ZooTampa Unveils Florida Waters Opening March 2026

If your Tampa trip wishlist includes “see manatees, squeal at otters, and accidentally learn something,” ZooTampa at Lowry Park has you covered.

The zoo is getting ready to open Florida Waters in March 2026, and it’s their largest expansion to date. Think of it as a love letter to Florida’s ecosystems—served with splashy viewing windows, hands-on family features, and a behind-the-scenes peek at real wildlife care.

Florida Waters also connects with the zoo’s previously expanded Florida Wilds to complete what ZooTampa calls its “Florida Realm.” In other words: more space, more species, and more ways to see how local wildlife conservation happens in real time.

Event Details

📍 Location: ZooTampa at Lowry Park (Tampa, Florida)

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Ideal For: Families, animal lovers, Florida nature nerds, and anyone who can’t say no to an otter face

What’s New

Florida Waters is the headline act, and it’s built around one big, adorable superstar: the manatee. The expansion includes the Straz Family Manatee Rescue, a multi-species habitat designed to help guests connect the dots between manatees and the larger world they live in.

Even better, this isn’t just a pretty exhibit. ZooTampa’s rescue, rehabilitation, and release work is a major part of the experience here. Guests will be able to see live veterinary procedures and learn how the zoo helps sick, injured, and orphaned manatees get a second chance.

It’s the kind of thing that makes you go, “Aww,” and then immediately feel emotionally invested in Florida watersheds.

Florida Waters also builds on upgrades to the David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center, which ZooTampa describes as the largest nonprofit facility of its kind in the world.

The expansion added two new 16,000-gallon medical pools with rising floors and advanced life support systems. Plus, their team includes USFWS-certified manatee critical care veterinarians and animal care pros on call 24/7—because manatees don’t schedule emergencies around your vacation dates.

Highlights

• Manatee Rescue viewing that puts real wildlife care front and center
• A mangrove walk-through tunnel that adds a “whoa, we’re inside the habitat” moment
• A jellies aquatic exhibit for anyone who loves ocean vibes (without the sunburn)
• Naturalistic aquariums inspired by Florida’s freshwater springs
• Otter Oasis with up-close views of playful otters above and below the waterline
• Reptile & Amphibian Discovery featuring native species and connected habitats
• A look at conservation breeding programs that used to be behind-the-scenes

The overall vibe: immersive, family-friendly, and designed to turn “cool animals” into “oh, that’s why this ecosystem matters.” Also, it’s a very solid way to keep kids engaged without having to bribe them with snacks every 12 minutes. (Okay, maybe every 20.)

Plan Your Trip with Tripster

If you’re planning a Tampa getaway, Florida Waters is a strong excuse to build a full day around ZooTampa—especially if your crew likes a mix of fun and “accidentally educational.” Start early, take your time through the habitats, and keep an eye out for posted schedules so you don’t miss those conservation-focused moments.

When you’re ready to lock in the details, Tripster makes it easy to plan the whole Tampa trip in one place.

You can book attractions and pair them with hotels so your itinerary actually makes sense (and doesn’t require 27 browser tabs). Bundle your favorites, keep your plans simple, and spend more time enjoying Tampa instead of playing travel-planner whack-a-mole.