My Dad was the Marshall of Dodge City at Florida Wonderland in the 60's, our family actually lived in a house inside the park for 5 years, the place was owned by John Kirk, the snake farm was actually called the reptile house and there was a marine life across the road. Inside the park was a jungle area with different animals and animal acts. Many famous actors were guests in the summer. You might check the Titusville newspapers for more information. I remember riding in the Titusville Christmas parade in the stagecoach with Cheeta the chimp, during one of the hurricanes all the employees hunkered down in the old saloon. I have many fond memories growing up there and plenty of facts I could share.
You should request to join fantastic facebook page " History and memories of Brevard county ". We would all love for you to post your memories there. If you have pictures that would be amazing. What you saw in the video are the only photos we've ever seen of the place.
My dad probably played music with your father. For a while my brother and I played the bad guys which the Marshall dealt with using his six shooter. You would have been 13 or 14 if memory serves me right.
This was a great place as a kid to get to get to go. They had a Seminole Village. One of the young girls Indian and I were friends. The A frame building was known as the Serpentairum, they let you hold the gators and snakes. This was a long hall with glass with all types of things. We had an anteater Tapir, that looked like a pig get loose in our yard about quarter mile away from the park. I have picture of Stoney Burk a cowboy at the time, also Little Joe Cartwright (Michael Landon). There was also a barn which hey held square dances at night. My father was a square dance caller. Fun times, I was a back door kid they let in from the area. Loved those times.
Our family was down from Canada to visit various sites in Florida 1971. We did visit the NASA site, but low and behold mom and dad heard about Johnny's Wonderland. Have a picture of Johnny, Dad, sis and myself.
Our family was vacationing in Daytona Beach from Michigan. We drove over to Titusville to watch Apollo 15 blast off. We parked kind of across the road from this place where everyone was camping to watch the blastoff the next morning. To kill time, my folks took us to Johnny Weissmuller's Florida Wonderland. I can remember Johnny Weissmuller signing autographs and selling photos of himself at the park. I don't remember much else about this place. I'm guessing it was similar to Six Gun Territory in Ocala.
As a very young man, I got in BIG trouble with the law for stealing some old moth bitten animal skins from an abandoned restaurant. I must have been 11 years old. if that. hanging out back there as a kid was a blast to me. I remember the monkeys and lots of other critters, anteaters and such that also elusive to animal control. I can't believe the ruins still stand. Wow, what a memory, thanks for sharing this!
I remember seeing Johnny Weissmuller pushing a grocery cart in a grocery store on Hwy 50. I watched all his movies when I was a child and to see this old Tarzan broke my heart.
Born and raised in Orlando, always went to Titusville to fish in the Indian River, but never remember ever seeing this place. Never even heard of it until today, Friday 9/23/2016. How could I miss this, mom must have diverted our attention away from it so we wouldn't be screaming to take us there. LOL Only thing I can come with why I never heard of it or saw it.
I've got the answer...coming from Orlando to the fishing pier you'd most likely take 50 east to U.S. 1 and then turn left (north) on U.S. 1 to get to the pier...whereas Wonderland you'd have to turn right, so you would have never seen it...plus it would obviously have to have been in the 60's to very early 70's.
Very interesting and I enjoyed the video! I actually live two blocks from there and I never knew the story until now! I moved to Brevard county in 2010 and it closed before I was even born and I'm old 🤣 a couple of corrections, there is a video of the park and it shows the entrance, the petting zoo and a bunch of other sites that you may want to check out. You said there was no videos and you thought it was because they never turned a profit? No it was because it was between the '60s and I mean that was super long ago and also how many people had camcorders then, but either way I'm sure they did turn a profit at one point and there is a few videos for you to check out?
I was born in Jess Parish in 61 and graduated from THS in 79 - now live in Orlando. What you termed the "Snake Farm" was actually the "Serpentarium" and had about a 30 foot long painting of a king cobra on the side of the building facing US1 with a statement of "The World's Biggest King Cobra" claimed )or some similar nonsense (lol) as it was 14 feet. The serpentarium had rows of aquariums set into the walls encased by sheetrock, so you'd walk down each side and stare at the snakes along the way. Pretty mundane and smelled like,...ummmm somebody who owned WAYYYYY too many snakes and had crappy AC from the 60's. lol Weissmuller lived out on Singleton and did basically shut do what was needed to shut it down due to poor treatment of the animals. He was actually going out of pocket to pay for more food and vet bills which creep owners wouldn't dish out for. Decent 60's florida attraction, but once seen, you'd seen it all!
We lived in Titusville in 1966-67-68 on Coconut Drive. I bet we went there for sure. I looked through old photos, but couldn't find any from Florida Wonderland. I just got developed an 8mm roll of film showing us at, what I believe to be, the 1967 Titusville Founders Day Parade. Emmit Kelly was in the parade. I was 3 and my sisters were 4 and 3 months. My parents wore period clothing. It looked like all were having a good time. Quality of the film is poor, but you can make out what was going on. I feel lucky, that roll of undeveloped 8mm was in a shoe box for over 50 years and it still came out usable. A real miracle. I will try to post later with title of "1967 Titusville FL Founders Day Parade".
Myself and my best friend, as kids, we used to catch snakes for the snake farm. They also did a snake handling show with rattlesnakes. The place didn't take very good care of the animals. I remember the cowboy actor Fess Parker made a visit to promote the park.
Thanks for the video. This is definitely one of the main things I search for on youtube. Anything that is either weird, unique, or out of the ordinary.
cool video, i just moved to a community in Titusville by D.R. Horton. I haven't been out and about much, but i found this to be very interesting. thanks for sharing.
Went there in 1972 or 73 with my relatives. Got to close to the monkey cage to feed the monkey, the damn thing came real close to ripping the eyeglasses off my face. That's all I remember.
I lived 4 miles away, went there 4 times. 13 years old, seen Johnny with female lion it growls at me when I tried to pet it, he told me to get away. He was talking to someone. Never did much business 95 got all the traffic. Never seen any merchandise.
great video. i used to go here with buddies when we were 13 or 14 (around '84 or '85). it was completely taken back by nature. everything was covered with vines and vegetation. i remember the turn styles were still there and we would jump over them while joking about the cheap entry fee. there were huge concrete enclosures everywhere. full of muddy water and rusty iron cages. i remember thinking how horrible it must have been for the animals who were put on display there. i remember a huge wall of bamboo, brick paths, tracks for the train and lots of old scrap metal and abandoned vehicles. pretty sure the train was among those. over the years we did hear some wild screams coming from the woods in what is now the Sanctuary. i remember buddies telling me it was the monkeys who were set free after the place closed. those sounds sure weren't made by birds! anyway, some great memories and an interesting part of T'ville's past. thanks again!
I always wondered about that place. at 5:16 those ferns are what I have been looking for to add to my GARDEN .. See if I can nab me a tendril sucker off one of those ferns and propagate They grow very close to the embankment beautiful native fern. If I had the money, I'd make some kind of 501 c3 sanctuary out of it
My Dad was the Marshall of Dodge City at Florida Wonderland in the 60's, our family actually lived in a house inside the park for 5 years, the place was owned by John Kirk, the snake farm was actually called the reptile house and there was a marine life across the road. Inside the park was a jungle area with different animals and animal acts. Many famous actors were guests in the summer. You might check the Titusville newspapers for more information. I remember riding in the Titusville Christmas parade in the stagecoach with Cheeta the chimp, during one of the hurricanes all the employees hunkered down in the old saloon. I have many fond memories growing up there and plenty of facts I could share.
You should request to join fantastic facebook page " History and memories of Brevard county ". We would all love for you to post your memories there. If you have pictures that would be amazing. What you saw in the video are the only photos we've ever seen of the place.
My dad probably played music with your father. For a while my brother and I played the bad guys which the Marshall dealt with using his six shooter. You would have been 13 or 14 if memory serves me right.
This was a great place as a kid to get to get to go. They had a Seminole Village. One of the young girls Indian and I were friends. The A frame building was known as the Serpentairum, they let you hold the gators and snakes. This was a long hall with glass with all types of things. We had an anteater Tapir, that looked like a pig get loose in our yard about quarter mile away from the park. I have picture of Stoney Burk a cowboy at the time, also Little Joe Cartwright (Michael Landon). There was also a barn which hey held square dances at night. My father was a square dance caller. Fun times, I was a back door kid they let in from the area. Loved those times.
Our family was down from Canada to visit various sites in Florida 1971. We did visit the NASA site, but low and behold mom and dad heard about Johnny's Wonderland. Have a picture of Johnny, Dad, sis and myself.
wow. there are so few pics of that place.if you have any or if the one you have shows any of the park in it. I'd love to see it.
Our family was vacationing in Daytona Beach from Michigan. We drove over to Titusville to watch Apollo 15 blast off. We parked kind of across the road from this place where everyone was camping to watch the blastoff the next morning. To kill time, my folks took us to Johnny Weissmuller's Florida Wonderland. I can remember Johnny Weissmuller signing autographs and selling photos of himself at the park. I don't remember much else about this place. I'm guessing it was similar to Six Gun Territory in Ocala.
that was a nice theme park. nice addition to Titusville. the snake farm looks like an old Stucky's.
As a very young man, I got in BIG trouble with the law for stealing some old moth bitten animal skins from an abandoned restaurant. I must have been 11 years old. if that. hanging out back there as a kid was a blast to me. I remember the monkeys and lots of other critters, anteaters and such that also elusive to animal control. I can't believe the ruins still stand. Wow, what a memory, thanks for sharing this!
I remember seeing Johnny Weissmuller pushing a grocery cart in a grocery store on Hwy 50. I watched all his movies when I was a child and to see this old Tarzan broke my heart.
The only Happy birthday mum love you lots x xxx
The lobby is still there. Giant A-frame building. Lived in Titusville most my life.
Born and raised in Orlando, always went to Titusville to fish in the Indian River, but never remember ever seeing this place. Never even heard of it until today, Friday 9/23/2016. How could I miss this, mom must have diverted our attention away from it so we wouldn't be screaming to take us there. LOL Only thing I can come with why I never heard of it or saw it.
ha ha
I've got the answer...coming from Orlando to the fishing pier you'd most likely take 50 east to U.S. 1 and then turn left (north) on U.S. 1 to get to the pier...whereas Wonderland you'd have to turn right, so you would have never seen it...plus it would obviously have to have been in the 60's to very early 70's.
Spent many years in Titusville as a kid. I remember this
Very interesting and I enjoyed the video! I actually live two blocks from there and I never knew the story until now! I moved to Brevard county in 2010 and it closed before I was even born and I'm old 🤣 a couple of corrections, there is a video of the park and it shows the entrance, the petting zoo and a bunch of other sites that you may want to check out. You said there was no videos and you thought it was because they never turned a profit? No it was because it was between the '60s and I mean that was super long ago and also how many people had camcorders then, but either way I'm sure they did turn a profit at one point and there is a few videos for you to check out?
I was born in Jess Parish in 61 and graduated from THS in 79 - now live in Orlando. What you termed the "Snake Farm" was actually the "Serpentarium" and had about a 30 foot long painting of a king cobra on the side of the building facing US1 with a statement of "The World's Biggest King Cobra" claimed )or some similar nonsense (lol) as it was 14 feet. The serpentarium had rows of aquariums set into the walls encased by sheetrock, so you'd walk down each side and stare at the snakes along the way. Pretty mundane and smelled like,...ummmm somebody who owned WAYYYYY too many snakes and had crappy AC from the 60's. lol Weissmuller lived out on Singleton and did basically shut do what was needed to shut it down due to poor treatment of the animals. He was actually going out of pocket to pay for more food and vet bills which creep owners wouldn't dish out for. Decent 60's florida attraction, but once seen, you'd seen it all!
We lived in Titusville in 1966-67-68 on Coconut Drive. I bet we went there for sure. I looked through old photos, but couldn't find any from Florida Wonderland. I just got developed an 8mm roll of film showing us at, what I believe to be, the 1967 Titusville Founders Day Parade. Emmit Kelly was in the parade. I was 3 and my sisters were 4 and 3 months. My parents wore period clothing. It looked like all were having a good time. Quality of the film is poor, but you can make out what was going on. I feel lucky, that roll of undeveloped 8mm was in a shoe box for over 50 years and it still came out usable. A real miracle. I will try to post later with title of "1967 Titusville FL Founders Day Parade".
I lived there growing up till about '74. Never got to go there or even heard of it.
Myself and my best friend, as kids, we used to catch snakes for the snake farm. They also did a snake handling show with rattlesnakes. The place didn't take very good care of the animals. I remember the cowboy actor Fess Parker made a visit to promote the park.
I met Johnny there when I was in high school...seemed to be a very nice man.
When we traveled on vacation I always knew we were close to home when we saw the cowboys and Indians...we lived in Eau Gallie.
Thanks for the video. This is definitely one of the main things I search for on youtube. Anything that is either weird, unique, or out of the ordinary.
Thanks for watching. Plenty of stuff ahead, just been too busy to get it done, but I'll get there.
No way man this is so cool I want to visit one day
What i know you from jackson
Thank you nice video
thanks
There used to be a paintball field in and around that old snake house building
I grew up there just down the road and we drove by it all the time but my parents never took us in, oh well..
cool video, i just moved to a community in Titusville by D.R. Horton. I haven't been out and about much, but i found this to be very interesting. thanks for sharing.
thanks
Went there in 1972 or 73 with my relatives. Got to close to the monkey cage to feed the monkey, the damn thing came real close to ripping the eyeglasses off my face.
That's all I remember.
The Kirk family owned it back then they still own the land today
My Dad helped to build a Wild West theme park South of Titusville. 1961
This would have been it.
I lived 4 miles away, went there 4 times. 13 years old, seen Johnny with female lion it growls at me when I tried to pet it, he told me to get away. He was talking to someone. Never did much business 95 got all the traffic. Never seen any merchandise.
Interesting.
great video. i used to go here with buddies when we were 13 or 14 (around '84 or '85). it was completely taken back by nature. everything was covered with vines and vegetation. i remember the turn styles were still there and we would jump over them while joking about the cheap entry fee. there were huge concrete enclosures everywhere. full of muddy water and rusty iron cages. i remember thinking how horrible it must have been for the animals who were put on display there. i remember a huge wall of bamboo, brick paths, tracks for the train and lots of old scrap metal and abandoned vehicles. pretty sure the train was among those. over the years we did hear some wild screams coming from the woods in what is now the Sanctuary. i remember buddies telling me it was the monkeys who were set free after the place closed. those sounds sure weren't made by birds!
anyway, some great memories and an interesting part of T'ville's past. thanks again!
thanks for posting your memories.
I always wondered about that place. at 5:16 those ferns are what I have been looking for to add to my GARDEN .. See if I can nab me a tendril sucker off one of those ferns and propagate They grow very close to the embankment beautiful native fern. If I had the money, I'd make some kind of 501 c3 sanctuary out of it
Is this near the Six Gun Territory Site?
no. titusville.
another titusville culture report! uhh yes please!