Trapper Nelson Zoo Historic District

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Trapper Nelson Zoo Historic District
File:Nelson gator pit.JPG
Alligator pit at Nelson's hunting camp
Trapper Nelson Zoo Historic District is located in Florida
Trapper Nelson Zoo Historic District
Nearest city Hobe Sound, Florida
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Built 1933
Architect Nelson, Vince "Trapper"
NRHP Reference # 06000918[1]
Added to NRHP October 3, 2006

The Trapper Nelson Zoo Historic District, also known as Trapper Nelson Hunting Camp and Trapper Nelson Interpretive Site, is an historic district located south of Hobe Sound, Florida, in the United States. It is inside Jonathan Dickinson State Park at 16450 Southeast Federal Highway. On October 3, 2006, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. You can get there via the Loxahatchee River (canoe, boat, or kayak) or by only one road.

History

Vince "Trapper" Nelson developed a zoo on his property in the 1950s,[2] and his camp and zoo became popular tourist attractions, where such celebrities as Gene Tunney and Gary Cooper visited. He was known locally as the "Tarzan of the Loxahatchee".

He was found dead in his cabin by a friend in 1968, and his death was ruled a suicide. His land was acquired by the state of Florida, and is now part of Jonathan Dickinson State Park.[3][4]

After the land was converted to a park, but still unopen to the public, the camp was often vandalized.[5] One of Nelson's tool sheds was burned down; the arsonist attempted to burn other buildings but was unsuccessful.[6]

In April 1984, park rangers discovered Nelson's "treasure": a hiding place in his chimney held 5,005 coins, totaling $1,829.46. The coins ranged in date from the 1890s to the 1960s. A thorough search of the camp was conducted before revealing the find to the public, but nothing more was found.[7]

The camp still stands today, with his cabin, a guest cabin, a chickee shelter, docks, a boathouse, and assorted cages from his zoo.[8] There are also fruit trees that he planted, including surinam cherry, Java plum and wild almond[disambiguation needed].[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection, Loxahatchee - Lake Worth Creek Aquatic Preserve
  3. ↑ Loxahatchee River Adventures at Jonathan Dickinson State Park
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links


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