Bill Haast died Wednesday, he was 100. Haast remained director of Miami Serpentarium Laboratories near Punta Gorda until his death.
The original Miami Serpentarium, located south of Miami, was in operation from 1947 to 1984. Guests would pay admission to watch Haast extract venom from snakes. Haast, a pioneer in extracting large quantities of venom for research, began the practice when he was a boy.
Soon after opening the Serpentarium, Haast began injecting himself with different types of cobra venom in order to develop immunity.
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As a child, I visited the Serpentarium many times during the 1960's and 1970's. He devoted his life to science and to the protection of human life and improvement of human health. I remember his great sorrow after the tragedy that took place at the Serpentarium. I feel he was a great man and humanitarian. Rest in Peace Mr. Haast.
John Granato
April 08, 2025 | Sunrise, FL | Teacher
I first saw Bill's snake show about 1976 there on Dixie Highway in Miami. It was absolutely incredible. I got to talk with him and then spoke with him about 20 years later when he was in Punta Gorda. He was a very nice man who loved his very difficult occupation, and he was a hero to many. God bless him.
Byron Huff
March 31, 2025 | Friend
I too was always fascinated by venomous snakes and later moved from San Diego to Miami to work with Bill during the summer of 1969 in the venom production end of the business. He was a serious man and I admired and shared his love for these wonderful creatures.
Michael S. Campbell
May 25, 2024
Bill was my hero as a young. I’m now 69 yrs old and my love for herps has not faded.
Gary Sloan
June 04, 2021 | Acquaintance
I have fond memories of the SERPENTARIUM when I was seven.
Eddie
February 05, 2021 | Friend
I saw Mr. Haast give a show with a spitting cobra when I was 15. It was amazing!! I am now 62 and this is a memory I will always carry with me. Loved the serpentarium facility. It was a great experience.
Sandy Swain
December 29, 2020
David Jason Silver
July 29, 2020 | Student
I worked for Bill Haast in 1983-1984 when the Serpentarium was in it's final year. He was truly a remarkable man, and I remember him fondly.
Paula Rayner
February 01, 2020 | Saint Augustine, FL
What we looked like then.
I'm very late in expressing my condolences, as I only read of Bill's death today. His daughter Nia was my friend way back in elementary school.
My twin sister, Carole and I visited both the Serpentarium and the Haast home many times. We rode huge turtles in the yard.
Cathye Baughan Letterman
October 04, 2019 | Johnson City, TN
