Video of Alligator Alley from the Air

[Robert Sobczak]

Here's a narrated video of

Alligator Alley from the air:

http://www.gohydrology.org/2012/01/back-when-alley-was-alley.html

[toofaraway]

Alligator Alley was deadly for animals and humans alike in its old form. It was not a pleasant drive.  I don't travel the new road often but it sure feels safer than the old one, except for all the crazy drivers but that's true for all of S. Fla anymore.

[Robert Sobczak]

I didn't realize but found out in reading that the original route was also a toll road, too.  I only wished that they would have done a better job with the hydrology.  There's still a bunch of things that need to be fixed, especially in association with interconnected SR29.

[Swamp Hunter]

I remember before the original Alley was built.  I thought the 2 lane road was nice because there were no fences and you could access the swamp at any location.  True lots of animals became road kills. I found a large Bobcat on that 2 lane road that I donated to the FWC. It may be in the Naples office. Some very large Bobcats used to hunt the roadsides. I didnt realize there were water flow problems.  http://www.naples.net/history/aalley.htm

[Swamp Hunter]

I dug out some old pictures from the 70's of a swamp vehicle I used to own lol. I could access the sawgrass swamp on the northside and keep up with 65 mph traffic on the 2 lane highway. I often travelled to the S-8 pump station and back. Those were the days. So much has changed.  This vehicle made it possible to explore the remote area. The skinny kid on the right is me.

[Robert Sobczak]

Great link and photos ... and stories, too!

[Swamp Hunter]

Thanks Robert.

[toofaraway]

that looks like fun.  The only time I ever rode in one of those was during one of the old annual "Wild Hog BBQs" behind Monroe Station.  Did you ever go to one of those?

I remember my mom pointing out, near the western end of Alligator Alley, a stand of cypress trees that my dad used to climb when he collected orchids.  This was when they were dating in High School.  He made money with wild orchids and also collecting venomous snakes.  This was during WWll and they used the snakes for venom research.

I also remember a story of my grandparents driving out on Tamiami trail in it's very early days.  As they were rumbling slowly across one of the old wooden bridges one of the cross members broke and poked it's way up through the bottom of the car next to the gear shift.  Those must have been the days! (?).  lol

[Swamp Hunter]

Yes toofaraway, it was a lot of fun. I cried the day I was forced to sell my full tack.  You can still ride in some areas but you will no longer see the vast herds of deer. It was almost like the plains of Africa in Conservation Area 3, truly amazing. That was before population growth forced it into a huge water impoundment area.  Now the tree islands are shrinking and cattails are spreading. Yes I remember the Wild Hog BBQ.

We used to sell venomous snakes to Bill Haas at the Serpentarium. He paid by the foot. I still visualize him milking Cobras. http://www.pbase.com/image/64581068 He made a snake venom juice concoction that he believed could help cure paralysis, palsy and some other illnesses but the FDA never bought into Haast's enthusiasm . Wheelchair patients lined up at his clinic looking for a cure. I remember proud crippled patients holding signs "I was snake bit at Haas's clinic" or something like that. 

We all admired Haas's grit as kids but he was snake bitten so many times he was starting to look like a snake lol. Whenever anyone was snake bit in those days, the hospital always called Haas for advice and he even donated his blood to save those in need. An unfortunate accident in the Serpentarium's gator pit closed him down. I miss those roadside attractions of old South Florida.

Canoeing is a lot of fun too and thats why Im here to learn, share and meet nice people with similar interests. Im glad some of the swamp has been preserved for future generations. I hope they can clean it up and bring back the wildlife and vast flocks of birds.. Im afraid it wont be complete without a deal with US Sugar.

 

[Swamp Hunter]

People collected orchids before they knew any better. They used to sell them along the Trail. I think they still do sell orchids roadside but certainly not taken from the Preserve. For those that havent read the book. http://susanorlean.com/books/the-orchid-thief.php