation had extensive knowledge about the subject. I would suggest a seat at the back or middle, as the front seats make craning your neck a necessity, which is painful when done for extended periods of time.
Written 23 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tess Y
Cape Coral, FL24 contributions
Dec 2021
I've been to Calusa Nature Center many times over the years and this visit was among the best...the trail is illuminated for the holiday with thousands of lights. Follow the loop and end your hike with a campfire and roasted marshmallows. Such a great night!
Written 19 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hassler6666
Walker, MN139 contributions
Feb 2020
Never been here before and the grandkids needed something to do. Did the walk on the paths. Cool day so it was nice but I would think an hot days and the bugs would be really bad. Saw snakes and gaters and different kind of bird. Not bad at all. I think it is a little on the pricy side. The place is a little run down. Even some paint would help. The boards on the walk ways need to be replaced . We went to the Planetarium and we had to wait over an hour for it to start. They were running late but no one told any of us. The show was very good, but it was a lot on information that was way over everyone's head. I saw a few people sleeping. It was OK. Something to do once.
Written 28 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
L4y
Magnolia, DE48 contributions
Feb 2020
We showed up at the Nature Center and found the following.
3 out of 4 paths were closed.
Planetarium closed
The place appeared to be worn out.
This place has potential. However, it would need reinvestment into the park. I would by pass this place given the option. To me, it seemed worn out.
3 out of 4 paths were closed.
Planetarium closed
The place appeared to be worn out.
This place has potential. However, it would need reinvestment into the park. I would by pass this place given the option. To me, it seemed worn out.
Written 23 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
judye b
Punta Gorda, FL105 contributions
Jan 2022 • Friends
Sorry, but this a definite miss.. it’s like a dingy old grade school refurbished. When you first go inside everything except a few fish are dead and stuffed or made out of paper mache .. and the few poor live creatures were living in dirty environments.. the maybe worst part was that no one could even bothering labeling the object on display let alone it’s history, then we went out side where most of the large bird cages were empty, and the poor birds that that did live there had a perch and small house.. we didn’t going the butterfly room because we saw a couple guests inside with only a few butterfly’s
. The whole thing was so dismal we left without bothering going to the planetarium.. who knows maybe that would have made up for the rest… but somehow I doubt it. Sorry did not bothering taking any pictures..
. The whole thing was so dismal we left without bothering going to the planetarium.. who knows maybe that would have made up for the rest… but somehow I doubt it. Sorry did not bothering taking any pictures..
Written 14 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EFW2014
Woolwich, ME1,559 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
Purchased our tickets on Groupon. We enjoyed our visit but it could have been better.
The center is doing good work so I don’t want to rip them but there a few things they could improve. But it’s well worth the price of a ticket as is.
The planetarium is nice but the man leading the Mayan lecture has to speak up or get a microphone, I could not hear him.
The center is doing good work so I don’t want to rip them but there a few things they could improve. But it’s well worth the price of a ticket as is.
The planetarium is nice but the man leading the Mayan lecture has to speak up or get a microphone, I could not hear him.
Written 14 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How much notice would be needed to have a child help with feeding and help clean a bit?
Written 6 June 2017
A Tripadvisor member
Fort Myers, Florida
Lisa: There is a volunteer program for animal care in which feeding or food distribution are normally performed at 9:00 AM- 12:00 PM. You have to fill out a form and they can schedule you in order to spread the work out everyday. You need to call them for more information. The number is (239) 275-3435.
Written 6 June 2017
$10 per adult and $5 per kid (3-12 I believe)
Written 31 August 2016
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