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Who is Discover Florida Tours?
Discover Florida Tours is led by guide and owner David Anderson, who grew up in the family home at the historic Jungle Prada Site. David is the third generation of the Anderson family to serve as caretaker of the Tocobaga mound and the fifth generation to call St. Petersburg home.
David’s great-grandfather, Theodore Anderson, was a builder who counted early St. Pete pioneers among his friends – including John A. Bethel (1834–1915), who lived near Big Bayou and authored the first history of Pinellas County.
Theodore’s son, Harold C. “Happy” Anderson, followed in his father’s footsteps in the construction trade. As a young boy, Happy rode the trolley out to Jungle Prada, and was even present when archaeologists uncovered a 16th-century Spanish sword hilt at the site, a discovery later lost to theft. Hap developed a friendship with Walter P. Fuller, the one-time owner of the entire Jungle neighborhood and the author of books “St. Petersburg and Its People,” and “This Was Florida’s Boom.”
In 1949, Happy founded the Anderson Lumber Company, a family business that continues to operate today under the leadership of another grandson, Fred Anderson.
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Preserving Florida’s Indigenous Heritage at Jungle Prada
In 1940, Hap Anderson purchased a 3-acre parcel next to the historic Jungle Prado mall building in St. Petersburg, Florida. His goal was to protect the largest surviving Tocobaga shell mound along Boca Ciega Bay from imminent danger. By then, many similar Indigenous mounds in the area had already been destroyed by development and used as road fill including a larger mound a couple of miles to the north that in 1938 had been replaced by The Lighthouse Inn. As a boy growing up in the area Happy had been fascinated when J. Walter Fewkes, the director of the Bureau of Ethnology at the Smithsonian, visited the shell mounds at Jungle Prado in the 1920s. Hap was determined to save this historically significant site, often saying that Florida’s history belongs to everyone and we are all caretakers.
Alongside his wife, Frances Marshall Anderson, Happy dedicated the rest of his life to conserving the Tocobaga mound and sharing it with the public. Frances, an accomplished horticulturalist, planted a Florida-native seaside garden on the lower part of the property. The couple built their family home at the site in 1953, where they raised their four children.
A Family Legacy of Stewardship
In 1990, their son Erik Anderson returned to the Jungle Prada home with his young family. Taking over caretaker duties from his father, Erik and his wife Doris founded Sacred Lands Preservation in 2002—a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and interpreting the Tocobaga site for future generations.
Erik’s son, David Anderson, grew up at Jungle Prada in the 1990s. After earning his degree from the University of Florida, David went on to serve as a Site Historian and Garden Specialist at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers. He later worked as a Pinellas County park ranger at Pinewood Cultural Center. In 2017, David launched Discover Florida Tours to offer guided history tours of the Jungle Prada Site and share this unique corner of Florida’s Indigenous and colonial history with the public.
Morning Hunt by Theodore Morris
The Tocobaga People of Tampa Bay
The Tocobaga were a Native American people who lived throughout the greater Tampa Bay region during what archaeologists call the Safety Harbor Culture period – roughly 500 to 1,000 years ago. Along with neighboring groups like the Ucita, Pohoy, and Moscoso, the Tocobaga formed one of several complex chiefdoms that thrived along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Read this article for more information about Tocobaga society.
Their coastal villages were known for large ceremonial and residential mounds made of earth and shell. These mounds elevated homes and temples, protecting them from heavy rains and flooding—an early example of climate resilience.
The Jungle Prada Site Complex is home to one of the best-preserved Tocobaga shell mounds in Florida, as well as part of an ancient village plaza. Sometimes referred to as the Anderson/Narváez Mound, this monumental structure measures approximately 900 feet long by 300 feet wide and rises nearly 25 feet above sea level.
Experience the Tocobaga Story on a Guided History Tour
When you join a Jungle Prada Site tour, you’ll learn about the daily life and customs of the Tocobaga people. We’ll explore what they ate, how they organized their communities, the significance of their mounds, and much more.
🎥 Watch our short video on Tocobaga history, then come experience it for yourself—the Anderson/Narváez Mound is only accessible via guided tour.
The Narváez Expedition and Florida’s First Catholic Mass
In 1526, Spanish conquistador Pánfilo de Narváez was appointed military governor of Florida. Two years later, in 1528, he led a large expedition to conquer and colonize the region, but the mission ended in disaster. After becoming separated from his ships along the Gulf Coast, Narváez and his men were forced to build crude rafts in a desperate attempt to reach Spanish settlements in Mexico. Most perished at sea. Only four survivors lived to recount the harrowing journey.
The Jungle Prada Site is widely believed to be the landing site of Narváez’s ill-fated expedition. It is also thought to be the location of the first Catholic Mass in Florida, held in 1528 – 37 years before the founding of St. Augustine.
Meet the Survivors of the Narváez Expedition
On your guided history tour, you’ll hear the extraordinary story of Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, one of the survivors, whose 1542 book La Relación offers a vivid first-hand account of the expedition. You’ll also learn about Estevanico, a North African man and one of the first known African explorers of North America.
📖 Visitors can even purchase a copy of Cabeza de Vaca’s book at the Jungle Prada Site gift shop or online.
Guided History Tours at the Jungle Prada Site
Join us for a historian-led guided tour of the Jungle Prada Site, offered five days a week. Each tour lasts approximately 75–90 minutes and weaves together Florida history, coastal ecology, Indigenous culture, and yes, plenty of peacocks!
On the Jungle Prada History Tour, you’ll explore:
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The lives and customs of the Tocobaga Indians
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The story of Spanish explorers like Pánfilo de Narváez
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Early American settlement and development of Gulf beaches
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Local hurricane history and environmental resilience
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The significance and locations of other Tocobaga mound sites
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The uses of native Florida plants in daily life …and much more!
We welcome curiosity—so bring your questions!
The tour takes place on private property that includes a seaside, Florida-friendly native garden and dozens of free-roaming peacocks. Visitors can also enjoy a small on-site museum, housed in a converted greenhouse.
📅 Advance registration is required.
Click the button below to check availability and book your spot today!
What People Are Saying
My husband and I had a fantastic time on the Jungle Prada Tour. We were fortunate to see one of the peacocks fan his tail to show off for the peahens. Then we learned about the early Native American inhabitants of the area which was followed by the Spaniards. The grounds of the area was very native to the area. David was an amazing guide who was very knowledgeable. Highly recommend!
Janet Lipscomb
Took my friends from England on this exceptional, fascinating, engaging, historical, informative tour guided by David, not only does he give you a wonderful presentation about history, humankind, geology, arrival of Panfilo de Narvaez etc, he is a master of botany and plant expert. We were leaving grateful to have been part of a fantastic experience . Peocock displays were added bonus and mindblowingly beautiful.
Sabine Williams
Well worth the time and small fee to tour a beautiful property and learn about the history of the area. David was an excellent storyteller and we found ourselves repeating interested tidbits we learned to others over the next few days. It’s clear that the site is very meaningful to David and his family – the personal touch is definitely what made this tour stand out.
Laura Atkins
