Gatorland Orlando

by Feb 12, 2023Animals and Wildlife, Florida, Fun Things To Do, Orlando, Outdoor, United States of America

Gatorland Orlando

Written By: Gail Clifford | Published By: Weekend Notes | February 12, 2023

One of the most exciting day trips for those “in the know” in Orlando is a visit to Gatorland , one of Florida’s Oldest Theme Parks. It’s quintessential Florida. Started by Owen and Pearl Godwin in 1949, who with their family grew it from a meat, fish, and hot dog stand into what it is today, a 45 ha (110-acre) wildlife adventure park, 22 years before Walt Disney arrived. Their 27 descendants (from 4 children) remain actively involved. One granddaughter and her husband, Mark McHugh, who have a great origin first date story, currently run the venue with her father still involved. It’s her husband’s sense of humor, though, that runs through the signage you’ll see as you traverse the park. Read to the end to learn of the only handicapped-accessible zip line.

If it’s cold the day you visit, be warned the alligators aren’t likely to be very active during the shows where they’re fed. When the air is too cool, they stay deep in the water. Then, when the sun comes out, they want to lay out on the grassy knolls around the park, with only a few even interested in participating in the show for their lunch.

People would sit around, back in the 1940s and ’50s, watching the gators and then Owen purchased the locomotive, created a train tour, and Gatorland was on its way to what it’s become today. As they became better known, people would drop pets off. Those “crazy wild critters” became the basis of the current show, the Wild and Crazy Critters. There are three shows, each about 1.5 hours apart.

If you attend the shows, walk around the park, and do the zip line, you could easily spend 6-7 hours here.

Always under construction or inventing more great experiences for everyone to enjoy, the children’s water park area was closed for renovation. Don’t ask them what it’s like to watch concrete dry for 27 days. Let’s just say they’re not accustomed to running anything that slowly.

But as Pearl and Owen learned, it does take time to grow a venue of this nature and become one of the premiere attractions in the area. They’re grateful to Walt Disney who brought the crowds to central Florida. And, especially during the pandemic with crowd limitations in those parks, led to more tourists discovering Gatorland.

Located near the Hunter’s Creek subdivision, it’s shockingly close to town. I almost rented a house perhaps two miles away and had no idea so many alligators, crocodiles, and other wildlife were so nearby. When my daughter realized it, she said, “I could’ve ridden a bike to come run the zip lines all day.” She’s right, and they’re hiring.

READ MORE

0 Comments

Share via
Facebook
X (Twitter)
LinkedIn
Mix
Email
Print
Copy Link
Powered by Social Snap
Copy link
CopyCopied
Powered by Social Snap