Deering Estate, Palmetto Bay:
The Waterfront Historic Estate Most South Florida Residents Have Never Visited
⚡ Quick Facts
Address
16701 SW 72nd Ave, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
Phone
(305) 235-1668
Hours
Daily 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (No admission after 4:00 PM)
Closed
Thanksgiving and Christmas only
Adult Admission
$18.00 (ages 15+)
Children
$10.00 (ages 4–14)
Under 4
FREE
Parking
FREE on-site
Guided Museum Tour
Daily 11:30 AM · FREE with admission · Richmond Cottage front porch
Moonlight Kayak Tour
$50/person · Monthly · Pre-registration required
Historic Kayak Adventure
$50/person · Includes same-day general admission
GPS Coordinates
25.5897° N, 80.3318° W
Website
deeringestate.org
A Hidden Gem on Biscayne Bay
I have been selling real estate in Palmetto Bay for years. I have driven past Deering Estate hundreds of times on SW 72nd Avenue. And yet it took me embarrassingly long to actually stop and walk the grounds.
That is a mistake I want you to avoid.
Deering Estate sits on 444 acres of pristine South Florida landscape along the shores of Biscayne Bay — making it one of the largest undeveloped waterfront properties in all of Miami-Dade County. It is a Miami-Dade County Heritage Park listed on the National Register of Historic Places, home to two historic houses, a natural preserve, ancient burial mounds, and some of the most extraordinary waterfront views in all of South Florida.
Admission is $18 for adults. Parking is free. And the daily guided museum tour at 11:30 AM is included with your ticket.
If you are thinking about living in Palmetto Bay — this is the kind of place that will make you understand exactly why people never leave.
What to See and Do at Deering Estate
The Historic Houses
Deering Estate is named for Charles Deering — a wealthy industrialist and art collector who purchased the property in 1916 and transformed it into his winter retreat. The estate features two remarkable historic structures that tell the story of South Florida's early development.
The Richmond Cottage — built in 1900 as a hotel — is the older of the two buildings and serves as the starting point for the daily guided museum tour at 11:30 AM. The tour explores the history of the site from its prehistoric origins through Charles Deering's era, covering the estate's connection to South Florida's indigenous cultures and its role in Miami's founding story.
The Stone House — a magnificent Mediterranean Revival structure completed in 1922 — is currently undergoing renovation and restoration but remains one of the most architecturally significant historic buildings in all of South Florida. Its design by architect Phineas Paist directly influenced the Mediterranean Revival style that would later define Coral Gables.
The Natural Preserve — 444 Acres of Pristine South Florida
What most people do not realize about Deering Estate is that the historic houses are only a fraction of what the property offers. The estate encompasses 444 acres of some of the most ecologically significant land in Miami-Dade County — including tropical hardwood hammock, pine rocklands, mangrove forest, and tidal wetlands that represent South Florida's natural landscape in its original state.
The South Hammock Trail winds through an ancient tropical hardwood hammock where trees that predate Miami's founding still stand. The preserve is home to an extraordinary variety of South Florida wildlife — gopher tortoises, wood storks, roseate spoonbills, ospreys, manatees in the adjacent bay waters, and during migration season, an astonishing variety of warblers and other neotropical migrants.
The Cutler Burial Mound
One of Deering Estate's most historically significant features is the Cutler Burial Mound — an ancient Native American burial site estimated to be over 2,000 years old. The mound is carefully protected and interpreted as part of the estate's commitment to preserving South Florida's pre-colonial history. It is one of the most significant archaeological sites in all of Miami-Dade County and gives visitors a profound connection to the deep human history of this landscape.
Moonlight Kayak Tours
One of the most magical experiences available at Deering Estate is the monthly Moonlight Kayak Tour — a guided evening paddle through the estate's waterways and Biscayne Bay by moonlight. The tours depart at 7:00 PM and run approximately three hours, offering a perspective on South Florida's coastal ecosystem that is genuinely unlike anything else available in the area. Tours are $50 per person and sell out quickly — pre-registration is required at deeringestate.org.
Upcoming Moonlight Kayak dates: September 25, October 23, January 22, February 19, March 19, April 16.
Historic Kayak Adventure
For those who want a daytime paddling experience, the Historic Kayak Adventure offers a guided kayak tour from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM exploring the estate's waterfront from the water. At $50 per person the tour includes same-day general admission to the estate and is one of the best ways to understand the full scope of this extraordinary property.
What Deering Estate Has to Do With Real Estate
When I work with buyers who are relocating to South Florida — particularly families from the Northeast and international buyers — they ask me what daily life actually looks like here. Not the listings. The life.
I take them to places like Deering Estate.
Palmetto Bay's median home price is approaching $1 million. That premium reflects something real — and Deering Estate is part of it. Living within minutes of 444 acres of protected waterfront nature, of historic significance, of kayak tours and moonlit paddles on Biscayne Bay — that is the lifestyle that commands that premium.
Buyers who discover Deering Estate almost never look at communities further from it. It becomes an anchor — a reason to stay close.
Getting There
Deering Estate is located at 16701 SW 72nd Ave, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157. GPS: 25.5897° N, 80.3318° W.
From central Palmetto Bay: approximately 5 minutes south on SW 72nd Ave. From Coral Gables: approximately 20 minutes south via Old Cutler Road. From Cutler Bay: approximately 10 minutes north via Old Cutler Road. Free parking is available on-site.
Before You Go — Tips
• Purchase tickets online at deeringestate.org to guarantee entry — on-site ticket sales can be limited.
• Arrive by 11:00 AM to catch the daily guided museum tour at 11:30 AM.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring sunscreen — some trail sections are exposed.
• Bring binoculars — the wildlife viewing, particularly during migration season, is extraordinary.
• Book Moonlight Kayak Tours well in advance — they sell out every month.
• The estate is closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas — open every other day.
📚 Related Reading
Thalatta Estate — Palmetto Bay's Hidden Waterfront Gem
https://www.homesbysandraalonso.com/blog/thalatta-estate-palmetto-bay
Biscayne National Park — The Marine Park Most People Miss
https://www.homesbysandraalonso.com/blog/biscayne-national-park
Old Cutler Road — The Most Beautiful Drive in South Florida
https://www.homesbysandraalonso.com/blog/old-cutler-road-south-florida
Best Parks in Palmetto Bay — Complete Outdoor Living Guide
https://www.homesbysandraalonso.com/blog/best-parks-palmetto-bay
Palmetto Bay Neighborhood Guide — Living Here vs. Visiting
https://www.homesbysandraalonso.com/blog/palmetto-bay-neighborhood-guide
About the Author
Sandra K. Alonso, PA | REALTOR® · Brown Harris Stevens
Sandra Alonso is a South Florida native and ten-year real estate veteran specializing in Coral Gables, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, Pinecrest, and South Miami. As a 21-year original owner at Cutler Cay and a bilingual English/Spanish agent with Brown Harris Stevens, Sandra brings authentic hyperlocal knowledge to every buyer and seller she represents.
📞 305-613-3376 ✉️ salonso@bhsusa.com 🌐 www.homesbysandraalonso.com
Sources and References
• Deering Estate official website — deeringestate.org
• Miami-Dade County Parks and Recreation — miamidade.gov
• National Register of Historic Places — nps.gov
• TripAdvisor visitor reviews — updated September 2026
• Florida Department of State Division of Historical Resources
