Florida is known for beaches, swamps, and wetlands but at its heart hides a secret: the Florida dry prairie. “The dry prairie ecosystem once stretched from coast to coast and from Kissimmee to Lake Okeechobee,” according to the Florida State Park. But today, less than 10 percent of this ecosystem remains. At Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, you’ll find the largest protected tract of this native savannah-like environment.
Experience the beauty of dry prairie firsthand for yourself, which is home to rare and endangered wildlife, sunsets that stretch over an endless horizon, and arguably the best stargazing in the state.
What To Do at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
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Go Glamping
Like many Florida state parks, you can stay overnight by tent camping, RV camping, or equestrian camping. But the most luxurious way to experience this preserve is to rent a glamping tent. “Glamping at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park is totally one of a kind. The peaceful, quietness is unmatched,” said Richard and Joy Manders, owners of the Timberline Glamping sites within the state park, with the stars as your light and the sounds of Florida wildlife as your soundtrack, the remote but deluxe experience is one of a kind.
Glamping tents are outfitted for groups as small as two couples and as big as multi-generational families. Each tent has air-conditioning and heating units, electrical outlets, lamps, a mini fridge, and modern comfort amenities. But it’s the add-ons like a rentable telescope, a gourmet s’mores kit, family games, and a custom scavenger hunt that amp up this indulgent outdoor stay.
Try Horseback Riding
Riding and exploring more than 100 miles of two-trail roads on horseback is one of the best ways to see the wildlife and vistas at Kissimmee State Prairie, according to the state park. But you can hike and bike on the very same trails, too.
Don’t have a horse? Don’t worry. You can book horseback tours with Wagon Wheel Horse Farm, which takes you through shaded hammocks and grassland prairie.
See the Milky Way
Florida’s far-reaching urban development means it can be hard to see the night sky when you’re near cities. But at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, you can see stars, planets, the International Space Station, and even rocket launches from the coast. In 2016, this state park was the first in Florida to receive a dark sky designation, joined afterward by Big Cypress National Preserve.
If you’re keen to test your astrophotography skills, you can reserve designated astronomy pads for night viewing, where only red-light headlamps are allowed to ensure optimal viewing. These are also desirable spots for catching meteor showers. Follow the American Meteor Society to see when and where there will be activity.
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Enjoy Bird and Butterfly Watching
Bird lovers flock here (pun intended) for a chance to spot the rarest bird in North America—the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow. Found only in Central Florida’s dry prairie, this sparrow’s numbers were once as low as just 50 males, recorded in 2018. You’ll need incredibly quiet conditions to try and hear their call, a soft grasshopper-like buzzy song. Fortunately, the preserve’s 54,000 acres provide ample space to find peace and quiet.
And sure, bird watching has a loyal and proud hobbyist following, but have you ever turned your binoculars to butterflies? According to the park website, “Kissimmee Prairie is known for its wildflower diversity, and with flowers comes pollinators.” Try to find unique butterfly species during your visit, including the rare Berry’s skipper.
Take a Buggy Tour
There’s no better way to see a state park than with the guidance of an expert ranger. On this tour you can learn about why wildfire is essential to the health of the prairie, or the prairie’s role in serving as a training ground for the Air Force during World War II. But you’ll need to book ahead as ranger-led buggie tours are by reservation only and held just once a week on Saturdays at $25 per ticket. The 3-hour tour takes you to remote areas of the park by way of an elevated buggy seat optimized for scenic viewing. Make a reservation up to 60 days in advance by calling the park office.
If you’re not visiting on a Saturday, you can still explore the park and its wildlife without a ranger by driving the Main Drive (once the Peavine Railroad) in your own vehicle. For the best chance of wildlife sightings, plan your drive for dawn or dusk. Keep your eyes peeled for white-tailed deer, bald eagles, alligators, striped skunks, bobcats, coyotes, an,d if you’re lucky, Florida panthers and black bears.
