Personal experience: an abandoned dinosaur park in Florida turned out to be one of the most interesting places in the state - ForumDaily
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Personal experience: an abandoned dinosaur park in Florida turned out to be one of the most interesting places in the state

Cheryl Rodevig visited an abandoned Florida theme park where giant dinosaur statues still stand. And she claims it's one of the best free things to do in the state. She shared her impressions with the publication Insider.

Photo: Shutterstock

Next - from the first person.

Bongoland was once an amusement park south of Daytona Beach, Florida famous for life-sized "prehistoric monsters". Today they there are a few left, but they are no less striking.

In the 1940s, a man named Dr. Perry Sperber leased several acres of land in the coastal city of Port Orange, Florida to create an unusual theme park.

It boasts a replica of a Seminole Indian village, live animals including a baboon named Bongo, and a tram ride past concrete dinosaurs advertised as "prehistoric monsters" made by Manny Lawrence, a local cement worker.

The theme park lasted less than five years before it was abandoned. Dinosaurs are now part of the landscape.

Unfortunately, the park was not liked by the visitors. According to a sign on site, it closed shortly after opening "due to lack of public interest".

Although the exact dates of Bongoland's creation are unknown, the Port Orange Observer reported that it was between 1948 and 1952. It then remained abandoned until it was sold to Volusia County in 1963.

What was left of the theme park was turned into a botanical garden in 1985, where flowers bloom all year round.

Revitalized at Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens, Bongoland sits on 10 acres (4 ha) of land open to the public and is a vibrant blooming oasis. There is also an Asian Garden with a sculpture and a fountain, as well as a Florida Native Plant Garden.

While the animals, the village and the train are long gone, I decided to visit the park to see some of the dinosaurs that are still lurking in the area and learn about the history.

As a fan of Florida's gardens and roadside attractions, I've been wanting to visit the ruins of Bongoland ever since I read about the park online.

And while most people come to Daytona Beach to swim in the ocean, walk along the boardwalk, or watch a race at Daytona International Speedway, I came to Bongoland. Best of all, the park is completely free to visit.

Photo: Shutterstock

The four dinosaur sculptures that are still standing seemed surprisingly fragile to me.

Made of concrete, on a reinforced basis, the statues at first seemed solid to me. But the weather in Florida is harsh, and looking closer, I noticed wear and tear, possibly due to the humidity, high winds, and storms that are common in this part of the Florida coast.

In fact, the park used to have a T-Rex on display that once stood 42 feet (12 m) tall, but it fell in 2019 after a storm, reports. There are no plans to restore the T-Rex, since it was not subject to repair.

Now only four remain. I found a 30-foot (9 m) Stegosaurus and a 25-foot (7,6 m) Triceratops, as well as two others that do not technically belong to the dinosaur family.

The other two statues in Bongoland are not actually dinosaurs at all.

The lesser Dimetrodon is a different kind of prehistoric reptile.

Meanwhile, the tallest statue in the park, currently supported by a tree trunk, is a giant ground sloth. It is newer than the others, made in 1990 by the same sculptor.

I also saw the ruins 19th century cane sugar mills that are part of the gardens.

Photo: Shutterstock

The origins of the land on which Bongoland still stands date back to the early 19th century.

There was once a piece of land called Dunlawton, with a sugar mill that operated briefly before being burned down during the Second Seminole War. It was rebuilt in the 1840s but burned down again during the Third Seminole Indian War.

As part of my exploration of Bongoland, I visited what was left of the windmill and the wooden walkway in the park.

The more I explored, the more I became fascinated by the nature surrounding Bongoland.

The lush scenery of the park is quite peaceful and tropical plants and flowers such as magnolias, camellias and azaleas can be found everywhere. As a photographer, I liked the surroundings.

One of my favorite places in the park was not a dinosaur sculpture, but an ancient oak tree overgrown with moss.

Crossing the arched bridge and descending the fern-covered path, I found a sprawling ancient oak tree. Far larger than dinosaurs, the tree still expands with age. According to some estimates, he may be 250 years old.

I also found hidden treasures in the park.

As I wandered, I saw unexpected surprises, such as a human sundial that my shadow used to tell me the time, and a face carved into a stump in a pond. I also saw a grotto, a colorful birdhouse and an arbor. My best advice is to keep your eyes peeled as you roam the gardens so you don't miss any of the little details.

I also looked at new additions such as a kindergarten and quirky fairy tale houses.

The newer part of Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens is the nursery where I found artificial "dinosaur eggs" and hand-painted wooden flowers. Not far away, I also came across a tiny village with dwarf and fairy houses, with small inhabitants gathered around a stump.

The site is run by the Volusian Botanical Gardens, an all-volunteer organization that makes sure the plants and dinosaurs look their best.

Admission is free, although donations are welcome. The park is open to the public daily from 08:00 to 17:00.

Arriving in Bongoland, I discovered a different side of Florida that most tourists miss.

As a Florida resident, I know that most people flock here because of the wide variety of tourist attractions. But I think there's a lot more to Florida than theme parks and beautiful beaches.

The Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens and the ruins of Bongoland are less than 15 minutes from downtown Daytona Beach, but as I wandered through them, seeing abandoned dinosaur statues, fairytale houses and lush flowers, I felt like I was away from the crowds.

In my opinion, Bongoland is a place not to be missed if you want to see the real Florida.

After spending a day in Bongoland, I'm left wondering why I didn't visit sooner.

Not only is it free and great outdoor fun, but it's also a particularly attractive place for the whole family. I thought kindergarten, dinosaurs, human sundials and gnome houses would be great fun for families with small children.

Likewise, I recommend it to all my garden lovers, history buffs, and photographer friends, who will certainly appreciate the combination of tropical plants, kitschy sculptures, and the remnants of a sugar mill.

This place is also a must for anyone with an interest in classic, quaint old Florida.

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