Nancy Forrester’s Secret Garden in Key West, Florida, is a distinctive educational sanctuary dedicated to the care and protection of orphaned parrots. For over three decades, this intimate haven has specialized in rescuing, rehoming, and training parrots—especially macaws—while spotlighting the critical need to adopt instead of purchasing pet birds. Guests will find a lush setting at 518 Elizabeth Street where knowledge, compassion, and conservation converge.
Open daily from 10 AM to 3 PM, the Secret Garden offers visitors engaging encounters with a variety of macaws and other parrots. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 5 to 11. Educational storytelling sessions, led by dedicated volunteers, typically take place between 10 and 11 AM. On occasions when staff is not available, guests are invited to explore the sanctuary’s wonders on their own.
The sanctuary’s mission extends beyond parrot care. Its founder, Nancy Forrester—an environmental artist and sustainability activist—has preserved this last wooded acre in old town Key West as a vibrant reminder of the importance of protecting our natural world. Her art and advocacy draw attention to environmental issues and highlight the urgent need for ethical treatment of parrots.
Beyond viewing, visitors can read books aloud to the parrots, helping them develop a taste for literature, or enjoy the “Parrots Love Music” program, where live music sessions inspire curiosity and enrich the birds’ social lives. Donations support these initiatives, ensuring that Nancy Forrester’s Secret Garden continues educating, uplifting, and inspiring visitors, while nurturing these extraordinary birds for generations to come.
