98-years of opportunity, fantasy, and vision.
Established as a community volunteer group in 2022 by Opa-locka resident and activist Alex Van Mecl, the mission of the Opa-locka Preservation Association (OPA) is to advocate for the preservation and protection of the historic and natural spaces, as well as the stories and artifacts connected to Opa-locka, a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Through public projects including events and public installations, OPA is able to elevate the unique identity of the themed community from 1926.
Residents, historic homeowners, and preservation activists are strongly encouraged to get engaged. Share your story with us by reaching out below.
ABOUT THE OPA-locka preservation association
visit historic opa-locka’s new historical experience:
the opa-locka heritage trail
The 15-station trail is the city’s first-ever permanent historical experience that’s open to the public 24/7. Located in the historic core of Opa-locka, the Opa-locka Heritage Trail tells the founding history of the city, including the people, industries, and ideas that made it one of the most exciting places to be during the mid-to-late 1920s.
The Trail begins at the historic fire station, located at 151 N. Perviz Avenue, Opa-locka, FL 33054, and was curated to be experienced in sequence.
Funded by non-profit Ten North Group, this was a partnership between the City of Opa-locka and the Opa-locka Preservation Association.
FREE walking and bike tours
Experience historic Opa-locka on foot on bicycle with our free guided tours from a local! Learn about the founding history of the 1926 community inspired by the “Arabian Nights” novels.
mena fest opa-locka
Thank you to the Opa-locka community and greater public for attending our successful, first-annual MENA Fest Opa-locka, a day-long village showcase celebrating the rich heritage of our city and our unique Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) historic architecture.
The inaugural event that took place April 13, 2024 was co-produced by the Opa-locka Preservation Association, the City of Opa-locka, and Ten North Group, MENA Fest Opa-locka featured authentic MENA cuisine, dance and music entertainment, workshops, and vendors.
The 2nd annual MENA Fest Opa-locka is expected to take place Saturday, April 5, 2025.
Support Preservation Permanence
Opa-locka Preservation Association, its web domain www.discoveropalocka.org, and social presence exist with the primary mission to preserve the full history of the city of Opa-locka, which includes archival work, digital campaign strategy, and planned projects for historic residences in the community. 100% of your contribution will go to sustaining these efforts.
![Opa-locka's [un] official mascot: Curtiss the Husky!
Named after founder Glenn Curtiss, Curtiss appreciates his Moorish Revival backyard just as much as his aviator idol.
Although our city's mascot really should be the camel, as they were used fo](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6306a26084ea397a64920ea0/1681941569546-RKS10GEV8DBT4MZU6Y7O/image-asset.jpeg)
