There are certain phrases in the English language that should function as warning enough on their own. “Free alligator encounter” is near the top of that list. Yet here we are, reporting on a lawsuit filed by a South Florida man who visited an Orange County airboat attraction and came away with considerably more than he bargained for, including a face-level introduction to one of Florida’s most prehistoric residents.
Edil Kasenov, the plaintiff in the case, visited Airboat Rides at Midway, located in the small Central Florida community of Christmas, back in June 2025. The attraction offered a complimentary “Alligator Encounter” as part of its experience, which presumably sounded like an entertaining detour from whatever else was on the itinerary.
Things went sideways in a fairly significant way when the alligator in question bit Kasenov in the face, leaving him with injuries serious enough to result in hospitalization and what the lawsuit describes as disfigurement.
The legal complaint, recently obtained by WKMG News 6, points the finger squarely at the business, alleging negligence on several fronts. According to the filing, there were no posted warnings about the animal’s potential for aggression, no signage cautioning visitors, and no physical restraints or protective measures in place to separate the alligator from the paying public. That combination, the lawsuit argues, created an unreasonably dangerous situation that the company had an obligation to prevent.
Kasenov is seeking damages in excess of $50,000. The case raises questions about the responsibilities tourist attractions carry when live wildlife is part of the entertainment package, and whether the inherent unpredictability of wild animals is being treated seriously enough at venues that market up-close animal experiences to families and curious visitors.
What Is Airboat Rides at Midway?
Airboat Rides at Midway is a long-running ecotourism attraction situated in Christmas, Florida, a small unincorporated community in Orange County about 25 miles east of Orlando. The operation offers airboat tours of the surrounding wetlands, which are part of the broader St. Johns River ecosystem, one of the most biologically diverse river systems in the United States.
Like many Central Florida nature attractions, alligator encounters are a key draw. The area is home to a substantial wild alligator population, and operators often incorporate these animals into educational or entertainment programming. Whether the encounter Kasenov participated in involved a captive animal, a semi-wild one, or something pulled directly from the surrounding marsh has not been specified in publicly available documents.
Florida’s Alligator Population and the Reality of Close Encounters
Florida is home to an estimated 1.3 million alligators, spread across all 67 counties in the state. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission fields thousands of nuisance alligator complaints each year, and the state has a well-established trapping and removal program to manage conflicts between humans and gators. Despite the enormous population, fatal attacks remain statistically rare, though non-fatal bites occur with more regularity than most visitors to the Sunshine State probably realize.
What makes this case stand out is not the bite itself but the context. Wild or captive alligators used in commercial tourism settings are operating under a fundamentally different set of conditions than animals encountered in the wild. Visitors to these attractions typically have little frame of reference for alligator behavior and reasonably assume that someone in charge has assessed and managed the risk. If that assessment was inadequate, the legal system exists precisely to sort out who bears responsibility.
The Legal Standard for Wildlife Attraction Liability
Premises liability law in Florida, as in most states, requires businesses to maintain reasonably safe conditions for visitors. When live animals are involved, that duty of care extends to ensuring that appropriate barriers, training, and warnings are in place. Courts have generally held that businesses cannot simply waive responsibility for inherently dangerous conditions by labeling something an “encounter” and hoping for the best.
The lawsuit’s claim that no warnings or restraints were present, if accurate, will be central to the outcome. Florida courts have dealt with similar cases involving theme parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and roadside attractions over the years. Outcomes tend to hinge on whether the business took reasonable precautions and whether the visitor assumed a risk they were clearly informed about.
A Cautionary Tale for Tourists
Central Florida’s tourism economy is enormous, built in part on the state’s unique natural environment and the wildlife that comes with it. Airboat tours, gator wrestling shows, and wildlife parks are a genuine part of the regional experience and draw visitors from around the world. Most of these operations run responsibly and without incident.
This case is a reminder, though, that “wild animal attraction” is not a contradiction in terms to be glossed over. Animals do not read scripts, honor schedules, or accommodate photo opportunities on command. When businesses profit from placing visitors in proximity to genuinely dangerous animals, the margin for error is essentially zero. A thorough warning, a proper barrier, or a well-trained handler can be the difference between a memorable vacation story and a lawsuit seeking $50,000 in damages for a facial injury that will not simply fade from memory.
The case remains active, and Airboat Rides at Midway has not issued a public statement in response to the filing.