THE
O F G ATO R L A N D By Meaghan Branham
Preserving Florida’s Natural History by Looking Toward the Future
WHEN YOU’RE IN GATORLAND, YOU KNOW YOU’RE IN FLORIDA. — Mark McHugh, president and CEO
O
wen Godwin Sr. was raised on the Kissimmee River in the early 1900s, spending much of his time on his uncle’s homestead, Rattlesnake Hammock. As the years went on, his fascination for the land that raised him grew, along with a few other traits that would prove vital for his future venture. In 1949, Godwin founded the Florida Wildlife Institute on a plot of land off U.S. Highway 17-92 and 441 in Kissimmee, with the hopes of giving visitors an up-close look at native alligators, snakes and birds, along with an understanding of how the creatures live. Since then, that venture has grown into a world-famous 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve known as Gatorland. It has been working to protect and conserve Florida’s unique ecosystem, all while engaging and educating people from around the world. In the process, Gatorland has helped both natives and tourists understand the beauty of the state of Florida — and its scalier inhabitants. Gatorland has also fine-tuned the art of how to tell its story.
26 | AUGUST 2019 | i4Biz.com
“Owen loved telling stories,” said Mark McHugh, who has served as president and CEO of Gatorland since 1996. “He had a huge personality. And he was an entrepreneur at heart, always coming up with new ideas to make a buck and keep him busy.” As tourism exploded into Central Florida’s most fruitful industry, Gatorland grew strong alongside it — standing out by blending so well into the land that inspired it. Along with the adoption of the current name in 1954, the attraction expanded to take in zebras, wild cats, crocodile, birds and tortoises. It added an observation tower, food stands, live shows, exhibits, and a 2,000-foot Swamp Walk through the wetlands. It developed a breeding marsh where adult alligators and other species could thrive. In more recent years, it has added modern adventures. One of its zipline experiences has been voted the best in the United States by AOL Travel. Its off-road rides aboard 12-foot-high, custom-made monster vehicles take visitors through a section of the park that has never been open to the public, running alongside swamps that feed the headwaters of the Everglades.
