In 1922, land developers Arthur McKee and Waldo Sexton had a vision for McKee Jungle Gardens. They purchased the 80-acre tropical hammock with the intention of cultivating citrus, but found the property’s natural beauty too special to disturb. With the help of landscape architect William Lyman Phillips, from the esteemed firm of Frederick Law Olmsted, they designed streams, ponds and trails and assembled an outstanding collection of waterlilies and orchids. They augmented native vegetation with ornamental plants and exotic specimens from around the world. By the 1940’s, McKee Jungle Gardens had become one of Florida’s earliest and most popular natural attractions, drawing in more than 100,000 visitors annually. Tourists were captivated by the Garden’s award-winning orchid collection, unusual fly-trapping pelican flowers and exotic wildlife. McKee Jungle Gardens is a testament to the vision of Arthur McKee and Waldo Sexton, who wanted to create something special while preserving the natural beauty of the 80-acre tropical hammock. With the help of landscape architect William Lyman Phillips, they crafted a unique destination for tourists to explore and appreciate the wonders of nature.