Beach is opened seasonally:

Public Swim Hours
Saturday and Sunday only from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Beach only admission is:

• Adults $3.00
• Children ages 3-17 $2.00 
• Seniors over age 62 $2.00

Larry Thompson (1911-1973) was a beloved humorist and popular daily columnist for the Miami Herald for 25 years. His wife of 20 years, Penny Thompson (1917-1975) was a leader in women's aviation during the 1940s and early 1950s in South Florida. Married in 1953, they took their family on annual cross-country camping trips. South Floridians vicariously were taken along through Thompson's homespun column that chronicled their family life. Larry and Penny were tireless advocates of creating more parks and planting more trees and flowers throughout Miami-Dade County.

The campground office has a historical display about Larry and Penny Thompson, along with humor columns and books by Mr. Thompson available for campers to check out.

The parkland, which was once part of the Richmond Naval Station, was acquired in December 1974 as part of a 1,010 acre land transfer from the federal government and included the Zoo Miami property. In the campground, you'll see remnants of fruit groves, which once belonged to the University of Miami. These groves act a natural buffer in the campground and feature avocado, mango and lychee trees.

Larry & Penny Thompson is one of the last portions of wilderness in Miami-Dade County, with wildflowers, palmettos, and rock pinelands. The facility truly harmonizes the recreation experience with Miami-Dade County finest natural assets.