Gatorland

1950’s-era “road trips” come alive again when you get off the fast lane and follow the US highways that carried the bulk of travelers prior to the advent of the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System.

Located on US Highway 17 (a.k.a.  South Orange Blossom Trail) near Orlando, Florida, Gatorland takes you back to a simpler time, a time of family vacations in the station wagon, roadside attractions, and tacky - but wonderful - souvenirs.  Just enter through the oversized jaws of an American alligator and let the fun begin.  From 'gator jumping, to “crackers” wrestling 'gators, to zip-lining over the swamp…it's all here!


Founded in 1949 by Owen Godwin, the 110-acre park is still owned and operated by his family.  Over the years, the venue has grown and added new attractions, and its mission has evolved from being simply a tourist attraction to include alligator research and a rescue sanctuary for alligators, yet it still retains its status as an entertaining, educational, low-key, family-friendly road-side attraction that has all but disappeared from Americans’ vacation plans.

Gatorland and Mike...both classics dating from 1949

In 1954, the original name, "Snake Village" was changed to "Gatorland" because it
was noted that the women were staying in their cars while men and kids visited.
Immediately, the Moms started coming in with their families

The 'gator's mouth was first used as the entrance in 1954.  A fire destroyed the
original mouth...it was refurbished and you still enter through these jaws.

Owen Goodwin, founder of Gatorland, in an early advertisement

 

'Gators sunning in one of the pools.  The largest alligator at Gatorland is almost
14 feet long and weighs over 1,000 pounds. Because of his nasty disposition,
he is kept separated from all of the other 'gators

The "Iron Horse" steam locomotive ran from 1965-1980.  It has been replaced by a newer
 model which still operates.This was one of the first "tourist rides" in the Orlando area.

 

Gatorland is also a bird sanctuary. Ironically, the birds perch on the alligators'
backs and wade in the water with the gators, but aren't bothered by them

A 2,000 foot boardwalk through the swamp was constructed in 1978

Cypress "knees" and a variety of ferns in the swamp. Though we think of the Everglades
as being in southern Florida, the headwaters are actually here in central Florida

 

Juvenile alligators. Beginning in the 1980's, Gatorland was the first place
worldwide to have successfully artificially inseminated alligators

Though they look lethargic, they are surprisingly fast, both on land and in the water.

The "Jumparoo" - feeding alligators by hand or hanging raw chicken on wires above
the pool to make the 'gators jump up - started in 1983.  On cool days, like the
January day we were there, they tend to not jump as high as they do in summer

The 'gator wrestling "stadium" complete with seating on all four sides was built in 1991.
Originally, Seminole Indians were employed to wrestle the alligators.

"Crackers" was a name given to the original "cowboys" who herded and tended cattle
in Florida.  "Cracker" referred to the "crack" sound of their bullwhips when snapped.



The "crackers" had to make sure there were no 'gators in the creeks and rivers
where their cattle drank, so they would grab the 'gators and wrestle
them out of the water to allow the cattle to drink safely

A few of the dozens of alligators in the breeding marsh

This bird's feathers are so delicate they look almost like hair

The 'gators protect the birds from other natural predators like racoons

The white alligators were brought here from Louisiana in 2009. They are NOT albinos;
their skin is ivory in color, often with some darker splotches, and they have blue eyes.
(True albino alligators would have pink eyes, because of a lack of pigmentation.)

The white alligators are called LEUCISTIC alligators and are very rare.
It is believed that staring into a white alligator's blue eyes
will bring you good luck

Gatorland...a fun place to visit, and a sure bet to "cook up" some new Road Stories

 

To learn more about Gatorland, visit their website at

http://www.gatorland.com/public/the-park/index.cfm

 

On the day that we visited, the cashier asked if either of us was active military or a veteran.  When Mike told her that he was a Vietnam-era Army veteran, she shook his hand, thanked him for his service, and told him that his admission was free.  That’s one of the more unusual welcomes we’ve encountered, and one of our better Road Stories.