I remember back in the 1990s when if you were driving to the Avenues Mall on I-295 and accidentally turned the wrong way on I-95 you had to drive a long way before you could turn around. I was once riding in the car with someone back then when we were headed to the mall and they accidentally turned in the wrong direction on I-95. It was terrible. I am glad things are different now.
Quote from: Megabox on November 25, 2019, 07:18:11 PM
I remember back in the 1990s when if you were driving to the Avenues Mall on I-295 and accidentally turned the wrong way on I-95 you had to drive a long way before you could turn around. I was once riding in the car with someone back then when we were headed to the mall and they accidentally turned in the wrong direction on I-95. It was terrible. I am glad things are different now.
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Quote from: Megabox on November 25, 2019, 07:18:11 PM
I remember back in the 1990s when if you were driving to the Avenues Mall on I-295 and accidentally turned the wrong way on I-95 you had to drive a long way before you could turn around. I was once riding in the car with someone back then when we were headed to the mall and they accidentally turned in the wrong direction on I-95. It was terrible. I am glad things are different now.
210 in St Johns County?
^Yes, 210 in St. Johns County was the next exit south of I-295 back in the day. It was similar on I-4 in Central Florida a few decades ago. There were no exits between US 192 near Disney and US 27 near Circus World. The most interesting stories I've heard of Florida travel come from my parents. My dad vividly remembers traveling through the the state and the south during segregation before the interstate was constructed. Black travel across the south back then took some planning to say the least.
Quote from: thelakelander on December 11, 2019, 05:19:39 PM
^Yes, 210 in St. Johns County was the next exit south of I-295 back in the day. It was similar on I-4 in Central Florida a few decades ago. There were no exits between US 192 near Disney and US 27 near Circus World. The most interesting stories I've heard of Florida travel come from my parents. My dad vividly remembers traveling through the the state and the south during segregation before the interstate was constructed. Black travel across the south back then took some planning to say the least.
I had totally forgotten about Circus World!
^I spent many days at Circus World and Boardwalk and Baseball. Now its a large strip mall.
Quote from: thelakelander on December 11, 2019, 09:01:56 PM
^I spent many days at Circus World and Boardwalk and Baseball. Now its a large strip mall.
And Boardwalk and Baseball! You're really bringing back the memories. Where were they located? We went to both when I was a kid - we also went to Six Gun Territory.
How about Marco Polo Park, just south of Palm Coast off of I95? My dad took me there in late 70s early 80s. In fact, the road is called Marco Polo Blvd.
Quote from: Papa33 on December 12, 2019, 06:10:37 AM
How about Marco Polo Park, just south of Palm Coast off of I95? My dad took me there in late 70s early 80s. In fact, the road is called Marco Polo Blvd.
After the park closed, it went back to what it's former name "Old Dixie Highway". The site is still used for games, just more sedate - it is a golf and country club now.
Quote from: Adam White on December 12, 2019, 05:55:27 AM
Quote from: thelakelander on December 11, 2019, 09:01:56 PM
^I spent many days at Circus World and Boardwalk and Baseball. Now its a large strip mall.
And Boardwalk and Baseball! You're really bringing back the memories. Where were they located? We went to both when I was a kid - we also went to Six Gun Territory.
Haines City, off the exit of I-4 and US 27.
My grandparents had a farm in Sebring, and spent many summers begging them to take me to Boardwalk and Baseball after all my dirty farm chores were done (spoiler alert: we didn't go often).
Circus World was originally a joint venture with Sarasota-based Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
The site served as the former Spring Training site for the Kansas City Royals. I did go to one game and got to meet George Brett... who scratched his balls and then threw me a baseball from his nut-scratched hand. It was... odd?
Boardwalk and Baseball had a mini 'hall-of-fame' with rotating items on loan from Cooperstown. After the amusement park closed, they also took those same items to a pop-up hall-of-fame exhibit in St Pete when the city was trying to get an expansion major league baseball team (now the Rays).
I have a fascination with lost regional tourist attractions, so I'm jealous of everyone who got to go to some of these closed parks! Thanks to all for sharing your memories!
I grew up 20 minutes from Disney. Most of the old theme parks in Central Florida were school field trips and things done for entertainment when someone employed by one would provide free tickets. Cypress Gardens, Six Flags Atlantis, Bok Tower, etc. are others I vividly remember. Also, I haven't kept up with the times. I didn't know Wet & Wild had closed and been redeveloped until driving down I-Drive a few months ago.
Atlantis is another one I wish I had seen. Six Flags made some eccentric ventures to expand its brand in the 80s. Thankful I got to see their attempt at an indoor theme park, the Power Plant, in Baltimore, though I really wish I'd seen the ill-fated Autoworld in Flint.
Quote from: thelakelander on December 12, 2019, 01:55:44 PM
I grew up 20 minutes from Disney. Most of the old theme parks in Central Florida were school field trips and things done for entertainment when someone employed by one would provide free tickets. Cypress Gardens, Six Flags Atlantis, Bok Tower, etc. are others I vividly remember. Also, I haven't kept up with the times. I didn't know Wet & Wild had closed and been redeveloped until driving down I-Drive a few months ago.
Wet & Wild was the one in Orlando, right? My sisters and I always wanted to go - but we ended up going to Wild Waters in Ocala (I think) instead.
Quote from: fieldafm on December 12, 2019, 08:45:47 AM
Quote from: Adam White on December 12, 2019, 05:55:27 AM
Quote from: thelakelander on December 11, 2019, 09:01:56 PM
^I spent many days at Circus World and Boardwalk and Baseball. Now its a large strip mall.
And Boardwalk and Baseball! You're really bringing back the memories. Where were they located? We went to both when I was a kid - we also went to Six Gun Territory.
Haines City, off the exit of I-4 and US 27.
My grandparents had a farm in Sebring, and spent many summers begging them to take me to Boardwalk and Baseball after all my dirty farm chores were done (spoiler alert: we didn't go often).
Circus World was originally a joint venture with Sarasota-based Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
The site served as the former Spring Training site for the Kansas City Royals. I did go to one game and got to meet George Brett... who scratched his balls and then threw me a baseball from his nut-scratched hand. It was... odd?
Boardwalk and Baseball had a mini 'hall-of-fame' with rotating items on loan from Cooperstown. After the amusement park closed, they also took those same items to a pop-up hall-of-fame exhibit in St Pete when the city was trying to get an expansion major league baseball team (now the Rays).
Thanks Mike.
Weird nut-scratching aside, it's cool you got to meet George Brett. He was huge when I was a kid.
Quote from: Adam White on December 13, 2019, 09:09:27 AM
Quote from: thelakelander on December 12, 2019, 01:55:44 PM
I grew up 20 minutes from Disney. Most of the old theme parks in Central Florida were school field trips and things done for entertainment when someone employed by one would provide free tickets. Cypress Gardens, Six Flags Atlantis, Bok Tower, etc. are others I vividly remember. Also, I haven't kept up with the times. I didn't know Wet & Wild had closed and been redeveloped until driving down I-Drive a few months ago.
Wet & Wild was the one in Orlando, right? My sisters and I always wanted to go - but we ended up going to Wild Waters in Ocala (I think) instead.
Yes, that's right. Orlando had Wet & Wild and Water Mania. Wild Waters was adjacent to Silver Springs.