GatorLand is a theme park and Alligator breeding farm just south of Orlando.

 

The park was founded in 1949 by Owen Godwin Sr. who grew up in a place called Rattlesnake Hammock (now a reserve in development) and as a kid made a few dimes by showing snakes and gators to steamboat passengers.

 

GatorLand became one of Florida's early tourist attractions and has drawn millions of visitors over the years.

 

In the 1980's the park saw the world's first successful artificial insemination of an alligator.

 

In 2006 a fire raged and destroyed the characteristic original GatorLand entrance, which was later rebuilt.

 

Over the years, GatorLand added many attractions like a zipline and animals like turtles and Cougars.

When we were back in July 2024 the Gator Jumperoo was still there, but now the main event was the Gator Wrestlin Show, where experts enter an arena to confront 8 foot gators.