Welcome to Alligator Farm Fades & Views of FloridaPast
Alligators, the Attraction of FloridaPast
Take your time whilst visiting our FloridaPast Now & Then Tours
Most all images are links to our Famed-Fades
Will open in new window. Always best to slide that Fade-Bar Slowly.
AND WE ARE ALWAYS ADDING CONTENT TO FloridaPast.com
WHILE YOUR HERE, MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE Virtual FloridaPast TOUR
HAVE FUN FOLKS
FloridaPast on Facebook
We are active in placing old FloridaPast on the map,
"Fading FloridaPast in FloridaPresent for FloridaFuture"
A MUST TO SEE OUR ALLIGATOR BORDER NOW & THEN FADES
Click on Smiley, to join FloridaPast on Facebook
for some Interesting and Historical Shares
"Fading FloridaPast in FloridaPresent for FloridaFuture"
A MUST TO SEE OUR ALLIGATOR BORDER NOW & THEN FADES
Click on Smiley, to join FloridaPast on Facebook
for some Interesting and Historical Shares
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Buy a Live Gator - Tag It - and Mail It To Your Friends or Family
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Entrance to Ostrich and Alligator Farm - St. Augustine FloridaPast 1930s era
Entrance to Ostrich Alligator Farm St. Augustine FloridaPast
Entrance to the Famed Saint Augustine Ostrich & Alligator Farm during the 1940s.
It's the Perfect-Fitting-Fade
One of our Famed WhatWasInThere Fades
Where we take you Inside Now and you Fade to Then
The kind of show that millions of folks came to see at St. Augustine Alligator Zoo
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 Alligator Farm in St. Augustine, FloridaPast |
A Few Friends the one would have met at the Ostrich & Alligator Farm in the 1940s
Meet "Old Jack" - The Meanest Alligator on Earth
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Old Riley A Favorite at the Alligator Farm 1940s
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Resident Ostrich at the Ostrich & Alligator Farm
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Promotional Photo being taken for Airlines Service Inc at St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoo Florida 1940s
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Casper's Ostrich & Alligator Farm St. Augustine FloridaPast
1940s era - Casper's Ostrich & Alligator Farm St. Augustine FloridaPast
Casper's Iconic Roadside Smoke'n Gator
Out Front of Alligator Ostrich Farm St. Augustine FloridaPast
He's now back where he once stood Smoke'n Proud out front of Caspers
Casper's Alligator and Ostrich Farm, aka Gatorland -
Once Boasted to be "The World's Largest Alligator and Ostrich Farm" - "One of the Most Outstanding and Wondrous Attractions of Wild Life in Florida.
Here they gave expert guided tours, you could buy all types of alligator souvenirs and gifts.
At the time, R. Ettel was Proprietor. Located 2 miles north of St. Augustine, FloridaPast, Highway 1
Once Boasted to be "The World's Largest Alligator and Ostrich Farm" - "One of the Most Outstanding and Wondrous Attractions of Wild Life in Florida.
Here they gave expert guided tours, you could buy all types of alligator souvenirs and gifts.
At the time, R. Ettel was Proprietor. Located 2 miles north of St. Augustine, FloridaPast, Highway 1
Proudly Standing Once - Now just a Fade
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Gatorland during the 1970s era
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The Following Images - Fades - Links
Are for Owen Godwen's Snake Village Farm
aka Gatorland Orlando
I would date this image at 1950
The above Snake Village Fade was Inspired by a share by Historic Orlando III Facebook Community.
Without their sharing, we may not have had this fade. Thank You Guys!
Snake Village Farm, Near Orlando sometime during the early 1950s era. Personally I believe this photo to be 1950, since Snake Village started out in 1949.
When Gatorland was still Snake Village Farm.
Chances are good, that Gatorland's owner, Owen Godwin, was captured in this view.
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Gatorland get's it's name in 1954. -
Some borrowed history to share about Gatorland of Orlando FloridaPast -
"Believing the Institute sounded more like a government sponsored organization than a
tourist attraction, Godwin changes the name to Snake Village and Alligator Farm. Upon
entering the park, visitors are greeted by a huge display of snakes. The park also has
alligator pools and an Indian village. Godwin notices cars speed up as they pass his sign.
When families do stop, women often stay in the parking lot, while husbands and children
go inside to view the snakes."
"Success comes in the form of a huge crocodile Godwin buys from a Miami breeder.
Known as Bone Crusher, the leathery giant is approximately 15 ft. long and weighs 1,080
lb. Godwin bills him as the world’s largest captive crocodile, offering $1,000 reward to
anyone who could prove him wrong. No one rises to the occasion. Bone Crusher remains a
major attraction for years."
- Please credit above history, and read more here -
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Ron Jaffe shared a link on Historic Orlando III Facebook.
Some interesting first hand accounts that you'll enjoy reading about
Without their sharing, we may not have had this fade. Thank You Guys!
Snake Village Farm, Near Orlando sometime during the early 1950s era. Personally I believe this photo to be 1950, since Snake Village started out in 1949.
When Gatorland was still Snake Village Farm.
Chances are good, that Gatorland's owner, Owen Godwin, was captured in this view.
____
Gatorland get's it's name in 1954. -
Some borrowed history to share about Gatorland of Orlando FloridaPast -
"Believing the Institute sounded more like a government sponsored organization than a
tourist attraction, Godwin changes the name to Snake Village and Alligator Farm. Upon
entering the park, visitors are greeted by a huge display of snakes. The park also has
alligator pools and an Indian village. Godwin notices cars speed up as they pass his sign.
When families do stop, women often stay in the parking lot, while husbands and children
go inside to view the snakes."
"Success comes in the form of a huge crocodile Godwin buys from a Miami breeder.
Known as Bone Crusher, the leathery giant is approximately 15 ft. long and weighs 1,080
lb. Godwin bills him as the world’s largest captive crocodile, offering $1,000 reward to
anyone who could prove him wrong. No one rises to the occasion. Bone Crusher remains a
major attraction for years."
- Please credit above history, and read more here -
____
Ron Jaffe shared a link on Historic Orlando III Facebook.
Some interesting first hand accounts that you'll enjoy reading about
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A Collection of some of the best history sites online pertaining to the Alligator Industry of FloridaPast
Each Link Will Open In New Window
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Taken during the 1960s era
the shutter shot Gatorland's owner, Owen Godwin,
who just returned from a big game hunt in Alaska, with the Eskimos.
Proudly showing off his trophy of a 3,000 pound walrus.
the shutter shot Gatorland's owner, Owen Godwin,
who just returned from a big game hunt in Alaska, with the Eskimos.
Proudly showing off his trophy of a 3,000 pound walrus.
Give a click on the image to visit a Now & Then with Mr. Godwin out front of Gatorland
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Gatorland get's it's name in 1954 -
Some borrowed history to share about Gatorland of Orlando FloridaPast - "Believing the Institute sounded more like a government sponsored organization than a tourist attraction, Godwin changes the name to Snake Village and Alligator Farm. Upon entering the park, visitors are greeted by a huge display of snakes. The park also has alligator pools and an Indian village. Godwin notices cars speed up as they pass his sign. When families do stop, women often stay in the parking lot, while husbands and children go inside to view the snakes." "Success comes in the form of a huge crocodile Godwin buys from a Miami breeder. Known as Bone Crusher, the leathery giant is approximately 15 ft. long and weighs 1,080 lb. Godwin bills him as the world’s largest captive crocodile, offering $1,000 reward to anyone who could prove him wrong. No one rises to the occasion. Bone Crusher remains a major attraction for years." - Please credit above history, and read more here at this -> LINK |
 The Classic Famed Entrance to Gatorland Orlando |
We just parked, and now heading into Owen Godwin's Gatorland Zoo Orlando, FloridaPast - 1960s era
Alligator Joes' Alligator Farm - Palm Beach Florida-Fades
A photograph of Tourists 1909-1910 era, Marveling at all the alligators at Joe's Farm
Since there is much more history than I can add, I borrowed some from various sites to share for educational purposes. Links are included to credit and for further reading.
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"Alligator Joe entertained Palm Beach visitors in other ways. In 1898, he took Sir Edward and Lady Colbrooke of England on a hunt for an alligator. He successfully bagged one more than 11 feet long and was paid $25 for his services. The animal was taken to a taxidermist where it was stuffed, mounted and otherwise readied for a trip to the Colbrooke’s home in England (Miami News, Feb. 18, 1898)."
- Credit and Read More Here - http://janesbits.blogspot.com/2011/04/florida-history-palm-beach-alligator.html
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"Warren Frazee, entertained the crowds by wrestling alligators. There were hundreds of these large reptiles on his farm, along with turtles, manatees, and other native creatures. One of his shows in 1907 featured a 200-pound, 12-foot-long crocodile,
which he towed out into the ocean, was covered by The New York Times" -
"[Frazee] released it, then made a quick jump and landed stomach down on the creature’s back. Over and over they went, like boys wrestling. Gradually [Frazee] worked the reptile to a steep bank. A rope was thrown to him. Keeping the crocodile under water, he tied the cord around its long snout in two places. It was then dragged ashore."
"Alligator Joe was known throughout the nation and ran alligator attractions in the Midwest. He died in 1915 in San Francisco during the Pan American Exopsition where he was displaying some of his "exotic" animals."
- Credit and Read More Here - http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/seasonal-amusements
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"When architect Addison Mizner first saw the site where he would build what became the Everglades Club, the swampland at the west end of Worth Avenue was teeming with alligators — and an unusual fellow. At Alligator Joe’s, one of Palm Beach’s earliest tourist attractions, Warren Frazee (above center), often mistakenly remembered as Joe Frazier, wrestled the large reptiles. Guests at the island’s hotels flocked to see his shows, traveling by bicycle or in a chauffeured, pedal-powered wicker chair with wheels."
Credit and Read More Here - http://www.historicpalmbeach.com/flashback/2011/01/then-and-now-alligator-joes-and-the-everglades-club/
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"Alligator Joe entertained Palm Beach visitors in other ways. In 1898, he took Sir Edward and Lady Colbrooke of England on a hunt for an alligator. He successfully bagged one more than 11 feet long and was paid $25 for his services. The animal was taken to a taxidermist where it was stuffed, mounted and otherwise readied for a trip to the Colbrooke’s home in England (Miami News, Feb. 18, 1898)."
- Credit and Read More Here - http://janesbits.blogspot.com/2011/04/florida-history-palm-beach-alligator.html
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"Warren Frazee, entertained the crowds by wrestling alligators. There were hundreds of these large reptiles on his farm, along with turtles, manatees, and other native creatures. One of his shows in 1907 featured a 200-pound, 12-foot-long crocodile,
which he towed out into the ocean, was covered by The New York Times" -
"[Frazee] released it, then made a quick jump and landed stomach down on the creature’s back. Over and over they went, like boys wrestling. Gradually [Frazee] worked the reptile to a steep bank. A rope was thrown to him. Keeping the crocodile under water, he tied the cord around its long snout in two places. It was then dragged ashore."
"Alligator Joe was known throughout the nation and ran alligator attractions in the Midwest. He died in 1915 in San Francisco during the Pan American Exopsition where he was displaying some of his "exotic" animals."
- Credit and Read More Here - http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/seasonal-amusements
---------
"When architect Addison Mizner first saw the site where he would build what became the Everglades Club, the swampland at the west end of Worth Avenue was teeming with alligators — and an unusual fellow. At Alligator Joe’s, one of Palm Beach’s earliest tourist attractions, Warren Frazee (above center), often mistakenly remembered as Joe Frazier, wrestled the large reptiles. Guests at the island’s hotels flocked to see his shows, traveling by bicycle or in a chauffeured, pedal-powered wicker chair with wheels."
Credit and Read More Here - http://www.historicpalmbeach.com/flashback/2011/01/then-and-now-alligator-joes-and-the-everglades-club/
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The Adventures of Tropical Hobbyland - Miami FloridaPast
Wrestling a Live Gator. here at Tropical Hobbyland, Miami, FloridaPast
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Interior View of what once was Osky's Curio Store
on West Bay Street, Jacksonville Florida. Sometime during the year 1910
give a click on the gator's belly, and take a view through the window of time, that once was Oskys'
Thomas C. Imeson Curios
once located at 226 Hogan Street, Jacksonville, FloridaPast
Sold everything from Oranges, Jellies, Perfumes, Alligator Goods and more
Meet Old Joe, "The Sassiest Gator in Florida"
To at least earmark this once popular roadside attraction curio shop, we created a billboard, and placed it just about where Imesons' once stood in the early 1900s era
