Randell Research Center - Bokeelia, Florida

Darla Dume

Beautiful and educational walk! We spent about an hour here. There is a classroom area and a lot of informational signs talking about the Caloosa people and the mounds. Path was about a mile long, made of soft sand and looks like it gets muddy after a rain. There were stairs to climb up two of the middens. Great place for birding.

There is a suggested donation of $7 per person.

Dean Hines

Nice place, no wildlife on the day I went, pretty manicured grounds. Some paths were closed due to damage or water when I went. Best views were from the Randall Mound. Nice way to explore the history of Florida.

Jennifer Alvaro

Really a hidden gem. We only got to walk a small portion of the trail as Ian has made the rest of the trails impassable. The kids really enjoyed the small portion we were able to walk. It’s a nice piece of history about the Calusa Indians. The displays along the path were very informative. We also got a glimpse into the classroom which I thought was a neat idea to further your knowledge of its rich history. Then we visited the small gift shop. Will definitely be back once it’s fully open. Nice little place to visit and we saw many birds as well.

Charly McCreary

A lovely nature preserve with ospreys, white ibises, vultures, tons of different native and non-native trees, and information and history about the native tribe who lived in the area. There are remnants of burial mounds and informative signage tracing their practices. Definitely worth spending a couple hours exploring. Pine Island is a beautiful spot.

Diana Traydon

Lovely place for a walk. Informative self guided tours of Calusa Indian burial mounds. Lots of birds and lizards to watch. I went on a Sunday morning and was one of only three people there. It was a beautiful, peaceful place to spend the morning.

Tornado Alley

Pretty area. Nice signage throughout the park. Gift shop closed Sundays and so were the bathrooms. I did a self guided tour and took about an hour. It was very hot, bring water/drink. Might not be the best destination for younger kids due to it being looking at the terrain and signs. Suggestion to add to the signs at the road: "visits welcome" or something like that. If I was driving by and don't know what this is, I wouldnt know I could stop and walk through.

Debi Scholtes

Denege Patterson was our docent who has an impressive knowledge of the Calusa Indians & the surrounding area's historical development. We happily added our name to the waiting list for the 2nd printing of her book looking at the history of the area! The signs make it an easy day of exploration on your own...or you can arrange a guided tour by calling ahead. Picnic area available for public use or the Pine Island Lodge is steps away for nice restaurant experience.

Suzi Benninghoff

I happened upon this place while working in the area. What a beautiful and informative way to spend a few hours learning about history and nature. The inforative signs along the way are written for kids and adults to bith enjoy, and the volunteers obviously love what they do!