Great Loxahatchee River Race Honors Florida Pioneer Trapper Nelson
Article by Alex Cotleur
Photography by Alex Cotieur and Carri Lager
The race draws about 100 paddlers in mostly kayaks, outrigger canoes and paddleboards to endure the consistently brutally hot conditions each year. Proceeds benefit the Loxahatchee River Center in Burt Reynolds Park
June ushers in rugged heat, soggy afternoons, and sweat as a daily accessory—just in time to honor the men who raised us to tough it out. In
Jupiter, no man embodied that more than Trapper Nelson.
Born Vincent Natulkiewicz, Trapper Nelson became known as the “Tarzan of the Loxahatchee River.”
He moved from New Jersey to the Loxahatchee River in the 1930s seeking solitude and ironically, became a popular tourist attraction.
Early on, he sold animals to zoos and feathers to the plume trade. As environmental laws came about, he adapted and created a riverside zoo with native wildlife. Visitors arrived by tour boat from as far as Palm Beach to hear his stories, explore his homestead, and taste exotic meats. He used his earnings to buy land from local landowners and at tax acquisition sales during the Great Depression. Expanding his land at a brisk pace, Trapper Nelson amassed over 1,000 acres by the time of his death in 1968.
Author Alex Cotleur with race organizer Steve Prior at this year’s event.
Thanks to his fiercely protective spirit, most of the area remains untouched. The state of Florida acquired his land and it is part of Jonathan Dickinson State
Park. His homestead still stands and is only accessible by water. You can paddle to it from Riverbend Park or Jonathan Dickinson State Park’s concession. You can also arrive by personal boat on a high tide and dock at Trapper’s original boat house or via the State Park aboard the Loxahatchee Queen.
Kayakers and paddleboarders take part in the 22nd Annual Great Loxahatchee River Race on May 17. Photo by Carri Lager
Today, the Loxahatchee River is one of only two National Wild and Scenic Rivers in Florida—an unlikely, yet perfect place for a paddle race, despite the gators. The annual Great Loxahatchee River Race, now in its 22nd year, honors Trapper Nelson’s tenacity. The race is organized by Jupiter local, Steve Prior, and is supported by the Florida Paddling Trails Association, a non-profit dedicated to supporting and enhancing Florida’s paddling trails. The race draws about 100 paddlers in mostly kayaks, outrigger canoes and a few paddleboards to endure the consistently brutally hot conditions each year.
A $20 registration includes park entrance and lunch, a rare bargain in the race world. Proceeds benefit the Loxahatchee River Center in Burt Reynolds Park East and operated by the Loxahatchee River District. The District manages water quality and wastewater in our area. The River Center connects residents to the river by providing eco-education through kayak tours, fishing camps, and interactive exhibits. It’s a cool, educational spot, especially in the summer when you want to escape the heat. It is free to visit, with a gift shop that supports the center’s mission.
Photo via Palm Beach Gardens Historical Society Trapper Nelson amassed more than 1,000 acres along the Loxahatchee River before his death in 1968
Trapper Nelson showed us how to protect and thrive in nature and his legacy endures both in enjoyment of the park and in ongoing efforts to protect it from development.
Thanks to countless residents who have toughed out Florida’s last legislative session, the State Parks Preservation Act has passed both the Florida House and Senate and is awaiting signature from the governor as of this writing.
The return on time spent in nature is priceless, so get wild, get scenic, let’s paddle!
