| Nov 7, 2006 @ 4:17 AM |
See ya later Gator
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Dovestreasure
Posts: 3,419
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First we lose Steve Irwin the Crocodile hunter and now this... 
A fire early Monday destroyed a section of Gatorland, one of Florida's oldest theme parks.The 110-acre park opened in 1949 and attracts about 400,000 tourists each year. It features people wrestling gators, a "jumparoo" show where the big reptiles leap for food, and up-close encounters where guests can hold snakes, scorpions, spiders and birds.
The fire killed as many as three pythons and crocodiles.The giant concrete gator head that serves as the main entrance was charred, its white teeth blackened with soot, its mouth full of debris.Everyone who has visited gatorland takes a picture in front of the famous gator head.
I have many memories of gatorland.. I use to bring bus loads of children there on feild trips. The kids loved the steam train and the gators of course. It was one of those places that was family friendly and reasonably priced compared to big competition.I hope they recover quickly.
Gatorlands troubles made me think of other florida attractions that have come and gone.
Stars Hall of fame ( wax museum near Sea world)
Circus World
Baseball and Boardwalk
Florida Festival
Rosie O Gradys
Mystery Fun House
Splendid China
Terror on Church Street
River Country at Fort Wilderness
King Henrys Feast
Water Mania
Xanadu: Home of the Future (Kissimmee) finally demolished.
Anyone have memories of these places ????or can you recall other places that have become part of florida's past.????
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| Nov 7, 2006 @ 7:43 AM |
See ya later Gator |
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honbee42
Posts: 348
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Poor Gatorland and it's animals. . My grandmother took me and my sister's there a long time ago when we were young. They used to sell the live baby alligators as pets. I remember bugging my grandmother to buy me one. I didn't get one though. To this day I'm glad grandma was wiser 
I remember these attractions:
Stars Hall of Fame
Circus World
Baseball and Boardwalk
Rosie O Grady's
Mystery Fun House
Dove, it's too bad all the places you listed became a thing of the past. The ones I went to, I thought were pretty neat. Would have loved to share them with my kids.
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| Nov 7, 2006 @ 11:47 AM |
See ya later Gator
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Dovestreasure
Posts: 3,419
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Most of those places I visited before I even moved to Florida. I have some of them captured for all time on super 8 film.
I also miss some of the attractions at the Magic Kingdom@ Disney World that were replaced by new attractions, even though I do enjoy the newer ones.
If you had wings .. became Delta dream fight and is now Buzz Lightyear
Mr Toads Wild Ride.. became the Adventures of Winnie the pooh
20,000 leagues under the sea ... became Ariels grotto
The theatre on mainstreet that played Mickey mouse cartoons became a shop
The Walt Disney Story no longer exist on main street that buliding has
transformed itself over and over Im not sure whats in their now, but it was a preview center for Epcot and MGM and Animal kingdom
Plaza Swan boats are gone
The Arcade on Mainstreet is gone its a shop now
The Skyway is gone
Mike Finks Keel boats are gone
Davy Crocketts Canoes are gone
The Tikki birds are under new ownership now.. a shell of its former self
Flight to the moon became Mission to mars became Alien Encounter and now Stitches Great Escape
The Mickey Mouse Review became a cartoon theatre then it had the 3D film magic journeys in there for awhile and then became The legend of the lion king and now is Mickey's PhilharMagic
Magic Carpet 'Round the World" was a Circle Vision 360 film shown at the Tomorrowland Circle Vision Theatre .American Journeys, and the Transportarium (which was later renamed The Timekeeper).
Starjets became the Astro orbiter
I am a Disney purist its hard to know they will never be back
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| Nov 7, 2006 @ 6:32 PM |
See ya later Gator |
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honbee42
Posts: 348
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It's a shame that Disney has changed so much. I liked what they had back then and I like what they have now. They have so much land they ought to expand instead of changing what they have.
Sea World too has changed so much. I remember back when my grandmother took us to Sea World for the first time. They not only had sea life, but they had a petting zoo too. Like deers and goats and that. The pearl diving was a beautifully decorated pool inside a building. I like the changes they have done to the park though.
I'm not sure if this restaurant is still there. I don't go into Orlando much. It was called 94th Aero Squadron off of Colonial Dr. I thought that place was neat. It was based on a WWI theme. They had great food too.
Another favorite of mine way back was Nichol's Alley. It used to be on Amelia St. It was torn down a long time ago. At the time they were the only one in Orlando with a lighted dance floor. When the evening would start up they would have a lighted floor and wall show. Really cool.
I guess times change as the years go on, but I wish that the places that were around back then would have carried on.
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| Nov 7, 2006 @ 6:48 PM |
See ya later Gator
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pagan380
Posts: 60
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The Golden Rock Show Lounge, on S.O.B.T.
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| Nov 7, 2006 @ 8:37 PM |
See ya later Gator |
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suzieq0808
Posts: 1,080
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The animals are fine. The owners are rebuilding. Visit Gatorland in a few months. 
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| Nov 7, 2006 @ 9:17 PM |
See ya later Gator
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fuchia04
Posts: 953
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Quote:
Anyone have memories of these places ????or can you recall other places that have become part of florida's past.????
Reply:
Six Flags Atlantis was a water park that used to be located about four miles from where I now live. I went to that water park in 1987, before I moved here. I lived in Louisiana, but was vacationing in Florida, at the time. Anyway, Six Flags Atlantis is no longer there; it has been replaced with strip malls. I hear they closed the water park in 1992, sometime after Hurricane Andrew.
I don't why they would close something like that, considering it was located right in the middle of a very populous area, which I believe could have easily supported such a park. If it were still there now, I'd be going there every week of the summer. I know there's Rapids Water Park up in West Palm Beach, but that's over an hour's drive away. Other than the beach, and a few night clubs, there isn't too much else to do around here. People just seem to be obsessed with the "night scene" around here.  Me, I don't care for it too much. I want real entertainment.
[Edited on 11/7/2006 9:28 PM]
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| Nov 7, 2006 @ 9:21 PM |
See ya later Gator |
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zeno333789
Posts: 200
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I loved the entire former Church Street Station area that used to be in downtown Orlando
[Edited on 11/7/2006 9:29 PM]
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| Nov 8, 2006 @ 2:24 AM |
See ya later Gator
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Dovestreasure
Posts: 3,419
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Lots of memories of nickle beer night at Rosies even though I never drank the beer
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Apple Annies Court yard had a wonderful band there called "Mothers Choice" The female singer is the voice of one of the country bears out at Disney. I wish I knew what became of them. They did a monorail song that was really funny.
Cheyennes saloon was great fun .. and the adjacent shop ,, they had handbags made out of Buffalos testacles.
Phineas Phoggs was a pretty decent disco for its time.
One of my favorite things in the complex was the phone booth made out of a confessional.
The Church street exchange had some pretty interesting shops. My fave was the mineral and rock store.
Honbee I do not think the 94th Aero Squadron exists anymore. I loved that place too , it was right near the orlando executive airport. You could call people at other tables if you wanted. Each table had a telephone.
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