Gatorland

Gatorland

Only 19 minutes from Orlando International Airport

Located south of Orlando, Florida, is a 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve known as Gatorland.

It was founded in 1949 by Owen Godwin, and it features alligators and crocodiles, an observation tower and a breeding marsh, reptile shows, a petting zoo, a swamp walk, an aviary and educational programs. Here, nuisance gators are rescued from trappersthat would kill them for their meat.

There is a road show offeringactivities like alligator wrestlingand an educational lecture. Additionally, there is a Florida snakes exhibit, with indigo snakes, rattlesnakes, and cottonmouths. The park is also notedfor its leucistic alligators.

The Gatorland Express, which first opened in 1961, is a 2 foot narrow gauge railroad attraction within the park. It is believed to be the oldest amusement attraction in Central Florida. The original locomotive retired in 2000 and it was put on display, and a new locomotive began operation the following year. Before2011, it was the only non-animal-related attraction in Gatorland. There is an additional fee to ride the railroad.

Zip line ride

In 2011, Gatorland added a new zip line which was to travel pasta pool of alligators and past several of the existing attractions. The ride is about1,200 feet long, somestories high and for riders over3 feet tall.

Gator Spot

Gatorland opened Gator Spot in 2015, at the Fun Spot America Theme Parks. Itallowed Gatorland to extend their brand to the I-Drive tourist area. Here visitors are able to feed and take photos with the alligators. The star of the attraction is Bouya, a white leucistic alligator with blue eyes.

The Breeding Marsh area of the park was used in the filming of the 1984 movie Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, starring Harrison Ford.

Gatorland is only 11 miles from Orange County Convention Center and just about 9 miles to Walt Disney World Resort.