Theme Parks/Roadside Attractions

[tallyfamily]

All right, tell me about your memories of Florida attractions from Yesteryear- something that is no longer in business- abandoned and overgrown with weeds! Remeber Six Gun Territory in Ocala? I believe a strip mall now sits in it's place. Remember Circus World where everyone could be a clown for a day?

There was a place in Cape Coral in the early 80's called Waltzing Waters. It's centerpiece was a set of fountains lit by colored lights that danced up and down to music. The fountains were connected to the music. There was another Waltzing Waters in Ft. Myers, but it was indoors. The one in Cape Coral was outdoors and also had a dolphin show and a ski show. The funny thing was that the ski show was on a tiny circular pond. The skiiers ropes were connected to a mechanical pole/island in the center of the pond that pulled the skiiers around and around in circles. Made you dizzy just watching it!!!

AHHHH, what fun!

 

[tallyfamily]

Anybody??

 

[KathyFP]

All before my time. Didn't start to visit FL until 2001. Sorry

 

[tallyfamily]

Roadside zoos, citrus stands with baby alligators, anything? Tell me what you remember!

 

[PhotobearSam]

Now my spelling might be off but...The Kapot Tree???

It was a huge restaurant that could only build on a site that had an actual tree by that name.

It was cool...

Cypress gardens...Love it as a kid.

Anywhere I could pick up my own oranges...

 

[ToddBreakey]

We used to go to this place called Florida Festival or Festival of Florida that was near Sea World. Maybe where Discovery Cove is now? It was this shopping area that looked like a huge white tent. We would go there for lunch one day during our trips. I always seemed to get a slice of deep dish pizza. I also remember seeing the Blue Angels (they were still flying the A-4!) practicing near FF. We stayed in the parking lot and watched the show. It is, of course, long gone now, but I heard that the tent is now the Monkey House at the NC Zoo.

 

[dahirsh]

I remember Circus World. I walked the "low" highwire in the late 70's there.

Deb

 

[Shells9]

FYI on the Waltzing Waters...
The one from Cape Coral is the same one that was in Fort Myers; it moved. It has since closed and is now a furniture store.
The equipment was in storage for a long time, then went to another roadside attraction, the Shell Factory in North Fort Myers. About four years ago, the equipment once again went into stortage. It was recently brought back out, and has returned to the Shell Factory, where they are charging $4 for evening performances.
The family who designed the whole Watlzing Waters concept still lives in Cape Coral.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Sorry of this is a bit off topic. No memories of anything like that yet, but we will be driving to WDW from NC in March. We have always flown in the past. What are some icons, fun sidetrips, and must-sees as we travel down I-95. We will NOT see South of the Border (catch 95 too far south). I have heard that you ought to stop at the FL welcome center and get free OJ. True?

 

[shortbun]

Jungle Jim's Alligator Farm near Sarasota. My grandparents
lived in Sarasota and we went to this place yearly. Some guy
sat on alligators, they sold stuffed baby alligators as well as
live ones. I remember the place smelled of sulfur because all
the water was sulfurous at that time. weird memories!

 

[BonnieA]

I remember the Kapok Tree restaurant. We went to the one near Tampa. I also remember the Florida Festival, went there once. Got to Circus World 3 times. And there used be many roadside citrus stands all along 192. At that time there were probably very few hotels so there was so much vacant space. Seems to me there was some kind of "Stars Hall of Fame" or something like that, maybe near Seaworld. We never went to that. And I can't forget about the Mystery Fun House right across from what is now Universal Studios.

 

[PhotobearSam]

Anyone ever there when XANADU was still around??? We keep seeing the empty building on 192 and wonder what it was like???

 

[PattiPB]

That was the coolest place!!! Boy do I wish that was still around! My sister owns a company called Trapeze Arts in San Fran that offers classes in trapeze and all forms of circus arts, and it always reminds me of Circus World! All of her instructors are former Cirque, Club Med or Ringling Bros.

When we were at Circus World (Feb of 1982), it was EMPTY! My sister turns business away! If it was open now, I wonder if it would be successful.....

BTW---I remember the Xanadu building, but I was a kid back then!

Patti

 

[ToddBreakey]

I remember Xanadu! I forgot to look the last time we were in Orlando but did they tear it down. I know it was there just a few year ago because I remember pointing it out to my wife. Never went into it though.

 

[stevenpensacola]

Hi Tallyfamily,

Seeing as you're from Tallahassee, have you ever stayed at the Wakulla Springs Lodge? We stayed there one year for our anniversary. It truly is like stepping back in time to the "old Florida".

I also got to go to 6 gun territory in the early 70's. About all I remember is waiting in front of the fake mountain to catch the train. I seem to remember you could ride a skylift over the "mountain" to get to the park. Remember the shootout, the can can girls, and a cheezy amusement park with a couple of ferris wheels.

We went to WDW in '73. Stayed in Fort Wilderness. Remember my dad going on and on about paying $13 a night to camp.....

In Navarre, between Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach, there used to be a little roadside zoo. They used to have a "gravity house". Across the street was Squirrels Tent City which had those orange balls which spun around.

 

[tallyfamily]

Hey Pensacola! Yes, we also stayed at Wakulla Springs Lodge one year for our Anniversary. I LOVED it! I love old buildings in general and would trade my 14 year old house for a 140 year old house any day! My husband, however, is a different story. He didn't sleep at all while at Wakulla Springs. He thought for sure there were ghosts going up and down the hall! We got married in the Gazebo there back in the dark ages!

 

[joe]

I remember going to Circus World several times. I believe you could see it from the Turnpike. They had 2 really good rollercoasters. That place changed names to Boardwalk and Baseball and then went out of busineess. It was probably mismanaged as a circus theme is a good idea and they had good rides. The coasters are still around in other parks. Those were my first 2 really big coasters that I was able to conquer. That Booerang coaster was pretty scary at the time.

Six Gun Territory was also a place I visited when I was younger. They had plenty of carnival type rides and gunfight shows. It was kind of cool but Ocala was too far from Disney to attract the tourists.

I had good parents growing up. I got to visit all the Florida parks when I was growing up. Thanks Mom and DAD!