Attractions & Things to Do
South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary
World Birding Center sanctuary on Padre Boulevard featuring over 3,300 feet of elevated boardwalks over Laguna Madre tidal wetlands, a five-story viewing tower, butterfly gardens, resident alligator rescue enclosures, and world-class migratory bird watching.
Plan your visit
- Location
- 6801 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX, 78597
- Phone
- (956) 761-6801
- Business Type
- ⭐ Local & Independent
What to know before you go
Details checked . Confirm prices, schedules and policies with the business when planning your visit.
Schedules 3 details
Feeding shows for the resident alligator 'Big Padre' only happen mid-March through late October, right after the 11am and 1:30pm Gator Talks; there are none from late October to early March because the alligators go into a winter slowdown (brumation).
Gator Talks run daily at 11:00am, 1:30pm, and 3:30pm; Snake Talks run Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 2:30pm.
The center is open daily 8:00am-5:00pm, subject to change without notice, and closes for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and Easter Sunday.
Accessibility 1 detail
The entire facility is wheelchair accessible, with designated accessible parking, an elevator, and a wheelchair-friendly boardwalk; a loaner wheelchair is also available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Policies 4 details
A single day's admission ticket allows re-entry -- you can leave and come back as many times as you like until closing (5pm) on the same day.
Guided birding tours are capped at 10 participants and require an advance reservation; every registrant gets access to a sanitized pair of binoculars; tours are open to students aged 13+, adults, and seniors, but not to younger children, and are posted month by month since guide availability varies.
Service animals are welcome throughout the facility. Other pets must be leashed and are only allowed in the front gardens and indoor areas; on the back patio or boardwalk a pet must be inside a closed carrier, and a pet that disturbs the wildlife or resident animals may be asked to move indoors or to the front grounds.
The center is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit with no affiliation to the National or State Park systems, so it does not honor National or State Park passes; its own annual passes are sold on its site or at the gift shop.
Prices 3 details
Any admission can be upgraded for $10 more into an Adventure Package, which lets you hold a resident baby alligator and a snake for a photo; that upgrade stops 30 minutes before closing.
General admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors/military, $10 for students aged 13-18, $5 for children aged 4-12, and free for children under 4.
The guided birding tour's ticket price is described only as covering general admission plus 'any associated guided tour fees' -- the site never states an actual dollar figure for the guided tour itself.
Rates 3 details
An Annual Pass for unlimited general-admission visits for one year costs $75 for an adult (18+), $65 for a senior (65+) or a student (13-18), or $45 for a child (4-12); annual passes cover general admission only.
Corporate memberships cost $2,500/year (single-day admission for up to 50 people, plus perks) or $5,000/year (same admission cap plus a bigger brick paver, sponsor listing, and Wall of Honor leaf).
Individual annual memberships run $250/year for one person (unlimited entry, binocular rental up to 5 times a year, admission for one to the Winter Outdoor Wildlife Expo, 15% gift shop discount), $500/year for two people (unlimited entry and binocular rental for two, up to 5/yr, Expo admission for two, 20% gift shop discount, one brick paver), or $1,000/year for four people (unlimited entry and binocular rental for four, up to 5/yr, Expo admission for two, 20% gift shop discount, one brick paver, and two private nature walks with a naturalist).
Payment 1 detail
Both cash and cards are accepted, but a 3.5% fee is added to card transactions.
Suggested: Any time · No set time — you choose