MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — It’s been over a year since a devastating fire killed more than 100 animals at the Alligator and Wildlife Discovery Center in John’s Pass.

What You Need To Know

  • The Alligator and Wildlife Discovery Center is still in their temporary space in Madeira Beach over a year after their original location caught fire

  • In February, the center thought they'd have to move out of their temporary home, which is an old bank, but the building's owners extended their stay because the John's Pass property has still not been rebuilt

  • Owner Sonny Flynn said the architect for the rebuild of the center’s original home submitted permits to the city late last month

Despite all this time passing, the center is still in a temporary home, and no construction has happened at their original location.

“We have had the year from hell, after the fire and trying to recover,” said Sonny Flynn, owner of the center which is temporary located in Madeira Beach.

In July 2023, the center’s original home caught on fire, causing more than $2 million worth of damage, resulting in the deaths of more than 100 animals.

When Spectrum Bay News 9 last visited the center in February, Flynn said they’d have to move out of this temporary space, which used to be a bank, by the end of March.

The owners of the building, according to Flynn, have pushed the deadline back because progress at her home in John’s Pass has been slow.

“We're just in limbo,” Flynn said. “And it's hard. This is a tight space for 160 animals.”

It’s taken so long that some of her alligators that were being temporarily held by other facilities had to be given away.

“It is heartbreaking because I couldn't say goodbye to them,” said Flynn. “All of these are my babies. Every single one of them here.”

Which is why she isn’t giving up.

According to Flynn, she’s still going out to schools and organizations to tell them about the experiences folks can have at the center, while trying to fundraise and keep this place afloat, despite nearly depleting her savings.

“I just want people to remember that we're here and we're here for a purpose,” Flynn said.

Flynn says the architect for the rebuild of the center’s original home has submitted permits to the city to begin the project.

If things are approved and all goes according to plan, Flynn said construction would only take four weeks.