Capitalizing On History
Orlando has a rich history of tourism and travel that goes all the way back to the late-nineteenth century when northerners traveled to the area for the exceptional weather and beautiful natural resources. Hoteliers began to see the benefit of the region’s climate and opened hotels aimed at attracting visitors, and by 1950 tourism replaced agriculture as Florida’s principal industry.
Entrepreneurs recognized the new opportunity and created interesting and sometimes odd new attractions for visitors. Dick Pope opened Cypress Gardens to visitors in 1936 and it is known as “Florida’s First Theme Park.” In 1949, Owen Godwin, Sr. opened his Snake Village and Alligator Farm. Later Godwin would rename the park Gatorland and it continues to fascinate and educate visitors to this day.
The landscape of tourism in Orlando and Florida would change forever when in 1964. Walt Disney began purchasing more than 25,000 acres of land next to the newly completed interstate 4 just east of Orlando. Seven years later in 1971 the Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom Park opened its gates.
Throughout the next two decades, Orlando’s tourism industry began to expand at a tremendous pace with SeaWorld Orlando opening in 1972; the first-ever water park, Wet n Wild in 1977; Epcot in 1982; Disney MGM Studios (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios) in 1989; and Universal Studios Florida in 1990.
Today Orlando is home to seven of the top 10 theme parks in the country, four of the most-visited water parks and the second largest convention center in the United States.
