Who does not like old train stations?  Railroads were the link to creating modern western civilization beginning before the turning of the nineteenth century and, after helping to populate the nation, have been struggling for survival since about the 1950’s.It was in 1959 that the Everglades City railroad depot closed and they started pulling up the tracks.  Ironically, Hurricane Donna swept through the city the following year with horrific damage to the entire city.  Tourism was the saving grace for the minute city of 500 residents and has been so ever since.  The old railroad depot fell into disrepair before becoming a seafood establishment.  It became the Everglades Seafood Depot Restaurant in the early 1960’s with fair reviews.  It has since become Taste of the Everglades.
The depot, originally constructed in 1928 to service the area with freight delivery, was renovated in 1960 to resemble the initial Miami railroad station for a movie called “Wind Across the Everglades.”
It was near late 1950 when the Atlantic Coast Line decided to discontinue service to the area and the depot was sold to private investors.  The first private institution to purchase the building was the University of Miami who intended to use it as a marine science laboratory prior to it becoming a seafood eatery.
The Everglades National Park Gulf Coast Visitor Center sits a short distance from the depot so it is a good place to meet before beginning your day trip.