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Survivor fans pack Jungle Island as new themed café opens in Miami

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Survivor fans pack Jungle Island as new themed café opens in Miami


Survivor fans are flooding South Florida, and the center of the action is Jungle Island, where the new Survivor Ultimate Café offers challenges, themed food and official merchandise.

Sophi Balerdi, a contestant from Season 49, said seeing the recreated challenges is surreal because they’re pulled straight from the show.

“There’s challenges that I actually did in Fiji,” Balerdi said. “This is the exact challenge that I won back in season 49, and it’s just so cool to see it all.”

A full Survivor‑style experience

The café is designed to immerse visitors in the Survivor world. The menu goes beyond basic survival food and leans into the show’s reward challenges, giving fans a literal taste of what contestants eat in Fiji. For many, it’s also a chance to test themselves under pressure.

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“You’re under pressure for a million dollars, you’re competing against other people, and when your life is on the line in the game, it’s scary to do these challenges,” Balerdi said.

Just steps away, another Survivor‑style event drew crowds: a hidden immunity idol hunt offering a chance to win a spot at the live finale in Los Angeles.

Francois said hundreds of people had about an hour left to search as fans from across Florida followed clues through the park.

“That jungle… in the city named for an ocean is where I am,” Francois said. “And it’s where hundreds are channeling their inner Survivor.”

Fans travel hours for a chance to win

Among the first in line were fans who drove from the Jacksonville area, calling the trip a gamble they hoped would pay off.

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“This whole trip is to make my wife happy, so everybody else can go home,” Brandon Hudspatch said.

His wife, Rebecca Hudspatch, said they recognized the location from the show.

“You drove down just for this,” she said. “How’d you know to be here though? I think it was on last season?”

And while the object of the search is an idol, fans aren’t chasing immunity — they’re chasing a prize: a trip to the live finale taping in Los Angeles.

“Even if you’re not a Survivor fan, who doesn’t like solving riddles and driving six hours to find an idol?” Bridget Powell said.

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Jane and Peter Simpson said they’ve been all‑in since the beginning. “I’ve seen this from Day One.”

Former contestants meet fans

The Survivor Café experience also includes meet‑and‑greets with former contestants, including Dee Valladares, who won Survivor 45 and is set to appear in the upcoming Survivor 50 season. Valladares said watching Survivor is one thing, but living it is something else entirely.

“You’re going to war with your mind,” she said. “For me, that was very hard. You’re stepping outside from the gameplay itself, shivering and thinking to yourself, when is this going to end and it never does.”

Survivor veteran Troy “Troyzan” Robertson echoed that reality.

“It’s one thing to watch it and one thing to play. This doesn’t seem like the same thing,” he said.

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Fans visiting the café will also find official merchandise, including Survivor bandanas and shirts. The Survivor Café officially opens tomorrow, and reservations are available online.



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Miami, FL

Florida fire map shows live updates on wildfires burning in Broward and Miami-Dade

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Florida fire map shows live updates on wildfires burning in Broward and Miami-Dade


Two active wildfires burning in Broward and Miami-Dade counties are reducing air quality and visibility across parts of South Florida Monday as firefighters continue working to contain the flames, according to the Florida Forest Service and other state and local agencies.

The fires are highlighted on Florida’s Active Wildfire Points map, an interactive tool that tracks current wildfires across the state and provides updated information on acreage burned and containment levels. You can check it out here:

Max Road Fire in Broward

The largest blaze, known as the Max Road Fire, was burning west of U.S. 27 and Pines Boulevard in western Broward County. Officials said the fire has scorched at least 5,000 acres as of Monday morning.

Smoke from the Max Road Fire was drifting north and northwest Monday morning due to a light southeast breeze.

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On Sunday night, an eerie orange glow lit up the sky near the fire zone as crews battled the flames.

Andrew Johnston / CBS News Miami


Florida City fire in Miami-Dade

A second wildfire, called the 172nd Avenue Fire, is burning near Florida City in southern Miami-Dade County. Officials said the fire has burned at least 210 acres as of Monday morning.

Smoke from that fire remained relatively stagnant because of calm winds, though conditions later Monday could push smoke northward toward Leisure City and Homestead.

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The 172nd Avenue Fire temporarily forced the closure of Card Sound Road and restricted access to the Florida Keys over the weekend, though the roadway has since reopened.

Authorities are still urging drivers to use caution in the area because heavy smoke could continue reducing visibility. Residents across South Florida are also being advised to monitor local air quality conditions as firefighters work to bring both blazes under control.

Florida dry season fuels wildfire risk

Florida is currently in its dry season, a period that typically runs from October through May and brings an increased risk of wildfires across the state.

According to the Florida Forest Service, peak wildfire season usually occurs during April, May and June, when dry vegetation, low humidity and windy conditions can help fires spread quickly.

The National Weather Service said ongoing drought conditions and low relative humidity have elevated wildfire danger across much of Florida in recent weeks. Officials are urging residents to avoid outdoor burning and remain alert as firefighters continue battling dozens of active wildfires statewide.

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Jarvis Landry Doesn’t Hold Back on Dolphins Offseason

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Jarvis Landry Doesn’t Hold Back on Dolphins Offseason



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(Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM )

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The Miami Dolphins are in the middle of a rebuild under new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. This offseason, Sullivan cut ties with players like Tyreek Hill and Tua Tagovailoa and then traded away Jaylen Waddle.

Moreover, the team brought in former Green Bay Packers QB Malik Willis, drafted Kadyn Proctor in Round 1, and selected several pass catchers to help their new signal-caller. Miami also drafted Jacob Rodriguez to be their leader on that side of the football, potentially.

While there’s still more work to be done, Sullivan has laid the foundation for what he hopes will turn the Dolphins into a contender in the AFC. Nonetheless, one person who is fully on board with what Miami has done this offseason is former Dolphins wideout Jarvis Landry.

I love the [Proctor] pick,Landry said in a May video from4th And South. Miami Dolphins, the GM, hey, he’s doing amazing. He is doing amazing. I’m excited to see how [the Proctor pick] works out. Malik Willis will get some protection up front. I still want to see them add more firepower on the edges, maybe even at tight end, and keep building.

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They added pieces on the defensive side of the ball during the offseason, including a couple of cornerbacks and safeties and things like that. But I would love to see them get Malik Willis a couple more weapons on the outside to do his thing [as] Jaylen Waddle left [and] Tyreek left.


Jarvis Landry Excited About Miami’s Future

Moreover, Landry provided an exciting outlook for Miami under Sullivan as the general manager is only getting started in molding the Dolphins in his vision, especially with the draft capital that the team had in this past draft.

I think the city of Miami is excited,Landry added.With all of these draft picks and the draft capital Miami acquired, and don’t forget, they traded back and got more value and more picks [in this past draft]. I think they’re the only team to have this many picks in this year’s draft, which is probably a record.


Dolphins Were Reportedly Looking at a Veteran Wideout

While Landry would like for the Dolphins to add another receiver, they were reportedly trying to do that. On May 8, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter shared that Miami was one of the teams interested in signing Jauan Jennings before he made his decision to sign with the Minnesota Vikings.

The interesting thing is I was told that there were a few other teams,” Schefter said during a May 8 appearance on thePat McAfee Show. “I can go back and get the exact list. I think it was the Dolphins, the Commanders. There was somebody else that was interested.

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The Vikings were the only team, I believe he wound up visiting at all. That was the only one. The other teams, the Chiefs and Commanders also were interested in Jauan Jennings. New Orleans also expressed a little interest.

Now, for the Dolphins, it will be interesting to see whether they look at other veteran wideouts who might be a good fit, especially as a mentor for the group.

Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo





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Your 2026 Miami Dolphins Draft Picks Expectations

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Your 2026 Miami Dolphins Draft Picks Expectations


Highest ceiling: Proctor. There’s a reason they drafted him in the first round. If he loses 25 pounds, he can be a multi-time first team All Pro. But he has to put the work in and not be lazy.

Lowest ceiling: Caleb Douglas. Don’t see him fixing his drops. But I hope he proves me wrong.

Best overall pick: Jacob Rodriguez. Guy will be a sideline to sideline tackling machine.

Best value pick: Kyle Louis. He should have went in the 3rd round and will be a major contributor.

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Best pick no one else sees as great…yet: Seydou Traore. The more tape I watch on this guy at Mississippi State, the more I like. If he refines his route running and hands, he could be our starting TE in 2 or 3 years.

Biggest reach pick: Caleb Douglas. See above. He should have went in the 5th, maybe 6th.

Biggest missed opportunity: Not drafting Bain. I sure hope those short arms limit him in the NFL. Now the guy has a huge chip on his shoulder and is pissed at the 14 teams that passed on him, including Miami. The guy was a menace in college. I’m not looking forward to facing the Bucs in the future.



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