Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach

Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) describes itself as “a 501(c)3 non-profit education and ocean conservation facility located on the Atlantic Ocean in Palm Beach County, Florida.” It treats sea turtles, monitors the nesting beach, runs public programs and manages the Juno Beach Pier. It sits inside Loggerhead Park, which Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation runs, but the county says the center is “not operated by Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation”. Checked Oct. 19, 2026.

• Loggerhead Marinelife Center describes itself as "a 501(c)3 non-profit education and ocean conservation facility located on the Atlantic Ocean in Palm Beach County, Florida." Loggerhead Marinelife Center: About

Visit: address, hours and admission

LMC is at 14200 U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach, FL 33408, phone 561-627-8280. It is “Open Daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.” with “Free Admission”. It closes all day on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26, 2026) and Christmas Day (Dec. 25, 2026). LMC places its campus “just north of Donald Ross Road between US-1 and A1A.” Some travel sites list shorter Sunday hours; LMC’s own Plan Your Visit page says daily, 10 to 5.

• Loggerhead Marinelife Center is at 14200 U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach, FL 33408, phone 561-627-8280. It is "Open Daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m." with "Free Admission". Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Plan Your Visit
• Loggerhead Marinelife Center says it is closed all day on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, and that the outdoor hospital closes when lightning is in the area. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Plan Your Visit
• Loggerhead Marinelife Center describes its TurtleFest site, the Center and Loggerhead Park, as "just north of Donald Ross Road between US-1 and A1A." Loggerhead Marinelife Center: TurtleFest FAQs

Rules on campus

LMC says: “Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Sorry, no pets, food, or beverages may be brought onto campus.” The campus is smoke-free. Service animals must be declared to guest services and kept on a short leash.

• Loggerhead Marinelife Center says: "Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Sorry, no pets, food, or beverages may be brought onto campus." It is a smoke-free facility; service animals must be declared to guest services and kept on a short leash. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Plan Your Visit

Weather

LMC’s campus is “mostly outdoor with large shaded sections”. Summer weather can bring lightning or thunderstorms, and parts of the campus may close and programs may be delayed or cancelled in severe weather. The outdoor hospital closes when lightning is in the area. If the sky looks unsettled, call 561-627-8280 before you set out.

• Loggerhead Marinelife Center's campus is "mostly outdoor with large shaded sections"; it says summer weather can include lightning or thunderstorms and areas of campus may close and programs be delayed or cancelled for severe weather. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Plan Your Visit

The sea turtle hospital

LMC’s FPL Outdoor Sea Turtle Hospital has 17 patient pools, 8 ICU pools and the Oh Family Deep Dive Tank, which LMC counts as “26 sea turtle patient pools” in all. The Gordon and Patricia Gray Veterinary Hospital has a treatment room, pharmacy, CT and X-ray imaging, a surgical suite and a necropsy room. Visitors can watch the treatment room through observation windows.

• Loggerhead Marinelife Center says its FPL Outdoor Sea Turtle Hospital has 17 patient pools, plus 8 ICU pools and the Oh Family Deep Dive Tank, "These 26 sea turtle patient pools" in all. The Gordon and Patricia Gray Veterinary Hospital has a treatment room, pharmacy, CT and X-ray imaging, a surgical suite and a necropsy room; the treatment room is viewable through observation windows. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Sea Turtle Hospital

LMC’s About page says more than 350,000 visitors come each year, and calls its hospital “the only sea turtle hospital between Orlando and the Florida Keys!” That is LMC’s own claim; we have not checked it against other sources.

• Loggerhead Marinelife Center's About page says more than 350,000 visitors come each year to see the exhibits and "the sea turtle hospital – the only sea turtle hospital between Orlando and the Florida Keys!" This is LMC's own claim. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: About

History

LMC says Juno Beach resident Eleanor Fletcher started it. Its monitoring program dates from her 1969 state permit. The Children’s Museum of Juno Beach was incorporated in 1983 in an old home in Loggerhead Park, became The Marinelife Center of Juno Beach in 1990, and moved into a new 12,000 square foot building in April 2007 as Loggerhead Marinelife Center. More is on our history page.

• Loggerhead Marinelife Center says Juno Beach resident Eleanor Fletcher started it; the Children's Museum of Juno Beach was incorporated in 1983 in an old home in Loggerhead Park, renamed The Marinelife Center of Juno Beach in 1990, and in April 2007 it moved into a new 12,000 square foot certified "green" facility and became Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: About, Our History
• Loggerhead Marinelife Center says its monitoring program officially began when founder Eleanor Fletcher received her permit from the state of Florida in 1969, and calls it one of the longest-running sea turtle monitoring programs in Florida. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Research

Programs

• Guided Turtle Walks: the page says “RETURNS SUMMER 2027”, offered from June 1, ages 10 and up. Details.
• Hatchling Releases and Hatchling Discovery: offered from August 1, ages 10 and up.
• Juno Dunes Natural Area Hike: Fridays, 45 to 60 minutes, ages 5 and up recommended, into the coastal hammock next to the center. The page is tagged “Returning in the Fall” with no dates posted.
• Kids Fishing Clinic and private lessons: on the pier. Details.

• Loggerhead Marinelife Center says Hatchling Releases are "Offered from August 1" (ages 10+, 2 hours), using hatchlings from nests excavated earlier that day by its research team, with no guarantee and no refunds. Its Eco Experiences page says evening Hatchling Releases and morning Hatchling Discovery programs start August 1. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Hatchling Releases
• Loggerhead Marinelife Center runs a 45-60 minute Juno Dunes Natural Area Hike on Fridays (ages 5+ recommended) into the coastal hammock next to the Center; the page is tagged "Returning in the Fall". LMC says it has adopted the Juno Dunes Natural Area in partnership with PBC Environmental Resources Management. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Juno Dunes Natural Area Hike
• Loggerhead Marinelife Center lists a Kids Fishing Clinic on the pier: "Saturdays • Ages 8-14 • 2 Hours", and Private Fishing Lessons: "Starting at $25 • Ages 8+ • 1 hour". Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Juno Beach Pier, Explore Experiences

Juno Dunes Natural Area

LMC has adopted the Juno Dunes Natural Area with Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management. The Town of Juno Beach says visitors to the 569-acre natural area “can travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway”. The Oceanfront tract has a view from an ancient sand dune, and the West tract has several miles of trails and floating docks. The town lists it at 14501 U.S. Highway 1.

• The Town of Juno Beach says visitors to the 569-acre Juno Dunes Natural Area "can travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway"; the Oceanfront tract has a view from atop an ancient sand dune and the West tract has several miles of trails and floating docks. The town lists it at 14501 U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach, FL 33408, and refers visitors to Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management. Town of Juno Beach: Juno Dunes Natural Area

Loggerhead Park around the center

Palm Beach County lists Loggerhead Park at 14200 U.S. Highway 1, open sunrise to sunset, 19.17 acres, with 900 feet of guarded beach, a nature trail, parking, picnic areas with grills, six family picnic shelters, a playground for ages 2 to 12 and 5 to 12, restrooms, outdoor showers and the Celestial Railroad historical marker. Balloons are banned in the park. See beaches near the pier.

• Palm Beach County lists Loggerhead Park at 14200 U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach, Florida 33408, open sunrise to sunset, 19.17 acres, with 900 feet of guarded beach, a nature trail, parking, picnic areas with grills, six family picnic shelters, a playground (ages 2-12 and 5-12), restrooms and outdoor showers, and the Celestial Railroad historical marker. Loggerhead Marinelife Center sits in the park but is "not operated by Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation". Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation: Loggerhead Park
• Palm Beach County says "The use of balloons is prohibited at this park" at Juno Beach Park and Loggerhead Park, a commitment by Loggerhead Marinelife Center and the county "to promote the safety and protection of sea turtles." Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation: Juno Beach Park

TurtleFest 2027 and parking

LMC says its 22nd Annual TurtleFest is on Feb. 20-21, 2027, 10am to 5pm, at Loggerhead Park, with free admission, and that over 15,000 guests came in 2026. Its FAQ still carries last year’s dates (Feb. 21-22, 2026); the 2027 date in the headline is the current one. For parking, the FAQ says all parking is free and off-site at FPL, 700 Universe Blvd, Juno Beach, with a free shuttle every 15 minutes, and that handicap parking is the one kind of parking in Loggerhead Park on event days. Those parking details are from the 2026 FAQ, so check the TurtleFest page nearer the date.

• Loggerhead Marinelife Center says it will host its 22nd Annual TurtleFest on February 20-21, 2027, 10am to 5pm, at Loggerhead Park in Juno Beach, with free admission. It says over 15,000 guests came to TurtleFest 2026. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: TurtleFest
• For TurtleFest, Loggerhead Marinelife Center says all parking is free and off-site at FPL, 700 Universe Blvd, Juno Beach, FL 33408, with a free shuttle every 15 minutes; only handicap parking is available in Loggerhead Park on event days. These details are from the 2026 FAQ still on the page. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: TurtleFest, Map & Parking and FAQs
• Loggerhead Marinelife Center's TurtleFest page headlines February 20-21, 2027, but its FAQ still says TurtleFest is "held on Saturday, February 21, and Sunday, February 22, 2026". The FAQ is last year's text; use the 2027 save-the-date. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: TurtleFest

LMC and the Juno Beach Pier

LMC has managed the pier since 2014 and posts its hours, fees and construction updates. Read our pier hours and fees and the refurbishment log.

• Palm Beach County says: "The Juno Beach Pier is managed by Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Please visit their website for up to date information on the pier." Loggerhead Marinelife Center says it has managed the pier since 2014. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Juno Beach Pier, About The Pier; Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation

Coming up at LMC

Questions about the center

Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: Loggerhead Marinelife Center (pier operator)