STAR-BANNER (Ocala, Florida) 10 August 08 Gatorland is old-school fun (Carole Savage)
Florida just isn’t Florida without alligators, and while there’s no shortage of the ancient creatures, a sure spot to see plenty of them is at one of the state’s early tourist attractions, Gatorland.
Gatorland is an attraction that seeks to maintain the simple concept of the early days in tourism yet attract today’s visitors who demand more. Some will say it succeeds, and some may not be as certain, but there is no doubt that time spent at Gatorland is interesting.
Walking in through the giant alligator’s open mouth is kind of kitchsy but pure Old Florida tourism and a comfort in some ways to those who remember the state before Disney was king of destinations.
Kids in particular seem to find alligators mysterious and worth a long look. For that matter, so do many tourists. So to that end, the attraction satisfies the biggest fans’ desires to see big gators, little gators, gator nests and crocodiles. And there are other perks as well, such as a petting zoo and aviary.
The opportunity to feed the alligators is almost surreal to those who understand the danger of doing that outside the confines of the attraction. But guests line up to take their turn at standing in front of a dozen or more hungry gators who have gathered up to the shore for the raw chicken they have been conditioned to know is coming. Photos are taken and gators are fed, and while the staff stands by with pole in hand, the feeding almost seems normal.
“Is that the alligator?” one startled woman asked as she and her son finished posing for photos and heard the unmistakable sound of the animal hissing and giving warning to another.
Gatorland has 100 acres with a nature conservatory and proves to be a nice walk. If that doesn’t sound appealing, there’s also a train ride through the park for a nominal fee.
This time of year, as the temperature rises fairly quickly, the little ones will really enjoy the Gator Gully Splash Park. A row of giant egrets spill water from their beaks while children spray each other with water guns set on the back of some large gators — artificial ones, of course. There’s also plenty of water splashing down on the little ones throughout the splash park, which is a decent wet area and keeps the younger visitors from getting too cranky in the heat. Wearing swimsuits is advised, and changing stations are available.
Everyone can enjoy some of the shows, which have a lot of country humor in them. There’s the Gator Jumparoo where large alligators jump out of the water to retrieve food, sometimes from a trainer’s hand. The Gator Wrestlin’ Show is pretty obvious, with a true hands-on presentation by the trainers who show how to put alligators to sleep. The Upclose Encounters Show means up close for trainers and guests, and the animals might include snakes.
The staff at Gatorland carry around some of their smaller animal friends and invite visitors to hold and pet them. From baby goats to the little gators, there are ample photo opportunities for brave souls.
For those who are looking for even more hands-on activities, the Trainer for a Day program might fit the bill. The program offers the chance to get up close and personal with some of the wild creatures. The day includes intensive safety training, animal encounters, a certificate of participation and an opportunity to interact.
The interaction includes a chance to learn all about crocodilians and an opportunity to test skills at croc wrangling. Experiences may range from moving large alligators and crocodiles to assisting a reptile trainer in daily activities.
“Many zoological facilities around the world do not allow their employees or guests to enter alligator/crocodile enclosures because of the significant danger involved with working with these animals,” said Mark McHugh, president and CEO of Gatorland.
“That’s not the rule here at Gatorland. We want our guests to leave wanting more, so we make it our job to get each guest as close as we possibly can while exceeding our overall safety procedures.”
Another opportunity is the new Keeper for a Day program, which offers guests an interactive experience of a different sort. This behind-the-scenes experience at Gatorland is a crash course in working with animals of all sorts. Participants spend the day with a zoo keeper, carrying out some of the everyday jobs that ensure the health and welfare of the hundreds of different animals on the property.
Also taught are some of the training techniques featured at Gatorland, working in and around a variety of native Florida wildlife, preparing food and enrichment activities and, of course, feeding and meeting some of the animals.
Food is available at the park, but on busy days, be prepared to wait in line awhile. It seems a popular item on the menu would be, appropriately enough, gator nuggets. For many visitors from outside the state, it is probably a first-time experience.
Gatorland lays claim to being the alligator capital of the world, and that may be. With a humble start as a roadside stand in 1949, attraction officials are preparing to celebrate 60 years in 2009. As such, 1,949 prizes will be given out to the best photos capturing the essence of the attraction throughout its history.
Several hours can be spent at Gatorland, particularly if someone wants to catch all the shows. For a cool break afterward, head to the Florida Mall just about seven miles up the road. The mall has more than 200 stores and restaurants, and ending a day with shopping is never a bad thing.
Gatorland is old-school fun