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Romeo the manatee is famous for being very, very old, and people love sharing his story. But the idea that he lives in a Bradenton tank is not right.
Florida still has two manatee outings worth knowing about, one near Tampa Bay and one in the Panhandle. Here is how to tell them apart and pick the one that fits your weekend.
Romeo is not in Bradenton
Let’s fix the location first. Romeo does not live in Bradenton or anywhere around Tampa Bay.
He lives at Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park on Okaloosa Island in the Destin and Fort Walton Beach area of the Florida Panhandle.
As for his fame, Guinness World Records lists Romeo as the oldest manatee in captivity ever recorded. That wording matters.
It covers manatees living under human care, so it does not mean he is the oldest manatee of any kind, anywhere.
His age is an estimate too. Romeo was born in the wild, so nobody knows his exact birth date.
Guinness gives a rough birth year of around 1955, but that is a best guess and not a known fact.
The guess comes from the fact that he was found as a subadult in 1957. Working backward from that, he is estimated to be at least 71 in 2026.
Think of “at least 71” as a careful estimate, not a birthday on a calendar.
So the headline needs two corrections: the tank is not in Bradenton, and the age is an informed estimate. The good news is that Bradenton has its own manatee story, and later sections cover it.
Romeo’s record and Snooty’s connection to Bradenton
Bradenton does have a real link to this record, and it is a famous manatee named Snooty. Snooty lived in Bradenton for decades and held the title before Romeo.
He died in 2017 at age 69 years and two days.
After that, Guinness says Romeo succeeded Snooty as the oldest manatee in captivity ever recorded. That is the connection: one record-holder followed another.
Romeo never lived in Bradenton, and he does not occupy Snooty’s old habitat.
Romeo’s own path has had a few stops. He lived at Miami Seaquarium, then moved to ZooTampa in late 2023.
In June 2025 he moved to Gulfarium, where he lives today.
That timeline shows he spent time in the Tampa area, but only as one stop on the way. It is simply the record of where he has been.
If you want to see him, the address to remember is Gulfarium in the Panhandle, not a spot in Manatee County.
The Bishop offers rehabilitation viewing, not a permanent manatee exhibit
For a manatee outing close to Bradenton, head to The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature. Its Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat is a second-stage rehabilitation habitat.
Recovering manatees stay there for a while as they get stronger.
The goal is to return them to the wild. The museum says it has rehabilitated manatees since 1998, so this is long-running work and not a new idea.
That makes it different from a permanent exhibit. At a place like Gulfarium, Romeo is a long-term resident.
At The Bishop, the animals you see are patients who will eventually leave.
That has a practical side. The manatees in the habitat will change over time, so the lineup you read about today may not be there next season.
Think of it as watching a rescue story in progress.
It also means The Bishop is not a stand-in for seeing Romeo. It offers a different, local experience with its own appeal, and the next section covers who is there right now.
Which manatees might visitors see?
Right now, the manatees listed on The Bishop’s page are Sorbet and Juneau. The museum says they are acclimating to the habitat and expects them to be considered for release in winter 2027.
Keep that wording in mind. Winter 2027 is an expectation, not a guaranteed release date.
Their health, the weather, and wildlife officials all play a part, and plans can shift.
The same goes for who is in the habitat at all. Their status can change, so the names you see today may not match the names on a later visit.
Sightings are not promised either. A manatee may be resting out of view or in another part of the habitat when you arrive.
If seeing Sorbet and Juneau is the whole reason for your trip, call or check with the museum first. A quick check can save you a drive and set the right expectations for kids.
The Bishop’s admission and visit details
Admission is paid, so plan on a ticket. The museum’s ticket page currently lists adults at $25, seniors 65 and older at $23, and children ages 5 to 17 at $16.
Kids ages 0 to 4 get in free.
Your ticket includes the Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat and the other exhibits that are open that day. Whether that feels cheap depends on your budget and how many people are in your group.
It is a full museum visit, not only a manatee stop.
The Bishop is at 201 10th Street West, Bradenton. The museum’s visit page lists hours of Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
It is closed Monday.
The museum also reports free street parking for up to three hours on 10th Street West. If you plan a long visit, keep an eye on that time limit.
These are the details currently listed, and they can change. Check prices, hours, and parking rules on the museum’s pages before you go.
Visit Gulfarium to see Romeo
To meet Romeo, point your car toward Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park at 1010 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach. That is a Panhandle trip.
It is not a Bradenton or Tampa Bay outing, so it works best as a getaway.
Gulfarium’s FAQ says visitors can view Manatee Cove with general admission. You do not need a separate ticket for that area.
The general admission page currently lists adults at $36.95, seniors at $35.95, and children ages 3 to 12 at $26.95. That is a fair amount for a family, so add up the cost before you decide.
Prices and schedules can change, so check Gulfarium’s pages before you travel. Do not count on a particular moment with Romeo either, since animals move around and rest.
Gulfarium’s Manatee Cove is its own setting, separate from wild manatee viewing and from The Bishop’s rehabilitation habitat.
Choose the visit that fits your plans
If you live near Tampa Bay and want an easy museum afternoon, pick The Bishop and its rehabilitation habitat. If Romeo himself is the goal, plan a separate Panhandle trip to Gulfarium, where Guinness places him.
Animal status and viewing conditions can change, and the museum’s manatee page is the place to check. No trip can promise a sighting or be called easy or cheap for everyone.
One is a short drive and the other is a vacation, and both are worth it for a manatee fan.
