All About Orlando

Gatorland celebrated its 60th anniversary this Memorial Day weekend. Located between Orlando and Kissimmee on the South Orange Blossom Trail, the icon of a roadside attraction first opened its doors in 1949. Gatorland was founded by the late Owen Godwin in 1949, and is still privately owned by his family today. It is truly a one-of-kind destination and it is growing more popular with each passing year. And no wonder, it provides some of the most exciting events available to visitors of Orlando.

As some background, Gatorland was once destroyed by a devastating fire in November of 2006. Since then, the park has been rebuilding piece by piece. Just this last April, the 110-acre facility welcomed a new arrival in the form of a 400 pound crocodile from Miami. This particular croc had been making its home in a Miami neighborhood!

One of the most interesting aspects of Gatorland is that this is a combination park. It is part nature and wildlife conservatory, part theme park, and all fun. Along with the wildlife to be found at the park, visitors can also enjoy visiting the breeding marsh, boardwalk, observation tower and educational programs.

For many people, the very best part of Gatorland is getting to experience the many different animals up-close and personal. Visitors get to experience the types of animals and reptiles that they simply cannot experience in such an intimate manner elsewhere. Gatorland is home to thousands of alligators but there are also many other types of animals to see.

If you need more reason to visit, consider that millions of tourists and animal lovers visit this one-of-a-kind attraction each year. It is billed as “Florida’s Original Theme Park” and it has a long and rich history that you will come to appreciate as you make your way through the park. So, happy birthday, Gatorland and many more to come!

Related Posts:

Filed under: other theme parks