Robbins Vista View Trail

Robbins - Vista View Trail Points of Interest

Robbins Lodge & Preserve

The entrance to this preserve lies about one-half mile north of Orange Drive on Hiatus Road. It consists of 160 acres of pasture, equestrian trails, hardwood hammocks, pavilions, an equestrian facility, gazebo, and the original house that can be rented for special events.

Mr. Bill Robbins, the Park’s namesake, was a “gentleman” cattle rancher and citrus farmer. The oak hardwood hammock at the northwest corner of the site has been augmented over the years with ornamental plants that he collected when he was International President of the Rotary Club. The hammock is part of the “ridge” system used by the original native Indians for campsites when the surrounding areas were still everglades. A beautiful bridge was built across the canal bordering the west side of the Park to access the trail system to the west.

Flamingo Gardens

A famous tourist attraction at the corner of Flamingo Road and SW 36th Court is another spot along the trail. The original homestead of the Wray family, it is a botanical garden and horticultural enthusiast’s dream with exotic species of plants and trees from around the world. It is also a citrus farm with many varieties of fruit and a wildlife park. It has exotic and native reptiles, birds, and other animals in their wildlife habitat displayed throughout the site. It’s a great place to see, hear, and read some of the history of Davie.

Long Key Natural Area

The western limits of the “ridge” system that runs through Davie ends at this wonderful ecological site being preserved by Broward County. The former home of the Kapok Tree Restaurant, and Pioneer City Theme Park, it is now part of the Environmentally Sensitive Land sites within the Town and a wonderful place to visit with its trail system, hardwood oak hammocks, and restored wetlands. The site maintains much of its original character of high elevated hammocks of live oaks making a beautiful and serene setting within what is known as the “Long Key Ridge System”

Vista View Park

Surrounded by the original Imagination Farms Dairy, this Park is the site of a former landfill and superfund site obtained a clean bill of health in the 1990’s. This Park rises above the surrounding landscape along the west side of SW 142nd Avenue about a half-mile north of Orange Drive. The twin hills at the Park are one of the highest spots in Broward County. From the top, one can see Port Everglades and the downtown area of Fort Lauderdale to the east and the vast expanse of the Everglades to the west.