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.