Fun Times at Old Florida Attractions

Our beloved home state is, of course, well-known for its mega-attractions: Disney, Universal, Legoland Florida, Busch Gardens. But it wasn’t always that way. Way back when, before Epcot and interstates, Florida was home to many smaller attractions that drew in tourists and locals alike.

We even had a couple right here near our hometown, Ocala. Six Gun Territory was a Western-theme attraction with its own railroad, regular “shootouts” and a Wild West atmosphere.

Silver Springs, founded in the late 1800s, it was once the oldest commercial tourist attraction in Florida, featuring amusement rides, a concert venue, a small zoo and more. The adjacent Wild Waters water park provided summer fun for many in the area as well.

We asked our staff to share their favorite “old-time” Florida attractions. Here’s what they had to say:

Tim Allison 

I used to live off Seventh Street as a child and would frequent Wild Waters to lounge in the arcade. While not being a fan of water slides I would instead, play Street Fighter 2, the X-Men dual screen, TMNT, and much more until I got my fill, or ran out of quarters.

Once the Super Nintendo was released, I found little use for the water park and never went back. RIP Wild Waters. [Editor’s Note: Wild Waters closed in 2016.]

Dan Winfrey

Visited Six Gun Territory in the early ‘60s. Got to shake hands with Dan Blocker and Michael Landon of “Bonanza.” There was a roadside attraction in Sumterville in the early ‘60s called The Rainforest, with statues of dinosaurs and mosaic art gardens. Citrus Tower is still in Clermont, but the view has changed drastically.

Shannon Moore

I fondly remember Silver Springs and Wild Waters growing up. Being with nature and the animals at Silver Springs was so much fun.  It was the first time I can remember seeing and feeding a giraffe!  We now take our kids to Silver Springs and they can't get enough of the glass bottom boats. [Editor’s Note: Silver Springs is now a state park.]

We also did quite a bit of boating when I was little. We would go to places in the Gulf like Anclote Key, or places inland at Homosassa Springs or near Pete's Pier in Crystal River near the power plant. At the Springs, we used to be able to hang out with the manatees, which was also very entertaining. 

Other flashes of memories for fun spots included Easy Street and Fun Factory.  Those were birthday party spots as kids for sure. Fun Factory was also my first official job when I was in high school.  [Editor’s Note: Easy Street is an arcade-type amusement venue in Ocala. Fun Factory was a similar business.]

Evan Poland

I frequently went to Wild Waters with my mom when I was young, and had my fourth birthday there. When I got older, going to the arcade at the mall was my favorite spot!

Matt Fischer

I was lucky enough to grow up in the ‘90s when Silver Springs and Wild Waters were at their peak. Wild Waters water park was our babysitter during the summer months.  The local moms would take turns with the pickup and drop-offs and would leave us with some spare change for snacks and nothing but the bathing suits on our bodies.  

Not a cell phone in sight or any worry about leaving your kids unattended at a water park all day -- times were simpler. We would take a break from all the wave pool and slide action and get Dippin’ Dots (which turned out to NOT be the ice cream of the future) and play some Hydro Thunder in the arcade. 

Silver Springs was more reserved for family outings, or when we had out of town company.  It was a treat to be picked to ride in the back seat of the Jeep in the Jeep Safari ride and not in the trailer with the rest of the group, or to be called on stage at one of the many live animal shows. I still remember the first time I saw the host pull a giant alligator snapping turtle out of the muck. They had a petting zoo and multiple boat rides like the Jungle Cruise and world famous glass bottom boats as well. 

All of this has been mostly returned to the wild. There are very few remnants of the water park and theme park, and every time I visit the now-Florida State Park, I am reminded of what it all once was and all my childhood memories there.  I am thankful that I got to experience that time, and to have had so much fun there.