News Release

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Announced for the New Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center at Everglades National Park

News Release Date: December 3, 2025

Contact: Allyson Gantt, 786-610-8023

EVERGLADES CITY, Fla. – On Dec. 12, Everglades National Park will host a ribbon cutting event for the new Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center in Everglades City at 10:30 a.m. The event is free and open to the public. 

“We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone of restoring a premier facility that showcases the Gulf Coast of Everglades National Park and restores vital services to an area significantly damaged by Hurricane Irma,” said Superintendent Pedro Ramos of Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks. “This ribbon cutting represents more than a new visitor center; it reflects our continued commitment to resiliency, sustainability, and engagement with our gateway community of Everglades City.”  

The public is invited to join park leadership, community members, and special guests for a celebration that will feature remarks from National Park Service officials and local leaders, the official ribbon cutting to dedicate the new facility, guided tours showcasing the site redevelopment and building’s sustainable features, and short boat excursions from the marina offering a unique perspective of the new building from the water. 

The new two-story facility replaces the former Gulf Coast Visitor Center, which was destroyed by Hurricane Irma in 2017. Designed with sustainability and resiliency at its core, the building meets LEED Silver standards and is engineered to withstand hurricane-force winds and storm surges. Features include: 

• Elevated site design to reduce flooding from storm events and king tides. 
• Native landscaping and shoreline stabilization to protect natural resources. 
• Expanded marina basin with floating docks and improved kayak launch. 
• Public entryway and pedestrian walkways for enhanced visitor access. 

This project fulfills Congress’s 1989 authorization to establish a visitor center named for Marjory Stoneman Douglas, ensuring her legacy is honored at the gateway to the Gulf Coast. Marjory Stoneman Douglas (1890–1998) was a pioneering environmental advocate and author of The Everglades: River of Grass (1947), a landmark work that transformed public perception of the Everglades from a “swamp” to a vital ecosystem. Her tireless efforts were instrumental in the establishment of Everglades National Park, dedicated 78 years ago in Everglades City on December 6, 1947. Naming the visitor center in her honor recognizes her lifelong commitment to protecting the unique landscapes and wildlife of South Florida. 

Event Information 

• Date: Friday, December 12, 2025 
• Location: Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center, 815 Oyster Bar Ln., Everglades City, FL 34139 
• Admission: Free and open to the public
• More information (including the schedule) can be found on the event's page: Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center Ribbon Cutting.

For more information, please contact Everglades National Park at 305-242-7700 or visit www.nps.gov/ever.