Attractions Collection / Florida Attractions Collection : Attractions and Excursions in Central Florida

American Alligators Hatch at Gatorland
Dozens of newborn gators welcomed at the theme park

Orlando, Fl., (August 29, 2007) – Gatorland is pleased to announce the birth of dozens of American Alligator hatchlings to be added to the thousands of alligators already on display at the theme park.

American alligators typically breed in the spring. By the end of June they will build a nest that could be up to ten-feet across and two to three feet high. The mother alligator then deposits her eggs into the nest. An average nest may contain up to forty eggs which she will cover over and protect. The nest helps to keep the eggs at a cozy 90 degrees F. This incubates the eggs. Incidentally, the temperature of the incubation determines the sex of the alligators; however 90 degrees will give us a mixed batch of males and females.

The mother alligator will guard the nest during the entire incubation period. 65 days later, end of august to the first week in September, the eggs hatch. The baby alligators typically will not eat for the first few weeks of life; they are still living off the yolk that they lived on while still in the eggs. Baby alligators are called “grunts,” due to the grunting sound that they make when they are in distress. Mother alligator will guard the babies for about a year. However despite her efforts, out of nest of 35 eggs only 2 or 3 will survive to maturity.

“Each of the young alligators measures approximately 6 inches in length and weighs about 3 ounces,” states the Dean of Gator Wrestling, Tim Williams. “Under the right conditions alligators can grow about a foot a year for the first 3 to 4 years. From here on the growth significantly slows down. It is difficult to believe that one day this delicate, little reptile could one-day grow to be over 14 feet long and weigh a thousand pounds or more.”

For more information on this and other additions taking place at Gatorland, log on to www.gatorland.com. The web site features a live Gator Cam located in the Alligator Breeding Marsh where you can see hundreds of alligators in their natural environment while reviewing the latest information available on many of the theme park’s residents.

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, new Gator Gully Splash Park 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.

Wanted: Experienced Dentist with BIG Toothbrush
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.

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.

Boggy Creek Airboats

Wildlife Safari Tours

Kissimmee, Florida - minutes from Orlando attractions: (February 2007) Visualize the world’s only one of a kind, off-road custom-made all terrain machines exclusively made for Boggy Creek. These monstrous 18 passenger buggies will take you on an expedition viewing wildlife roaming free in the magnificent woods & then travelling into a lagoon of alligators. Your sightseeing trek will transport nature lovers through a genuine 8,000 acre working cattle ranch and into the wilderness.

This off-road journey will explore the “authentic Florida". Each venture is a unique tour and will take you on a quest viewing wildlife meandering in their own territory. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see wild turkeys strutting, wild hogs rutting, deer grazing, bald eagles soaring, and many, exotic birds, turtles, raccoons & cattle. Our guides are from local families and are very knowledgeable about nature and the history of our prominent land. The terrain that you will explore is very historic to Kissimmee and is owned by one of our pioneer cattle families that lived here before the opening of any attractions or hotels. If you are lucky you may see real cowboys round up the cattle twice a year.

Finally, your tour will go through a lagoon filled with live alligators. See the alligators safely a-top the 18 foot tall buggy as it stops in the middle of the water. Each passenger can get a fantastic look at these current day dinosaurs as the driver feeds them.

The Safari's are handicap accessible and safe and fun for all ages. Photographers from around the world will enjoy the breathtaking scenery and spectacular wildlife preserve. With the introduction of this new feature, the attraction adds to its popularity over the last 13 years for providing wind-in-your-face rides that thrill residents and visitors from around the world. Since its opening, visitors of all ages have come to favour the adventure of our rides or witnessing the areas magnificent natural wonders, including wetlands, cypress trees, alligators and other wildlife.
Certified Master Captains take visitors on four different tours - 1/2 hour day airboat tour, One Hour Night Airboat Tour, Private Airboat Tour or Wildlife Safari.

For more information please contact Michelle Boggy Creek Airboat Rides at 407-344-0018 or email info@bcairboats.com

Daytona International Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Kawasaki’s James Stewart dominated Friday night’s Daytona Supercross By Honda leading every lap on his way to a 13.571-second victory, his first win in the main event at “The World Center of Racing.”

Stewart, who only previous victory at DIS was in 2004 in the Supercross Lites class, took the hole shot and never looked back holding off Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael and Yamaha’s Chad Reed.

“I just got to give this win a lot of credit to my dad,” said Stewart, who is from nearby Haines City, Fla. “He puts a lot of work on me during the week and it showed tonight. I never got tired and I felt good. I just got to give credit to everyone around me. It’s not a one-man show – it’s a team sport.”

Carmichael, who owns an unprecedented five Daytona Supercross By Honda victories, made his final Daytona Supercross By Honda start at Daytona International Speedway on Friday night.

The native of Florida is making the transition from Supercross to stock cars and has a developmental contract with Bobby Ginn Racing, which fields NASCAR NEXTEL Cup teams with drivers Mark Martin, Sterling Marlin, Joe Nemechek and Regan Smith.

“It’s been an amazing ride,” Carmichael said. “To win here five times in front of you guys has just been amazing. You know, every dog has its day and my day is getting thin, but I think I’m pretty good making (the riders) work.”

Aussie Chad Reed, who won back-to-back Daytona Supercross By Hondas in 2004 and 2005, rounded out the podium.

“I knew I needed a good start and just didn’t get the start,” Reed said. “Just didn’t come through like I know I needed to - no other fault.”

In the Lites East Daytona Supercross By Honda, Kawasaki’s Ben Townley took a 5.762-second victory over Honda’s Thomas Hahn and KTM’s Mike Alessi.

Daytona 200 Week By Honda concludes on Saturday with the Daytona 200 By Honda and the AMA Superbike Opening Round. For tickets, call 1-800-PITSHOP.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – With the road course racing still gearing-up at Daytona International Speedway, the American Motorcyclist Association will offer a different variety of entrées as they dish-out the flat track racing events Wednesday, March 7 and Thursday, March 8 at nearby Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium.

The 2007 Flat Track Championship series will kick-off with two National Singles racing bouts with Suzuki’s Jake Johnson defending his title from the 2006 season – the AMA Grand National Singles Championship’s first-ever series.

Johnson’s AMA Singles National Championship was the first of its kind in 2006. Experiencing only a few setbacks during the season, including an early wreck in the final race of the season in 2006, Johnson maintained consistent top-10 finishes throughout the season.

However, before Johnson can reclaim his title, he must face unpredictable track conditions and a strong challenger named Chris Carr

“It’s kind of hard to build expectations for Daytona,” Johnson said. “You always go in there hoping you’re going to win, but it’s probably the toughest race in the series to predict. In the past I’ve gotten second on the first night and not even qualified for the second night. The place is pretty tricky. You’ve just got to try to get a good qualifying spot and get a good start and try not to make too many big mistakes, because every mistake there is a big one.”

Flat Track racing legend Chris Carr, the winningest racer in the series, will begin his 22nd year in professional racing in the 2007 season. A previous title winner in the series, Carr is looking for another championship trophy.

With 75 career race victories to go with his seven AMA Grand National titles, Carr starts his quest for an eighth title this Wednesday and Thursday, March 7-8, at Daytona’s Municipal Stadium with the first two of eight scheduled short track (Singles) class events.

Daytona’s flat track stadium boasts unpredictable conditions with the rough limestone surface. Defending 2006 Daytona Flat Track winners Bryan Smith and Kevin Varnes know firsthand how fickle the racing can be.

“Daytona is a really weird surface that usually gets rough,” Smith said. “I feel really comfortable there. It's a track that isn't ‘follow the leader.’ It has 100 different lines. You can really search around and make something work for you.”

Tickets for the Daytona Flat Track are available at the gate or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or www.racetickets.com

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 7, 2007) – The high-flying, two-wheel action of supercross under the lights returns to Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona Supercross by Honda on Friday, March 9. The best dirt riders in the country including circuit regulars James Stewart, Chad Reed and Kevin Windham, and AMA part-timer Ricky Carmichael visit the “World Center of Racing” to take on one of the toughest courses on the circuit.

For Carmichael, it’ll be his final start on two wheels at Daytona International Speedway. The five-time Daytona Supercross By Honda champion is making the transition from Supercross to stock cars and has a developmental contract with NASCAR team Bobby Ginn Racing.

Following are some numbers about the Daytona Supercross by Honda dirt course being built by DIRT WURX USA:

30+

155

180

600

3,150

3,520

80,000

Number of people working on the dirt to construct the track

Number of tractors working to spread dirt (1 loader, 1 crawler, 2 skid steers)

Jumps on the track

Number of dump trucks of dirt to build the course which is located on the infield tri-oval

Number of man-hours to build the course

Number of 2 x 9 Styrofoam blocks which will be used for safety along the course

Mileage (in feet) of the Supercross course from start to finish

Tons of dirt to build the track

Square feet of plastic to protect the course from the elements until the March 9th event

For information and tickets for the Daytona Supercross by Honda and the 66th Daytona 200 by Honda, visit www.racetickets.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Miguel Duhamel continues to add to his successful history at Daytona International Speedway by capturing his third straight Daytona 200 By Honda pole.

Late in the session, Duhamel turned a fast lap of one minute, 41.095 seconds, 105.050 mph to bump Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo off the pole and tie Kenny Roberts’ mark of three straight Daytona 200 By Honda poles.

“It’s really awesome and a great honor to be up there with Kenny Roberts,” Duhamel said. “Right now, I live in the moment. Hard work paid off. My hat’s off to the whole team. Everybody worked really hard, put the bike together and we pulled it off.”

Miguel Duhamel will attempt to win a record sixth triumph in the motorcycle classic that is scheduled for Saturday, March 10. Duhamel won his first Daytona 200 By Honda back in 1991 and his fifth victory – which tied him with motorcycle legend Scott Russell atop the wins’ list – came in 2005.

“We’ve been working really hard,” Duhamel said. “At Honda we have a calendar. We know Daytona is coming up, so we’ve been working pretty hard to get our bikes ready for this race, which is biggest race of the year. The bike worked really good. I’m really pumped about it.”

DiSalvo took second with a lap of 104.692 mph while Erion Honda’s Josh Hayes (104.293) and Jake Zemke (104.186).

“I didn’t want to make any assumptions (about winning the pole), but I knew Miguel was probably out on a good lap,” DiSalvo said.

“For just doing this one (Formula Xtreme) race, it’s amazing how dedicated the team is,” DiSalvo continued. “I get to start from the front row again, and I’ll try to make the most of it come Saturday.”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., -- Ben Spies kicked off his campaign to defend his AMA Superbike title by capturing the pole for Saturday’s opening round of the AMA Superbike Series at Daytona International Speedway.

Spies toured the 2.95-mile road course aboard his No. 1 Yoshimura Suzuki with a fast lap of one minute, 37.546 seconds, 108.871 mph. He edged his Yoshimura Suzuki teammate Mat Mladin by less than four hundredths of a second.

Spies, who was nipped by Mladin at the start/finish line in last year’s thrilling finish of the AMA Superbike Opening Round at DIS, said that he even though he won the pole, he left some speed on the track

“We left a few tenths out there,” Spies said. “It was really close. I would have liked to have nailed my lap. But the bike is working good, me and Mat have a good gap, and it’s probably going to be what it was last year.”

Mladin, who has won the 2005 and 2006 AMA Superbike Opening Rounds at DIS, had a fast lap was 1:37.581 seconds, 108.832 mph. Rounding out the podium for the AMA Superbike Opening Round was Yamaha’s Eric Bostrom (108.152) and Kawasaki’s Roger Lee Hayden (107.523).

Spies says that this year’s race will once again come down to the rider who masters the Daytona draft the best.

“Around this place, if you’re not going to drop them, you’re going to win because of the draft or because you outsmarted somebody,” Spies said. “Hopefully, we can outthink everybody this year.”

Tickets for Daytona 200 Week By Honda events are available online at www.racetickets.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

WILLIE NELSON, KENNY ROGERS AND ANNE MURRAY AMONG BIG
NAME CONCERT STARS IN SILVER SPRINGS’ 2008 ENTERTAINMENT SERIES

SILVER SPRINGS, Fla. (Oct. 10, 2007) … Silver Springs’ 2008 Entertainment Series will present a year long schedule of major concerts, car shows, festivals and special events. Among the many top headliners scheduled to perform are Willie Nelson, Wayne Newton, Kenny Rogers, Anne Murray and The Beach Boys, and special events include the 14th Annual Ford & Mustang Roundup, July 4th American Idol Show & Fireworks and 16th Annual Festival of Lights. All of Silver Springs’ concerts, festivals and special events are included in the price of admission and free to passholders. Reserved VIP seats for the concerts will go on sale Nov. 5.

Silver Springs’ 2008 concert season will kick off with country music legend Willie Nelson on Jan. 20 and followed by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on Jan. 26. February’s concert lineup will feature Brenda Lee on Feb. 2, Wayne Newton on Feb. 9, America on Feb. 16 and Tony Orlando Feb. 23. In March, concert fans will enjoy Kenny Rogers on March 1, Anne Murray on March 8, Oak Ridge Boys on March 15, Charlie Daniels Band on March 22 and The Beach Boys on March 29. Plus, an American Idol Show and Fireworks Spectacular will be presented on July 4.

Silver Springs’ 2008 calendar of special events will begin with the 14th Annual Ford & Mustang Roundup on Jan. 12-13. Other events include a Salute to America on March 22 (with Charlie Daniels Band concert) and Nature Quest Wildlife Days on April 3-4. In the fall, Silver Springs will present an International Food Festival in September, Okoberfest in October and a Harvest Festival in November (dates TBA). Also scheduled are the 3rd Annual All-G.M. Auto Show on Oct. 4, 11th Annual Corvette Show on Nov. 1, Native American Festival on Nov. 13-15, and the 16th Annual Festival of Lights on Nov. 28-29, Dec. 5-6, 12-23 and 26-30.

Silver Springs is home of the world famous Glass Bottom Boats and other attractions are the Fort King River Cruise, Lost River Voyage, Lighthouse Ride, World of Bears, Panther Prowl, Big Gator Lagoon and live animal shows. Regular daily admission prices are $33.99 for adults, $30.99 for seniors (55 or better), $24.99 for children (ages 3-10), and children two and under are free. A 12-month Silver Pass to Silver Springs and Wild Waters is also available for $59.99 for adults or children, and $54.99 for seniors (55 or better). Silver Springs is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and located east of Ocala on S.R. 40; exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95. For more information on Silver Springs call (352) 236-2121 or visit the park’s web site at www.silversprings.com.

Editors: For more information contact Steve Specht in Silver Springs’ P.R. Dept. at (352) 236-2121. (2008 entertainment series)

Florida Attractions Collection - Press Releases

Gatorland

Boggy Creek Airboats

Daytona International Speedway