Old Florida/Nostalgia

blizz01 · September 23, 2009, 01:08:35 AM

Some recent Marineland posts have piqued my interest a bit - On the western side (outskirts) of St. Augustine, off of SR16, heading toward US1, there are still remnants of what used to be some sort of small amusement park. It looks like it had a medieval (or Spanish castle/fort) theme as the perimeter was sort of a walled fortress. I have watched this place deteriorate for 20+ years & it obviously closed decades ago. What was it called? Was it a failed tourist trap? Who has pictures of it in its prime?

thekillingwax · September 23, 2009, 01:40:20 AM

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=29.915704,-81.398386&spn=0.001734,0.002411&t=h&z=19 I think this is it. Looks like there's nothing back there now. My sister in law lived in St. Aug for a long time and I think she mentioned what it was, for some reason I'm thinking it was an attraction that moved closer into the main downtown area.

civil42806 · September 23, 2009, 08:01:24 AM

I believe that was Marco Polo park?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Polo_Park

No upon further review definitly not Marco Polo Park, have no idea what that may have been

copperfiend · September 23, 2009, 08:08:02 AM

I have never heard of this place. My dad has told me stories of a place called Six Gun Territory. Here is a link to it on a pretty cool site for old Florida tourist traps.

http://www.lostparks.com/sixgun.html

blizz01 · September 23, 2009, 09:15:43 AM

thekillingwax - I'm pretty sure that's it. From the looks of it, it was more facade up front as there isn't a whole lot of room behind the old wall. I swear I remember a cannon or two @ the front. It would be cool to "treasure hunt" back there.

I always love the '50s era throwback stuff (not in my house, though

) - the alligator ashtrays, salt water taffy, shell chandeliers, Stuckey's, HOJO, etc. It's pretty cool to detour off of I95 coming into Florida & take US1 South & see all of the old motor lodge carcasses of yesteryear - PRE-INTERSTATE.

Hmm - I think I'll rent Porky's.

billy · September 23, 2009, 09:23:21 AM

There was some place off of Beach Boulevard, train ride...big cube shaped buildings....

Cliffs_Daughter · September 23, 2009, 10:03:47 AM

Guess I'm now on a treasure hunt too - I really wanna know what this place is/was!

Ocklawaha · September 23, 2009, 12:11:44 PM

Quote from: billy on September 23, 2009, 09:23:21 AM
There was some place off of Beach Boulevard, train ride...big cube shaped buildings....

Yes, where the Wal-Mart is today, it was called Dizzyland. It was connected to a golf range/school and had a very complete midway. It's putt-putt golf course was the bomb back in the day, and was woven in and out of a forest of giant dinosaurs! The last one standing is just east, on the south side of Beach with orange skin and red glowing eyes.

The National Railway Historical Society, got permission to clean up the railroad long after the park closed. It had a REAL 2' gauge steam locomotive. Except for perhaps the PACIFIC ELECTRIC RR in LA, the first train I ever operated was that sweet little steamer. It had a full size 2 man cab, and the railroad folks made fine instructors. If we would have been able to see the future of railroading, we could have used that place as an engineer and conductor school. How cool would THAT have been?

OCKLAWAHA

Jason · September 23, 2009, 01:47:37 PM

Quote from: blizz01 on September 23, 2009, 01:08:35 AM
Some recent Marineland posts have piqued my interest a bit - On the western side (outskirts) of St. Augustine, off of SR16, heading toward US1, there are still remnants of what used to be some sort of small amusement park. It looks like it had a medieval (or Spanish castle/fort) theme as the perimeter was sort of a walled fortress. I have watched this place deteriorate for 20+ years & it obviously closed decades ago. What was it called? Was it a failed tourist trap? Who has pictures of it in its prime?

I'm pretty sure it was some sort of mini attraction/theme park. Now it is a nursery.

Cliffs_Daughter · September 23, 2009, 02:50:59 PM

Quote from: Ocklawaha on September 23, 2009, 12:11:44 PM
Yes, where the Wal-Mart is today, it was called Dizzyland. It was connected to a golf range/school and had a very complete midway. It's putt-putt golf course was the bomb back in the day, and was woven in and out of a forest of giant dinosaurs! The last one standing is just east, on the south side of Beach with orange skin and red glowing eyes.

Ah... you mean Rexy! He's got his own Facebook page now. I used to play minigolf at the Blanding location as a kid - still have a picture of a 4 yr old ME standing under that orange monster.

Hey Ock, you remember a waterslide park somewhere around there too? Early to Mid 80's, we went there all summer long in 80-81 and I'd race down the concrete slopes nose-first on those foam mats!

copperfiend · September 23, 2009, 03:14:12 PM

Quote from: Cliffs_Daughter on September 23, 2009, 02:50:59 PMI used to play minigolf at the Blanding location as a kid - still have a picture of a 4 yr old ME standing under that orange monster.

I worked at Sir Goony's on Blanding when I was in high school. Good times.

billy · September 23, 2009, 03:33:23 PM

Wasn't there a waterslide near Regency?

buckethead · September 23, 2009, 07:55:33 PM

Slippery Dip?

DavidWilliams · September 23, 2009, 08:01:08 PM

Damn bucket...I haven't heard that term (Slippery Dip) in at least 20 years. That was the one on Beach right? I definitely remember both Putt-Putts (Beach and Blanding) they were our high school hang outs. Where exactly was Goony Golf (maybe near that flea market/drive in theatre on Blanding?)

Cliffs_Daughter · September 23, 2009, 08:03:22 PM

Quote from: buckethead on September 23, 2009, 07:55:33 PM
Slippery Dip?

OMG, YES!!! That place was awesome!