Theme Parks · Our pick in Florida
Gatorland
Central Florida’s first major attraction
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Jamie Sanford from USA · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Gatorland
Gatorland opened in 1949 as the Florida Wildlife Institute and is, in its own words, what was to become Central Florida’s first major attraction, decades before the theme parks arrived.
Before the theme parks
Long before Walt Disney World, travellers on the road south through Orlando could stop to see alligators. Owen Godwin Sr. opened the Florida Wildlife Institute on Orange Blossom Trail in 1949, featuring alligators and snakes, with its gift shop in a stockade-style building with a sawdust floor. Gatorland’s own history calls it what was to become Central Florida’s first major attraction.
Gatorland, 1954
The attraction took the name Gatorland in 1954, and has grown slowly around its ponds and boardwalks ever since.
Gatorland opened in 1949 as the Florida Wildlife Institute and took its present name in 1954 (Gatorland).
Planning your visit
Gatorland is smaller and calmer than the big parks, and makes an easy half-day, especially on the day you arrive or leave.
Our advice: come here for a slice of Old Florida. It is the best way to see what drew visitors to Orlando before the castle went up.
Why it's on our list
- Opened 1949
- Alligators and crocodiles
- Old Florida character
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Gatorland before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Gatorland are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Key sights
- Universal Studios Florida9.4 miCar or taxi 20 min
- Magic Kingdom12 miCar or taxi 24 min