APOLLO BEACH, Fla. – Tampa Electric (TECO) announced that the Manatee Viewing Center will welcome visitors beginning Sunday, Nov. 1, marking the free attraction’s 40th anniversary and the start of the 2026‑27 season.
New features for families and nature lovers
Among the upgrades is a permanent home for cownose rays in the center’s touch tank. TECO says keeping the rays year‑round reduces stress from seasonal moves and lets the rays serve as ambassadors for summer campers.
Additional improvements include a new shaded shelter near the south‑end tram pickup, a freshwater turtle habitat with underwater viewing at the Suncoast Youth Conservation Center, public access to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s fish hatchery, and solar‑powered charging tables that replace hurricane‑damaged units.
Why manatees gather here
Since the early 1970s, manatees have sought refuge from cold water in the warm‑water canal beside TECO’s Big Bend Power Station. When Tampa Bay water temperatures dip to 68°F or lower, hundreds of manatees congregate in the canal. A record 2,100 manatees were counted on a particularly cold day last season, and more than 190 individuals have been documented returning for over 20 years, with one resident staying for more than four decades.
Visitor experience
The Center is the anchor of TECO’s Florida Conservation and Technology Center, a 500‑acre campus that partners with The Florida Aquarium, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the University of Florida for research, education and conservation.
Guests can walk the nature trail, ascend the 50‑foot observation tower, explore exhibits on Florida’s natural environment, and gently touch rays in the new tank. Admission and parking remain free, and the Center operates daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 1 through April 15, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter (closing at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve). Service animals are welcome.
“The Manatee Viewing Center has always been a special place where people can experience the wonders of Florida up close, and now we’re excited to have the rays make their permanent home here, too,” said Stan Kroh, manager of Land and Stewardship Programs for TECO. “Whether you’re watching manatees in the wild or getting an up‑close look at the rays, it’s a chance to connect with nature and see environmental stewardship in action.”
The Center has welcomed more than 8.7 million visitors since opening. For more information, visit the TECO website or call 813‑228‑4289.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
