Coopertown Airboat Rides & Restaurant

Reviews 3

MO

Monica Siah

I used a Groupon for my boyfriend and I to take an airboat tour and regretted not even 5 minutes of being on the premises of this place. I wouldnt recommend this company to anyone and honestly expected better for how high of ratings they had. We pulled up, parked in their parking lot and proceeded to walk to the check in area - which is not clearly marked, but since we saw people as we pulled in to the property lot sitting under an awning we figured wed start there. As we walked up no one greeted us. The tour guides were gathered around a picnic table talking to each other and silently stared at us as we walked by like we werent welcome and then there were two women sitting at a small booth just directly behind them - one dealing with paperwork, the other one staring at us with an emotionless attitude. Trying to make the most out of it and little embarrassed that I begged my boyfriend to drive out of our route to check this place out, I proceeded to the girls at the small booth with a unsure smile - I remember it clear as day because I was so appalled by the interactions following. I said "Hi, How are you?" The young woman at the booth lazily half smiled. I replied "Okay. Great.? My name is Monica, Im here for the swamp tour?" Then continued to pull out my paperwork. The young woman at the booth took my paper and said the next one leaves in 30 minutes. I replied "great, okay.. just meet here?" The young women at the booth just looks at me and nods her head slowly and stares at me with a "duh" face. I replied "Sounds good.. do you have a restroom I can use?" The young woman replies "In the parking lot." By then - I was so upset. My boyfriend was standing next to me and I could only sense how he felt - annoyed, peeved, unwelcome. I felt TERRIBLE bringing him there! I replied back to the young woman "okay, in the parking lot - we were just there, if I walk away from the booth, do I turn left? or right? I didnt see any restroom signs." The young woman replies "Left." and then just stares at me. So I walk away and head to the restrooms. Which I had to search for on my own, because LEFT from the parking lot would put me in the middle of the road. Once I found the restrooms, I begged my boyfriend to hold open the door even though the restrooms had at least 3 stall doors. The bathrooms were so filthy and musky from how hot it was that I felt like I literally could have caught something in there. Unflushed toilets, tissue paper everywhere, trash and more. Fast Forward to when our tour was about to take place - we all load up on the boat, were excited - hoping this will be a fun 30 minute airboat ride through the Everglades. We were so disappointed to find out we only went up a passageway and backdown. We passed another boat on the way out - pay attention to the faces of the guest coming back - that should have been my first sign. Ultimate disappointment. Although we saw gators, they were all very brief moments (which is understandable) - I think I was more disappointed that we only went up and down in a straight line - not far from where we started. The tour guide was young and he was nice, he tried to tell jokes to break the ice - but most of the people on the boat didnt laugh and you could tell they were bummed out too. The sad part is some of them came in large familys of 5-6 and up and paid HUNDREDS for this tour that didnt take them anywhere. We were so excited to just get off the boat. We tipped the guy right after we got off and left as fast as we could even after they said theyd let us touch and hold a baby alligator. Overall - the service BESIDES the tour guide himself (because he actually tried to be nice) was terrible. I felt like everything was so forced just to find out if we are in the right place, to finding out where the rest room was..to even trying to have friendly interaction with the "service" desk. d never recommend the tour to anyone. Utilize you time and money else where.

SA

SAMANTHA WATTS

*****************HORRIBLEEEE******************* For starters I REFUSE to give this establishment any stars at all, I only did because otherwise I wouldnt be able to post. The tickets are extremely over priced. The bathrooms are so disgusting that i wanted to throw up just walking by them from the smell. They are so filthy & dirty that there is no way it is sanitary by any means. The health department should shut this place down IMMEDIATELY. The wait was way too long for a business that advertises "No reservation needed". We arrived prior to another party that was placed on a boat before us because our party was bigger, though the boats hold approximately 40 people. We had to stand in the heat for an hour before even being offered a spot on a boat. Only then asked to walk across a HIGHWAY & up & down a dirt hill with one of our group members using a crutch. Which is so rude & unnecessary since there were boats where we were already standing & waiting. The animal exhibit was not very long, nor where there many animals to see. The boat ride was horrible, I saw 4 gators & we rode down a canal then in a small circle & back down the canal. The employees were not friendly & somewhat rude. They displayed little consideration for the wait in the heat or the fact that we were standing/sitting there sweating profusely. Our boat driver actually made a few rude comments almost as if he was being a smart a**. Now for the icing to it all..... hours after leaving from this horrible experience we discover that we have been ROBBEDDDD. The employees were not bothered by this event & quoted that "it occurs all the time" but didnt bother to let their patrons spending money know this. Whom ever stole from us took their time to go through our vehicle & purses to take what they wanted. I have full confidence that this act was performed by the employee(s) themselves. I would NEVER EVER recommend this to ANYONE. I hope that in reading this it can prevent another family or group of people from having all their credit cards & money stolen while on the worst everglades airboat ride. Please do not waste your money or time.

OW

Owen Z

WARNING: ASIANS, BEWARE OF RACISM!!! I was in Miami last week for my birthday, this place had decent reviews, the ticket was cheap and the location was close to my hotel. I figured I would give it a shot since I’ve never been on an airboat before. I arrived just before noon on Monday, like what I expected the area wasn’t big or fancy. The exhibit (aka the show), the ride and the food wasnt anything spectacular but still well worth the price sticker, you definitely can get what you paid for. What tip me off was when I had to ask for the bathroom before the boat ride. I first asked an old tour guide, all he did was sitting in his chair, staring at me and spiting on the ground. I then walked to the cashier area to ask another guy in uniform, I got my answer but he was super rude and impatient. Initially I thought the employees here were just grumpy because it was a hot day and they had to work, but I was wrong. The same tour guides were able to turn around, smile and have a normal conversation with other tourists. Oh, did I forget to mention, they were all Caucasian. Then I started to notice I’m the only Asian (actually the only Non-Caucasian) tourist at the time. I’m glad the boat ride itself was pretty fun since it was my first time being on the everglades and there were no direct interaction between the tour guide and me. I visited the restaurant after the boat ride hoping for a better experience, and it was. There was an older gentleman with gray hair asking about my ride and my thoughts. I had a great conversation with him. I assumed he was the owner because the minute he left the restaurant, the waitress’s attitude changed from sunny to thunderstorm. I took the hit, grabbed my food and took off. In conclusion, if you are white, looking for a fun, half an hour airboat ride without having to break your bank then look no further. The tour guides are very knowledgeable about the everglades and you get to see some gators if you are lucky (I only saw a small one). If you are Asian like me, I would try to stay at Miami, Miami Beach or Key West and do everything to avoid coming here.