Swampy's Florida

This unmailed postcard was produced by the ‘Florida Festival’ folks themselves. ‘Florida Festival’ was an upscale bazaar like attraction that was across, owned and run by ‘Sea World’ that sat across the street. Tourists mostly went to this spot where the food spanned from carnival-type and restaurant (‘Al E. Gators’) food existed and other fare. Clowns, magicians artists and other performers were scattered about the place. Lots of Florida souvenirs. Some manufactured and some hand made.

From 1984 through about 1986 book publishers, Harcourt, Brace, Javonovich (HBJ), bought ‘Sea World’ (Which included ‘Florida Festival’), ‘Circus World’, ‘Cypress Gardens’ and ‘Stars Hall of Fame’. HBJ built their corporate headquarters building directly across the street from ‘Sea World’, which was right beside ‘Florida Festival’. As I recall, the area where the building was built in a cypress swamp. The building still stands with HBJ, as a company melted into various book publishers merging together ever since. The structure now houses the former ‘Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau’, now named ‘Visit Orlando’, helping further to confuse people as to where they are.

Apparently William Jovanovich didn’t like the giant tent fair look beside their headquarters, so it was quickly closed in late 1986. Frankly, what were their headquarters doing in the chaos of tourism to begin with?
Soon after the declaration by Javonovich, the tent-like structure was demolished and turned into a parking lot.

One of the best remembered parts of ‘Florida Festival’ was ‘Al E. Gators’ restaurant that included somebody roaming around in an alligator costume. After the closing that was moved into the ‘Sea World’ area. It existed under the same name until about 1992, when it was renamed ‘Bimini Bay’ until closing around 2000.