Pioneer Park Days

Pioneer Park Days is an annual event held the first week of March in Zolfo Springs, Florida at Pioneer Park, which is located at the intersection of  US Highway 17 and State Road 64.

The most recent 43rd Annual Pioneer Park Days was billed as one of the largest and oldest antique tractor, steam engine and farm equipment shows in the Southeast. Over 400 exhibits and activities, including a daily antique tractor parade, basket weaving, toy making and wood burning, celebrated the 1800s.

In addition to the pioneer-themed activities, 450+ booths sold antiques, arts, crafts and flea market wares, numerous food booths were available throughout the park, and country and bluegrass music provided daily entertainment.

Florida Flywheelers Antique Show

The Florida Flywheelers Antique Engine Club was founded in 1972 to promote the history and restoration of antique engines, autos and other antique devices. Flywheeler Park, located  at 7000 Avon Park Cutoff Road, Fort Meade, Florida, was purchased in 1997 to showcase the 1,500+ member collections and preserve a part of history.

It has since grown to nearly 240 acres with multiple shows per year and includes a tractor pull track, club and member buildings, as well as, large engine collections.

The club advertises their shows as "wholesome fun for the whole family" with antique tractor displays, a steam-powered saw mill, an old engine ice cream maker, a pioneer village complete with cabins, barns, a church, a mercantile, blacksmith, schoolhouse, stores, stables, a jail, a firehouse, and gas stations, and miles of flea market items and carnival-style food.

Events are held in January, February and November with a special Christmas in the Village in December. Visit  Florida Flywheelers Antique Engine Club for the 2011 - 2012 schedule and more information.

Goodbye Cypress Gardens

Cypress Gardens opened  in 1936 as Florida's first tourist attraction when Dick Pope, Sr and his wife showcased their botanical gardens. It became famous for its beautiful gardens, Southern Belles and water ski shows and was called the "Water Ski Capital of the World" because over 50 world water skiing records were broken there.

Sadly, its demise, like many other original Florida tourist attractions, began in the 1970s when it had to compete with Disney. Once the Popes retired and transferred the park to their son, successive owners would unsuccessfully keep the park at the necessary attendance levels. The first owner outside the Pope family was book publisher, Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich who bought the park in the early 1980s and operated it until it sold the park to Anheuser-Busch in 1989. A group of the park managers, led by Bill Reynolds, then bought the property in April 1995 from Anheuser-Busch and operated it until April 2003 when the park closed suddenly, putting 529 people out of work with three days' notice.

The Friends of Cypress Gardens, founded by Burma Davis Posey, immediately incorporated and saved the park by enlisting the help of members in the United States and 27 other countries and raising 13,500,000 dollars in three and a half months. This group then sold the property to The Trust for Public Land, a national conservation organization, who sold a conservation easement over the entire property to the state of Florida with the 30-acres gardens portion sold to Polk County.

Adventure Parks Group bought the balance of the property subject to the conservation easement and reopened the park as Cypress Gardens Adventure Park in November 2004 complete with a wooden roller coaster and other midway-style rides and  the adjacent Splash Island water park followed in 2005. Unfortunately, the estimated $30 million in damages from the horrific 2004 hurricane season led Adventure Parks Group to file for bankruptcy in September 2006.

Land South Adventures bought Cypress Gardens at a bankruptcy auction October 16, 2007, temporarily closed the park in November 2008, then reopened in March 2009 as two separate parks.Splash Island was expanded but the animals and many of the midway rides were gone from Cypress Gardens. Sadly, on September 23, 2009, the company announced the park was closing because they were unable to "keep the park running in its traditional form."

Merlin Entertainments, the world's second largest them park and attraction operator, bought the park in 2010 and announced it would become Legoland Florida with an October 2011 opening. It has been reported that the gardens will be incorporated into the new park ... this Florida native and history lover certainly hopes so.

Fisherman's Village

Fisherman's Village is an eclectic waterfront complex. For the day tripper, a unique variety of boutiques, shops, restaurants, day spa and a military museum awaits. Vacation villas overlooking the harbor and a full service marina are also on site.

The boutiques offer everything from beachwear and Florida casual (tee shirts and flip flops) to resort wear. In the gift shops, you'll find an assortment of art, collectibles, bath and body, novelties, pet accessories, souvenirs, toys and water sport apparel and equipment. One of the most unique shops is Fuse Weld Grind owned by Joe and Mackie Clifton. Joe is a "recycle" artist who recycles old farming implements, garden tools, kitchen utensils, propane tanks, rebar and more to create unusual yet beautiful works of art, animal sculptures and bird baths, human sculptures, planters, wind chimes and more.

The restaurants vary from sandwich shops, to casual, open air and even fine dining. Several offer a great view of Charlotte Harbor and with the waterfront location, it is no surprise that seafood is the main draw at many of them. Near the entrance, the Military Heritage Museum has artifacts from the Spanish-American War up to the recent Iraqi conflict. Admission is free, but donations are welcome to enable this non profit organization to continue their mission of promoting the military heritage of the Unites States and the sacrifices of veterans. Their web site domain name says it all: "freedomisntfree.org."

Fisherman's Village is located one mile west of U.S. 41 on Marion Avenue in Punta Gorda, Florida.The boutiques and shops are open Monday through Saturday 10am - 6pm and Sunday 12pm - 5pm but restaurant hours vary.