Tropical Wonderland (previously Florida Wonderland) was an amusement park in Titusville, Florida at the intersection of US Highway 1 and Florida State Road 50 that operated from 1959 until 1973. It had numerous animal exhibits including monkeys and an elephant, an old west and Native American village, a train ride, and other attractions. The park was plagued with multiple animal escapes.[1][2] One escape resulted in the death of the park’s elephant when it was struck by a truck on US 1 in 1966.[3]
| Previously known as Florida Wonderland | |
 | |
| Location | Titusville, Florida, USA |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 28°33′15″N 80°47′51″W / 28.554198°N 80.797430°W |
| Status | Defunct |
| Attendance | 30,000 - 50,000 (peak) |
Name Change
editThe park changed its name from Florida Wonderland to Tropical Wonderland in 1971 when it received an endorsement from Johnny Weissmuller, the movie actor who played Tarzan. This began a three-year period where the park saw renewed interest before the park closed among a cloud of animal mistreatment, unpaid bills, and the loss of the endorsement of Weissmuller. The last owner of the attraction was a Titusville developer, Ben Whitehorse.[4]
References
edit- ^ "BREVARD HISTORY: Tropical Wonderland Park In Titusville Was Endorsed By Tarzan Actor Johnny Weissmuller". spacecoastdaily.com. Space Coast Daily. 28 December 2021. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ Saggio, Jessica (27 April 2018). "10 things you probably don't know about Titusville". Florida Today. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ Reus, Joan (15 December 1980). "Park raised animal tales". Florida Today. pp. 1B, 3B.
- ^ Belleville, Bill (7 November 1982). "Ghost Parks". The Miami Herald. p. 506. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.