Small-scale fun fading in Florida

Florida is crowded with offbeat attractions that once drew crowds but now, because of development and big-time theme parks, receive only a trickle of visitors. Carl Shiver of Florida's Bureau of Historic Preservation recommends some sites to see before they vanish. They include:

• Silver Springs, Ocala. The 350-acre theme park hits all the major Florida notes: a gator-filled lagoon, an island inhabited by creepy crawlers, a water show with acrobatic nozzles and glass-bottom boat cruises.

• Marineland, St. Augustine. Before SeaWorld and Flipper, there was Marineland and Nellie, the 53-year-old dolphin. The world's first oceanarium, which opened in the 1930s, has dolphin-interaction programs and a conservation center that protects future Flippers.

Information

Florida tourism office: www.visitflorida.com or 888-735-2872.

• Coral Castle, Homestead. Florida has its own Stonehenge-like mystery: How did a 100-pound man named Ed Leedskalnin build a palace out of 1,110 tons of coral? The compound is a study in stone, with the aforementioned sculpted castle, a nine-ton gate, a moon fountain and a heart table.

• Gatorland, Orlando. Despite a recent fire, the gator-mouth entryway — and its kitschy theme park known as the "Alligator Capital of the World" — is still wide open to visitors.

• Historic Bok Sanctuary, Lake Wales. Hear native birds chirp and carillon bells ring at the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed gardens.

• Trapper Nelson Zoo Historic District, Hobe Sound. Though Trapper Nelson is long gone, boats still tie up at his river retreat, which includes a zoo, log cabins and a glimpse at a loner's lifestyle.

Gone, but not forgotten

According to the Web site LostParks.com, which keeps a tab on the Sunshine State's vanished roadside distractions, "Tourist attractions have a way of springing up on the Florida roadside like wildflowers or litter: Bright, shiny and full of hope to begin with, only to wither and die when they just can't quite sustain the magic."

Lost Parks founder Robert H. Brown named some of the most popular closed attractions featured on the site, gleaned from the number of page hits and comments he has received. They include:

• Pirates World, Dania. Featured concerts and buccaneer-themed rides. Closed in 1975.

• Circus World, Polk County. Part winter quarters for the Ringling Bros. circus, part theme park with roller coasters and other rides. Closed in 1986.

• Aquatarium, St. Petersburg Beach. A gulf-front park, replete with trained sea life, that went belly up. Closed in the mid-'70s.

• Miracle Strip Amusement Park, Panama City. Beachfront icon with Ferris wheel, merry-go-round and requisite roller coasters. Closed in 2004.

• Tragedy in U.S. History Museum, St. Augustine. Morbid collection of doodads scoured from history's dark moments, including Lee Harvey Oswald's bedroom furniture. Closed in 1998.