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Florida Cracker Airboat Rides

• CR 512 Vero Beach, FL 32960
• (772) 563-0001

Florida Cracker Airboat Rides

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Florida Cracker Airboat Rides - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

Florida 60, Vero Beach, FL 32966

[email protected]

(772) 461-0303

Florida Airboat Excursions

Vero Beach, Fl

Air boat tour.

Starting from $50

Are you looking for an unforgettable Florida adventure? Join us an airboat tour for a close look at the wetlands of Vero Beach and all their amazing wildlife, like gators, eagles, and unique flora. Book now!

Starting from $52.00

Are you looking for an unforgettable Florida adventure? Join us for a close look at the wetlands just west of Vero Beach on an exhilarating airboat ride. Venture on Lake Garcia to see the amazing wildlife including gators, eagles, and unique flora. Book now!

Why Take an Airboat Tour?

Experience Florida’s true nature. Our Vero Beach airboat tours transport you to another ecosystem in the heart of Lake Garcia, Blue Cypress Conservation Area. Encounter Florida gators and exotic wildlife as you glide through the Florida wilderness.  Breathtaking views with spectacular panoramas await you. We guarantee an exciting and unforgettable airboat experience – one you will talk about for years to come. Book your airboat ride now!

It's More Than Just an Airboat Tour

It's an Adventure

It's an Education

It's Fun for Everyone

We Are Social

FLORIDA AIRBOAT EXCURSIONS has teamed up with AIRBOAT WILDERNESS RIDES, STUMPKNOCKER TOUR S MARSH BEAST AIRBOAT TOURS as well as FLORIDA CRACKER to provide our customers with more tour options on our fleet of custom built airboats with advanced propulsion and communication equipment for the ultimate interactive experience. When you arrive at Blue Cypress Conservation Area please look for Captain John or Captain Krista, they will direct you to your boat.

What Vero Beach Visitors Have to Say About Our Airboat Tours...

Still not sure about getting a tour with us? See what our other customers have to say about us!

Phone: (772) 461-0303

Email: [email protected]

Vero Beach, FL 32966

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Join us for an unforgettable journey through the head waters of the St Johns River. Our boat is custom built by Capt. Lawrence and the only tour boat with a real airplane engine. Capt Lawrence is a second generation Vero Beach native that delivers a 5 star ride/tour every time. Florida Cracker has won a certificate of excellence two years in a row from TripAdvisor. One word AMAZING!!!!

From Vero Beach, Take SR 60 West, from the intersection of I95 & SR 60 go West 7.5 miles to CR 512 and turn north 1.5 miles. From the Sebastian / Fellsmere area you can take CR 512 West to the stop sign at Fellsmere Farms/Sun Ag intersection and then turn south and go 5 miles. Going both ways you will turn west into a paved parking lot know as the Blue Cypress Recreation area.

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772-778-9654 

772-778-9654

Welcome To Stumpknocker Airboat Rides

D iscover Lake Garcia in a State Conservation Area just west of Vero Beach, FL! 

Join Stumpknocker Tours for the most educational, exciting, humorous, and informative airboat tour of the beautiful Blue Cypress conservation area. Sit back and enjoy a fully narrated tour of an Ecosystem that is part of the headwaters for the St. John's River. On a one-hour tour, you will see and learn about alligators, birds, fish and flora of the marsh. Photographic opportunities abound, so bring your camera and create memories.

See photos taken on our amazing journeys...

Join us for an unforgettable Florida adventure. Book your airboat tour for a close look at the wetlands of Vero Beach and all their amazing wildlife like gators, eagles, and unique flora.

Meet Captain John Smith

Owner and operator of stumpknocker tours.

Captain John is truly a Florida Native and grew up in St. Lucie Village, Fort Pierce, Florida along the water’s edge. He is passionate about the Florida flora and fauna and is always excited to share it with anyone who will listen. He is a naturalist and can answer just about any question you may have. Just ask him!

See What Our Customers Have to Say About Us!

Florida Cracker Airboat Rides

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

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Florida Cracker Airboat Rides - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

772-584-0089

[email protected]

Vero Beach, FL 32966

772-584-0089       [email protected]     Vero Beach, FL 32966

The Best Airboat Tour on

Florida's treasure coast, experience florida the way it used to be…, join us on airboat wilderness rides for a narrated adventure of a lifetime.

Airboat Wilderness Tour

Join us for a thrilling adventure as we glide through the pristine marshlands of Florida’s backcountry on Lake Garcia to view the gators, exotic birds and tropical plants in their natural habitat!

About Airboat Wilderness Rides

Airboat Wilderness Rides is the longest established Airboat tour business on the Treasure Coast of Florida. Experience a thrilling adventure as we glide through the untouched marshlands of Florida’s backcountry on Lake Garcia to view the alligators, exotic birds, and tropical plants in their natural habitat.

Airboat Wilderness Rides captains are very informative; they love to share their knowledge of the diverse Florida ecosystem to educate our guests on the various plants and wildlife that are sure to thrill riders of all ages! Our expert captains share information about the area and its habitat through personal aviation talk around wireless headsets that are provided to all guests.

This thrilling ride is something the entire family will cherish for a lifetime. Our seating is limited to nine passengers for your comfort and to ensure a great view for everyone. Your ride is 50 minutes of great family fun filled with gators, wildlife, and adventure for all.

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See What our Guests Have to Say About the Best Airboat Rides in Florida

AIRBOAT WILDERNESS RIDES has teamed up with FLORIDA AIRBOAT EXCURSIONS , STUMPKNOCKER TOURS, MARSH BEAST AIRBOAT TOURS as well as FLORIDA CRACKER to provide our customers with more tour options on our fleet of custom built airboats with advanced propulsion and communication equipment for the ultimate interactive experience. When you arrive at Blue Cypress Conservation Area please look for Captain John or Captain Krista, they will direct you to your boat.

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Florida Cracker Airboat Rides

CR 512, Vero Beach , Florida 32960 USA

• Independent
• More in Vero Beach

“Bass and crappie fishing”

Bass and crappie fishing; duck and gator hunting; air boat rides and Eco tours all on the St. Johns River. All hunts and fishing are 1/2 or full day trips. Rides and tours are priced by the hour. All with a with over 20 years of experience. 

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Florida Cracker Airboat Rides

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Florida Cracker Airboat Rides - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Must-Cruise Boat Tours on the Treasure Coast

The Treasure Coast is known for its local waterways. The Indian River Lagoon is one of the most bio-diverse ecosystems in North America and there is nothing better than a local boat tour to see all of this area’s beauty. Residents at Harbour Ridge are lucky enough to enjoy this waterfront beauty everyday and love to get out on the water. Whether you enjoy sailing, sea life, or airboats, there is something for everyone to check out. Here are some of the top boat tours on the Treasure Coast.

Schooner Lily

Departing right out of Downtown Stuart’s Riverwalk Pier, this wooden sailboat adventure is one you don’t want to miss out on. Whether you want to sail the calm waters of the morning or have a romantic sunset cruise in the evening, this large vessel can accommodate up to 35 passengers. Experiencing the wind blowing its white sails is something you won’t forget.

Island Princess Cruises

Docked at the Hutchinson Island Marriott Marina, Island Princess Cruises is a large motor vessel for all occasions. Watch for wildlife such as manatees, dolphins and a variety of birds from the top floor of its two-story hull. The Island Princess serves food and has open bar options. Whether it’s for a special occasion with a large group, or a simple cruise with your significant other, you won’t want to leave the Island Princess.

Florida Cracker Airboat Tours

Looking for a thrill? The Florida Cracker Airboat tour is perfect for you to check out. See the wildlife on the St. Johns River in Vero Beach. YES you will see alligators right in their natural habitat! But don’t worry; these guys have life long airboat experience. It’s an experience you truly won’t forget.

Harbour Ridge Marina

Have boating experience but don’t own a boat? The Harbour Ridge Marina offers pontoon boats for members to rent and cruise around the St. Lucie River. The Marina’s friendly staff can give you the local knowledge of the area and its wildlife. For more information on how to live the Harbour Ridge lifestyle contact [email protected].

While you’re here on the Treasure Coast, stop by to visit Harbour Ridge , one of Florida’s premier private waterfront golf communities. Its waterfront location on the St. Lucie River makes it the perfect place to live, and it’s treasured by members and residents alike.

Harbour Ridge offers the best of the Florida lifestyle. The two championship golf courses wind along the river with beautiful views throughout the entire courses. Residents can entertain themselves at the new Lakeside Fitness Center or explore the surrounding area with kayaks and boat rentals from the on-site Marina . An active calendar of events informs residents of the activities that will take place in the neighborhood, and consists of everything from sporting events to dinners and social gatherings.

To learn more about the unique Florida lifestyle offered at Harbour Ridge and the wide variety of residential real estate offerings available,  CLICK HERE . We will email you a digital brochure that highlights the amenities and lifestyle of our waterfront community.

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17 Everglades Airboat Tours That Are Worth Taking

P lanning a visit to South Florida? Well, Everglades is one region not to miss when in South Florida, thanks to its incredibly unique ecosystem and an array of impressive outdoor activities. Brimming with beautiful forests, wetlands, mangroves, and vast wildlife, Everglades is a fascinating place and is worth visiting when in Miami or Fort Lauderdale. An airboat is the best way to explore this unique Everglades ecosystem while taking in the spectacular views of the surrounding. These 10 Everglades airboat tours are worth taking.

UPDATE: 2023/03/31 09:16 EST BY AARON SPRAY

Discover Even More of the Best Everglades Airboat Tours

The Everglades is one of the great outdoor attractions near Miami and there are plenty of excellent airboat tour options to consider. This list was updated and expanded to include even more of the airboat tours to take in the Everglades. See alligators up close and explore one of the richest ecosystems in the USA.

UPDATE: 2023/01/07 22:50 EST BY AARON SPRAY

More Everglades Airboat Tours Worth Taking

There is no shortage of airboat tours to choose from all across the state of Florida. This article was updated with more airboat tour options in the Everglades and around Orlando. A bonus entry was also added as a nod to the swamps of Louisiana just out of New Orleans which are also very much worth taking.

Related: These Top-Rated Amazon Tours Are A Once-In-A-Lifetime Experience

Florida Everglades Airboat Tour And Wild Florida

This tour is the best for tourists seeking more options. It gets tourists to Wild Florida Airboats and Gator Park, offering them incredible rides through Central Florida Everglades. The tour lets one explore two attractions in Florida for a cost of one. On this tour, as travelers sail through the marshes and swamps, they will see the incredible Florida wildlife, including wading birds, eagles, and alligators. From there, they can return to the wildlife park and explore over 200 wildlife species . One can always pay an extra cost for a half-day upgrade, which come with a barbeque lunch.

• Highlights: Ride through the Everglades, view over 200 wild animal species, and an upgrade for barbeque lunch
• Duration: one hour
• Cost: from $32
• Website: wildfloridairboats.com

Everglades National Park Biologist-Led Adventure

This tour guarantees the best vacation, with two options to choose from; half or full-day tours. It lets visitors enjoy a boat ride, spotting manatees, dolphins, and birds on the way, as well as a dry nature hike in Big Cypress National Preserve. Included in the package are; an hour airboat tour into the River of Grass, experience a historic trading post, explore a Native tree island, and a delicious lunch. Other things included on this tour are free snacks, drinks, and water, as well as pick-ups and drop-offs from/to the hotel or designated meeting points.

• Departure Time: 7:30 am
• Cost: from $239
• Duration: nine-ten hours
• Website: wildlimeadventures.com

Florida Everglades Airboat Ride And Wildlife Adventure

This is a private airboat tour starting from Sawgrass Recreation Park, allowing tourists to explore the Florida gators as well as other native animals. This private boat ride also offers the incredible opportunity of visiting the Everglades' exclusive locations that regular tours do not offer. During the ride, encountering panthers, leopards, Florida gators, iguanas, and turtles is a must! Travelers go on this private tour in a group, and the cost is per person, not the number of people in the group. There are no additional charges for kids under three years, so they are not included in the guest count.

• Cost: from $35
• Website: evergladestours.com

Buffalo Tiger Airboat Tours – Standard Airboat Tour In The Everglades

This company offers travelers a chance to immerse in the culture and incredible wild viewing. Buffalo Tiger Airboat Tours provides both standard tours, introducing tourists to Miccosukee people's homelands. These were the first inhabitants of Florida before it became a state. The tour also allows visitors to engage in a nature walk, and an amazing experience is guaranteed! The company also provides private trips and longer tours, but this one lasts 30 minutes. Kids below five can tour free of charge.

• Cost of ticket: from $30 for adults, $15 for children aged between five and twelve.
• Duration of tour: 30 minutes
• Website: buffalotigerairboattours.com

Semi-Private River Of Grass Airboat Tours Everglades

Offered by River of Grass Adventures, this tour only takes up to eight visitors per boat on the trip. During the trip, travelers will get the chance to explore the Everglades’ flora and fauna , including the alligators and herons. It is an amazing tour full of fun and unforgettable experiences. Being a semi-private trip, tourists must contact the company for departure times. The tours run every day of the week, including the weekends.

• Cost of tour: $85 per person
• Duration: approximately one hour, thirty minutes
• Website: theriverofgrass.com

Gator Park Airboat Tours - Wildlife Show

Looking to witness some serious gator action? Well, with Gator Park Airboat Tours, travelers can be assured of having the best experience with these fierce reptiles. The rides start after every few minutes, and tourists won’t have to wait before their Everglades experience begins. This tour takes visitors to Everglades National Park, home to vast wildlife, from endangered birds one probably won’t see anywhere else to small creators living among the alligators. This is the perfect spot to experience wildlife and spectacular scenery, something only a few travelers get a chance to witness.

• Cost of tour: From $30
• Duration: half a day
• Website: gatorpark.com

Everglades National Park Airboat Rides and Tours – Everglades Safari Park

Everglades Safari Park offers the best airboat rides and tours. This tour allows travelers to have family or group fun as they navigate through the pristine waters of Everglades National Park. The tour is not just fun but also educational, and visitors witness the best Everglades has to offer on a world-famous airboat tour. It is also the best way of exploring the Everglades’ alligators and going on nature walks and wildlife shows.

• Cost of tour: from $39 for adults to $20 per child
• Duration: 30-40 minutes
• Website: evergladessafaripark.com

Central Florida Everglades Airboat Tour – Orlando Airboat Tours

Adventuring Florida Everglades alone can be dangerous. But going on this guided tour allows visitors to enjoy the incredible views of the alligators as well as other wild animal species without feeling unsafe. The tour works in most weather conditions, and travelers are advised to dress appropriately. The company requires at least two people per booking, and cancellation is possible if the number in the group does not meet the requirements.

• Cost: from $88
• Duration: one hour, thirty minutes
• Departure Point: 2830 Neptune Rd, 2830 Neptune Rd, Kissimmee, FL 34744, USA
• Website: orlandoairboattours.com

Related: Looking For Something Different? Take An Airboat Tour In Orlando

Florida Everglades Airboat Tour And Biscayne Bay Cruise

This tour takes visitors to the Everglades National Park and makes it even more interesting by adding a trip to Biscayne Bay. Technically, it is a half-day adventure starting from Miami, putting together an Everglades airboat tour with a Biscayne boat cruise. On this adventure, travelers will explore the Everglades' unique ecosystem, enjoying the beautiful scenery of wildlife, more so, the alligators. There is a must-visit alligator show at the Everglades National Park once tourists are done with the airboat tour. After that, they can return to Miami and enjoy a boat cruise on Biscayne Bay.

• Duration: six hours
• Departure Time: 10:00 am
• Departure Point: Miami Walk of Fame, 401 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132, USA
• Website: graylinemiami.com

Everglades VIP Show And Tour

Starting from Ft. Lauderdale, this tour offers the best Everglades experience on an airboat . Travelers will pass through the River of Grass and get educated about the wildlife and ecosystem of the region. The tour allows for pick-ups and drop-offs from and to the hotel. Should there be a cancelation of the airboat tour, which must be at least 24 hours in advance of the adventure day, there will be a full refund.

• Cost: $58.98
• Duration: four hours

Captain Jack's Airboat Tours

Captain Jack's Airboat Tours is also located in the Everglades and offers a selection of tours through the cypress forest on a swamp buggy, zipping through Everglades City on airboats, and even getting to hold a baby alligator. Discover some of the best of the wildlife of the Everglades and see the animals up close. Their top package tour is the Wilderness Ultimate Combo which combines airboats with swamp buggy tours.

• Cost: From $106
• Duration: 110 Minutes

Wooten Everglades

Take an airboat tour through some 259 private acres before hopping on a swamp buggy and exploring Florida's cypress forest. See the various animals that call the swamps home and create lasting family or group memories. There are a number of tour combos to choose from and people get to hold a baby alligator. Keep an eye out for the Everglades invasive Burmese Pythons .

• Cost: From $60
• Duration: 60 Minutes

Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures

Not far out of Orlando, one should consider Boggy Creek Airport Adventures . This tour is located on 32 acres of land and also features a Native American village replica. Florida was long the homeland of the Seminoles People before the arrival of the Europeans. While largely forgotten now, the longest and most costly Native American war was fought against the Seminoles . Learn about the history of the state while enjoying an airboat tour of the swamps.

• Cost: $49.88 Per Adult
• Duration: 30 Minutes

Louisiana Tour Company

The swamps of Louisiana are obviously far out of Florida, but the swamps of Louisiana also deserve a mention . Louisiana Tour Company offers both large airboat tours with 16 passengers and airboats with smaller groups of 9 passengers. The boats can reach speeds of as fast as 35 miles an hour, and they are located within easy reach of New Orleans.

Related: Florida Everglades By Water: Kayaking, Canoeing, & Paddleboarding In The Wilderness

Everglades Swamp Tours

Everglades Swamp Tour operates just out of Miami, and they offer semi-private tours of the swamps of the Everglades. Their tours are a great option for those wanting to explore the swamps at a reasonable price without boatloads of gawking tourists. They offer one-hour and two-hour private airboat tours of the Everglades and small group tours for those on a more moderate budget.

• Cost: $250 For Two People (Private Tour)
• Duration: 1 Hour

Gladesmen Airboat Tours

Gadesmen offers a selection of both private airboat tours and sunrise and sunset tours. There is also the option of taking a bass fishing tour. They explore the Southern Everglades and offer hour-long fun-filled adventures. Learn about the River of Grass and their Gladesmen Culture. Guests see a range of Everglades wildlife including many species of birds and of course the American Alligator.

• Cost: $300 For Two People (Private Tour)
• Duration: 1.5 Hours

Crystal River Tour With Manatee Swim And Everglades Airboat Ride

The famous Crystal River in the Everglades is one of the top attractions in Florida for nature lovers. One of the best tours Everglades operators provide is those that enable guests to meet the endangered manatees of Florida for real, and up close. On this Everglades manatee swim tour, visitors will get the exclusive chance to enjoy spending time in one of Central Florida’s natural Everglades habitats where these gentle creatures thrive. Plus, this manatee tour combines with an airboat trip on the same day.

First, tourists enjoy a Crystal River airboat tour, after which they can swim and snorkel in one of the best areas for manatees in Florida. Later, the tour continues with a scenic airboat tide on the Withlacoochee River, as expert guides give commentary along the way.

• Cost: from $148.99
• Duration: 12 hours
• Tour information and operator details: see the guide on this Crystal River Tour with Manatee Swim and Everglades Airboat Ride

‘The alligator was right there’: 10 rescued after airboat overturns in Everglades National Park; operator arrested

WEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A good Samaritan came to the rescue of multiple passengers on board an airboat after, officials said, the vessel overturned near Everglades National Park in West Miami-Dade, leading to the arrest of its operator.

Hip-deep in the swampy waters was not exactly the way these visitors wanted to experience the river of grass, Friday afternoon.

Cellphone video captured the passengers wading through the water.

“Do you guys see a phone, by any chance?” a woman said.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units arrived at The Original Airboat Tour, located in the area of 22700 SW 8th St., in the Coopertown area, just after 2 p.m.

Investigators said the boat’s operator and nine passengers were on board when it turned suddenly, causing everyone to fall into the water.

One of the passengers, Jose Maldonado, told 7News he had been taking some friends and family members visiting from out of town, some from Puerto Rico, out on the boat to look for alligators.

At some point, Maldonado said, the person operating the airboat made a “hard turn.”

“All of a sudden, the captain wanted to make a U-turn, sort of on the water, so we could get a better picture of the crocodile, and the boat just flipped on its side,” he said, “and we were all in the water, and we were all screaming because the alligator was right there.”

After the boat flipped, someone could be heard on a cellphone video recording saying, “I’m sorry about that. I was kind of turning. Water started getting in the back, so I gassed it.”

Juan Carlos Negro, who is visiting from Puerto Rico, said he was left with scratches.

Speaking through a translator, Negro said that when the boat tipped over, he was afraid the alligators were going to come.

When asked whether or not the alligator swam away, Maldonado replied, “I think so. I think he was probably more scared of us than we were of him.”

Passengers tried to flip the boat over, but it was too heavy. Fortunately, they said, they weren’t in the water too long, 10 to 15 minutes.

Good Samaritan David Gonzalez happened to come by with his airboat and picked them up.

“We had room, because it was a private tour, so we had a lot of space,” said Gonzalez.

“We’ve been here before, these guys are good, they’re professional. This doesn’t happen often,” said Maldonado. “We said, ‘Let’s do this,’ took a day off from work. Maybe we should have stayed at work.”

Hours later, cameras captured officials with FWC taking the boat’s operator into custody.

Officials said the operator, an employee of Coopertown Airboat Rides, was arrested and taken to jail for having neither proof of completion of a boating safety course nor a captain’s license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The business shut down for the rest of the day so employees could focus on towing the water-logged boat back to the dock.

Fire rescue crews rendered aid to one person on land. That person was not transported to the hospital.

As of late Friday night, authorities have not released the name of the boat’s operator, as they continue to investigate.

Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Operator arrested after airboat flips into gator-infested waters in Everglades

Footage from the scene showed the airboat on its side, partially submerged in water, by jamie guirola and nbc6 • published march 29, 2024 • updated on march 30, 2024 at 11:17 am.

Multiple people were rescued after an airboat overturned in the Florida Everglades in western Miami-Dade when the operator, who was later arrested, made a sharp turn to see an alligator.

The incident happened in the area of Coopertown, off Tamiami Trail.

"So the driver tried to do a sharp U-turn to go see an alligator, he took the turn too sharp, some water went into the boat, and it flipped over," a passenger said.

The operator, an employee of Coopertown Airboat Rides, was arrested for not having proof of completion of a boating safety course nor a captain's license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officials said. His identity wasn't released.

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Footage from Chopper 6 showed the airboat on its side, partially submerged in water. Photos showed passengers standing on top of the airboat waiting for help after it flipped.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials said they received reports that people ended up in the water but said everyone was out of the water.

Some of the passengers said they were rescued about 10 minutes after the boat flipped.

"At first scary, my first thought was about my wife and family members and then I thought about the alligator that was nearby," one passenger said.

One person was injured but wouldn't need to be hospitalized, officials said. Others had scratches and walked away soaked in water, but fortunately nothing worse, especially knowing alligators were close by.

Man shot and killed by police at Homestead home identified

Ex-NFLer Cameron Sutton turns self in after weeks of evading Florida law enforcement

Footage showed multiple fire rescue trucks at Coopertown, along with police.

No other information was immediately known.

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FLORIDA CRACKER AIRBOAT RIDES (Vero Beach) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go