The popular Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach is welcoming visitors for its 2026-27 season starting Sunday, launching its 40th anniversary with free admission and a slate of new facility upgrades.
Operated by Tampa Electric, the destination attracts nearly 400,000 visitors each season to observe wild manatees that gather in the warm-water discharge canal near the utility’s Big Bend Power Station. The sanctuary has welcomed more than 8.7 million guests since its inception.
Among the new additions this season is a permanent home for cownose rays inside the center’s touch tank. According to Tampa Electric, keeping the rays at the facility year-round eliminates the transportation stress of relocating them for the summer months. During the off-season, the rays will act as educational ambassadors for summer campers.
Visitors arriving this season will also encounter several other property improvements. These include a new shaded shelter for guests waiting for tram pickups near the south end of the parking lot, a fresh freshwater turtle habitat featuring underwater viewing located at the Suncoast Youth Conservation Center, and public access to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s fish hatchery. Additionally, the facility has installed new solar-powered charging tables to replace units previously damaged by hurricanes, and ongoing enhancements are planned throughout the season at the Tom Hernandez Clean Energy Center.
“The Manatee Viewing Center has always been a special place where people can experience the wonders of Florida up close, and now we’re excited to have the rays make their permanent home here, too,” said Stan Kroh, manager of Land and Stewardship Programs for Tampa Electric. “Whether you’re watching manatees in the wild or getting an up-close look at the rays, it’s a chance to connect with nature and see environmental stewardship in action.”
Manatees have sought shelter in the warm-water canal since the early 1970s, congregating there whenever Tampa Bay water temperatures drop to 68 degrees or below. Hundreds can often be seen at once, and the utility reported a record-breaking single-day tally of 2,100 manatees during an especially cold day last season. Long-term tracking shows approximately 190 individual manatees have returned to the protected state and federal sanctuary for more than 20 years, with at least one returning for over four decades.
The viewing center serves as the anchor attraction for the Florida Conservation and Technology Center, a 500-acre Apollo Beach campus uniting Tampa Electric, The Florida Aquarium, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the University of Florida for joint research, education, and conservation efforts. Beyond viewing wildlife, guests can walk the nature trail, climb a 50-foot observation tower, and explore environmental exhibits.
The facility is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. between Nov. 1 and April 15, though it closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, and shuts at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Admission and parking are entirely free. Organizers advise guests to wear comfortable shoes and apparel, noting that trained service animals are permitted on the grounds.
