The Sights & Sounds of Progress
Construction begins at Gatorland on the 19,000 square foot Complex

Orlando, Florida: (October 24, 2007): As the sun rose on October 15, 2007 construction began on the gift shop and admissions complex located at the site of the devastating fire that took place at Gatorland on November 6, 2006, destroying the original gift shop and theme park entrance.

Overseen by D & D Construction, the first stage of the $4 million dollar project will focus on removing a section of the original concrete slab to allow for rough plumbing to be installed. Next the crew of up to 35 skilled laborers and heavy equipment operators will work to complete the foundation and conclude the block work on the 4,000 sq. ft. retail area.

As construction began on Monday, it quickly became apparent to Dan Baumer, Superintendent for D&D Construction, that this project would be like no other he had worked on before. As his team of concrete saw operators began cutting through the aging concrete an eerie sound began to rumble behind the men as dozens of alligators had mistaken the vibration as an invitation to bellow and splash around. “That was definitely a first for me and the guys,” said Baumer. “What a unique way to keep everyone motivated.”

“We are trying to stick to a very tight timeline,” states Mark McHugh, President & CEO of Gatorland. “Our goal is to have the new Complex opened by next summer when we begin celebrating the 60th Anniversary for the “Alligator Capital of the World”.

Founded in 1985, D&D Construction is a full-service general contracting firm specializing in theme parks and the hotel industry. The company, whose motto is “Building Together, Building Better,” provides a range of services including pre-construction, construction management, general contracting, or development needs. The company handles all aspects of property construction from project costing, planning, design-build, construction management, and property development. D&D Construction’s work can be found throughout Central Florida, as well as in the Florida Keys and Alabama.

Gatorland is a 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve, combining “Old Florida” charm with exciting, new exhibits and entertainment. The park opened as a roadside attraction in 1949. Today, it provides affordable-priced family fun with thousands of alligators, crocodiles, aviary, breeding marsh with observation tower, petting zoo, nature walk, educational wildlife programs, a gift shop, Florida’s best train-ride, restaurant, Gator Gully Splash Park and one-of-a-kind reptilian shows including the Gator Wrestlin’ Show, Gator Jumparoo and the Up-close Encounters Show. To find out more about “Orlando’s only Theme Park with Bite and Attitude,” visit us online at: www.gatorland.com or call 1-800-393-JAWS.

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Restoration of the Historic Gator’s Mouth Entrance to Begin on March 9

Orlando, Florida: (March 6, 2007): Over the years, millions of visitors have walked through the famous gator mouth entrance of Gatorland until recently. A devastating fire last November ripped through the gift shop and administration building leaving the gator’s mouth entrance charred and tarnished. Now, some four months later, a project is set to begin on Friday, March 9 to restore the integrity of the theme park’s icon.

WHEN: Friday, March 9, 2007 at 2:00 PM
WHERE: Gator’s Mouth Entrance
Gatorland
14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando, Florida 32837

The historic entrance was designed by Frank Godwin in 1962 to replace the theme park’s traditional entranceway used when the park first opened many years earlier. “You’re going to be half-famous,” Owen Godwin chuckled to his son Frank when designing the legendary alligator jaw entrance during a time when Highway 441 was the main access road through the area. “I guess it’s safe to say now that he was right,” laughs Frank Godwin.

Over the years the gator’s mouth entrance has done just that! The theme park sees roughly 400,000 guests a year and has expanded to include a collection of rare crocodiles, new shows and entertainment options, and the all-new Gator Gully Splash Park opening in April 2007. “This structure has stood in Orlando for forty-five years, making it one of the oldest theme park icons in our state,” says Mark McHugh, President and CEO of Gatorland. “That gator mouth entrance is a great symbol of the kind of memories we create at this unique, fun loving attraction, and we are excited about giving it a good “brushing and flossing” to get it ready to welcome guests again in the near future.”

Gatorland is a 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve, combining “Old Florida” charm with exciting, new exhibits and entertainment. The park opened as a roadside attraction in 1949. Today, it provides affordable family fun with thousands of alligators, crocodiles, aviary, breeding marsh with observation tower, petting zoo, nature walk, educational wildlife programs, gift shop, Florida’s best train-ride, restaurant, the new Gator Gully Splash Park opening in April 2007 and much more. One-of-A-Kind reptilian shows include: the Gator Wrestlin’ Show, Gator Jumparoo and the Up-close Encounters Show.

To find out more about “Orlando’s only Theme Park with Bite and Attitude,” visit us online at: www.gatorland.com or call 1-800-393-JAWS.

It’s full steam ahead at Gatorland as the 57-year old theme park races to re-open the historic park on Friday, November 24, 2006 after surviving a fire earlier in the month that destroyed the park’s award-winning Gift Shop and Executive Offices.

The grand reopening will showcase a new entrance located at the southern end of the attraction, within walking distance of the world famous Gator Wrestlin’ arena. Guests will enter through a newly designed rustic admission gate that compliments the park’s ole’ fashion charm. There will be four admission windows, a covered walkway and memory boards where guests will have the opportunity to leave a personal message for the Gatorland family.

The park’s atmosphere will be lively with performances by elementary and high school bands (school names to be announced), animal encounters, performances by the Sweeney’s featuring southern folk music, as well as drawings for prizes including annual passes. In addition, all exhibits and show areas will be open and operational.

“We are incredibly thrilled that we are able to reopen so quickly and provide our visitors with the same family-styled entertainment they come to expect from Gatorland,” said Mark McHugh, CEO and President of Gatorland. “We would never have been able to come back so quickly without the support of the community and the hard work of our employees. “

Join us at Gatorland on November 24th as we re-open the “Alligator Capital of the World” and help support the Children’s Burn Foundation of Florida as Gatorland is donating the proceeds from their opening day to the Foundation, in honor of the brave men and women from the local Fire & Rescue Stations who saved the attraction.

Gatorland is located at 14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32837 and will be open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Children’s Burn Foundation of Florida provides an environment where burned children can share their feelings of being burned, forget that they look different and know that they are someone special. The Children’s Burn Foundation of Florida was the dream of a burn survivor to have a camp where burned children could gather together for a few days to share their pains, joys their tears and triumphs while having the time of their life. Today that dream has become a reality, through the first statewide camp in Florida for burned children.

Gatorland is a 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve, combining “Old Florida” charm with exciting, new exhibits and entertainment. The park opened as a roadside attraction in 1949. Today, it provides affordable-priced family fun with thousands of alligators, crocodiles, aviary, breeding marsh with observation tower, petting zoo, nature walk, educational wildlife programs, gift shop, Florida’s best train-ride, restaurant, all new Gator Gully Splash Park opening in April 2007 and much more. One-of-A-Kind reptilian shows include: the Gator Wrestlin’ Show, Gator Jumparoo and the Up-close Encounters Show.

To find out more about “Orlando’s only Theme Park with Bite and Attitude,” call 1-800-393-JAWS or visit us online at: www.gatorland.com.