About Coopertown
For more than 60 years, Coopertown has been delivering the same quality airboat tours. Our well-trained and informative guides will give an amazing Everglades airboat tour. For our first-time visitors, it is an exciting and new experience. For our returning tourists that bring their friends and family, it is a fun and educational encounter every time they come back.
Originally, Coopertown was a Seminole Indian village occupied by Jimmy Osceola and the other Seminole Indians. Coopertown was founded by John Cooper and has remained with the Cooper family ever since.
Today, the Kennon family, direct descendents of the Coopers,
runs the Coopertown ORIGINAL Airboat Tours.
Originally from White Oak, Mo., where they came from a large farming family, the three Cooper brothers came to the Tamiami Trail from Melbourne, Fla., looking for better frog hunting in the Everglades. By 1945, John Cooper had a small frogging boat along the East-West Canal (the Tamiami Trail). Passing motorists noticed it and would ask for a ride in the interesting-looking airboat. John obliged. At first, it was a few people, but as more and more curious people stopped, John built a small passenger airboat to accommodate them. As the traffic down the Tamiami Trail grew, so did Coopertown.
John's brother James T. (Jay) built and opened a bait and tackle shop along with a grocery store and gas station. In April, 1967, Edward Williams purchased Jay's Bait & Tackle and then sold it to the National Park in June of 1996. John's brother Marion opened a small stand, serving sodas, sandwiches and fresh 'Glades frog legs to the airboat tour passengers. Over the years, the stand grew into the Coopertown Restaurant under different local management. In June, 1967, Ellen Curtis leased the establishment and has promoted the now "world-famous" house specialty, Everglades Frog Legs - the platter or the dinner version, if you prefer. Or try the tender nuggets of gator tail. Of course, other "down-home" meals are served, as well as the "best hamburgers in town!" Come in to see what else the Coopertown Restaurant has to offer!
The Coopertown guestbook is filled with names of people who have visited our Everglades home from all over the world, including many notables and celebrities, such as Dennis Weaver, Doris Day, Bobby Breen, Robert Fuller, Burt Reynolds, Dana Andrews, Clint and Ronnie Howard and their dad, Rance Howard and Andy White, producer of the series "Gentle Ben." Country singers Ferlin Husky, Slim Whitman and Bobby Lewis. Baseball heroes Micky Mantle and Billy Martin, and football players Jake Scott, Bill Stanfill and Bob Kuechenberg. Other famous names to visit Coopertown include Chuck Norris, Kurt Russell, Mariel Hemingway, Raul Julia and Beverly D'Angelo. We look forward to seeing your name, too!
Testimonials
The Make-a-Wish Foundation would like to thank you for your recent donation of an airboat ride for Timothy...you have made a very big difference in a child's life. Joan Fenwick, Director of Wish Granting
We very much enjoyed and appreciated you giving us an airboat tour of the Glades. I have been in the Glades many times and almost every corner from the Kissimmee River to Florida Bay, but I have never learned as much as I did on your tour...thank you for this exceptional opportunity. Bob Graham, United States Senator
Thank you for providing us with an unforgettable experience in the Everglades...you were cooperative and helpful on every occasion. Everyone speaks highly of you and your operation and now we know why! Kevin Krug, Associate Producer, National Geographic
Fantastic tour...more alligators than you can shake a stick at! Even got a hold of one...beautiful creature...very misunderstood. Thank you! Alex and Lisa, Kent, England
Thank your allowing our son to hold an alligator. We came all the way from California to accomplish this goal for him. The Cates Family
