7 Florida Parks Lost to Time and Overgrowth

Florida’s tropical climate, high heat, humidity, rapid vegetation growth, makes it easy for deserted parks, old attractions, and forgotten recreational sites to be swallowed by time. Below are several Florida parks or attractions that have been lost, overgrown, or largely forgotten. Some still have visible remnants. Use caution: many are on private land or unsafe to visit.

1. Disney’s Discovery Island (Bay Lake)

There’s something haunting about seeing Discovery Island from across Bay Lake. I remember hearing stories of its exotic birds and winding trails, once pulsing with visitors eager to explore its unique zoological collections. Today, all that remains is a shell overtaken by relentless Florida growth, an island where nature has reclaimed every corner of the old attraction.

The original buildings stand, but windows are broken and roofs sag under thick mats of moss. Most days, you’ll only spot it from a boat, with the only sounds coming from wind in the towering cypress and the distant call of herons. It’s both beautiful and unsettling, a place where time moves differently and the rules seem to bend.

Access is strictly prohibited, and security keeps a close watch. Even so, curious tourists sometimes try for a glimpse from authorized boat tours. If you’re drawn to the mystery, just know you’ll have to settle for distant views, trespassing is illegal and potentially dangerous. Still, Discovery Island’s story lingers in the minds of those who pass by, a curious echo of Florida’s lost past.

2. Bongoland / Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens (Port Orange)

Bongoland’s story is a quirky chapter in Florida’s history. Imagine stumbling upon life-sized concrete dinosaurs half-hidden under vines and ferns, a blend of kitschy nostalgia and jungle-like growth. The original Bongoland attraction faded decades ago, but the dinosaur statues remain, now silent guardians among bright blooms and ancient sugar mill ruins.

These days, the space has transformed into Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens. Visitors stroll shaded paths, discovering pieces of the old theme park in unexpected corners. There’s a curious mix of carefully tended gardens and untamed patches where nature has the upper hand.

The gardens are open to the public, offering a peaceful place to wander and contemplate what came before. The remnants are reminders that Florida’s attractions don’t really disappear, they simply get woven into the landscape. You might find yourself smiling at a stegosaurus peeking through the palmettos, proof that a little bit of whimsy can survive even the wildest overgrowth.

3. Six Flags Atlantis / Atlantis the Water Kingdom (Hollywood)

Six Flags Atlantis once promised a futuristic water adventure, complete with winding slides, a wave pool, and colorful attractions that drew crowds through the 1980s. Families came for the thrill of rides that seemed ahead of their time, and for a while, it delivered on the dream of a water-filled wonderland.

But Florida’s storms proved too much. After Hurricane Andrew struck in 1992, the park never fully recovered. Repairs lagged, attendance dropped, and the site eventually closed for good. Within years, demolition crews cleared most of the structures, erasing the bright towers and pools that once echoed with laughter.

Today, the area has been almost entirely redeveloped, hidden beneath retail and other projects. Only faint hints remain, odd patches of pavement or uneven ground that locals sometimes point out as Atlantis’s ghost. For those who grew up in South Florida, the name still sparks memories of summer days in the water. The physical park may be gone, but its story lingers as part of Florida’s long tradition of lost attractions.

4. Wild Waters, Ocala (Silver Springs area)

Wild Waters stood beside Silver Springs for decades, drawing families looking for relief from the summer heat. With its towering blue slides, lazy river, and splash zones, it became a central Florida tradition, especially for kids whose summers revolved around trips to the park. Generations remember the clang of tubes, the smell of sunscreen, and the rush of cool water.

The park closed permanently in 2016, ending an era of affordable local fun. Demolition followed in 2019, with the slides, pools, and structures dismantled and cleared away. Today, the grounds are mostly reclaimed by grass and trees, with only traces that hint at where the water park once stood.

For locals, though, Wild Waters hasn’t disappeared. Memories of birthday parties, lifeguard jobs, and school trips still keep it alive. In many ways, the stories matter more than the remnants. Though the slides are gone, the sense of community fun they brought remains part of Ocala’s history. Wild Waters lives on as one of Florida’s most nostalgic “lost” parks.

5. Boardwalk & Baseball / Circus World (Haines City / Davenport area)

The story of Boardwalk & Baseball, once known as Circus World, is one of bold ambitions colliding with reality. Built with hopes of drawing crowds to central Florida, it mixed circus flair with baseball nostalgia. For a while, it worked, families flocked in, eager to catch games or take a ride on its roller coasters.

After several years and ownership changes, the excitement faded. Most original buildings were demolished, leaving only scattered fragments beneath new developments. Standing on the old grounds, you’ll find little more than faint outlines and the occasional stray sign lost in the grass.

Yet, if you listen closely, you might sense echoes of laughter and music from those brief but lively seasons. Today, the space has a quieter energy, shaped by layers of history and the unstoppable growth of new roots. Florida’s ability to reinvent itself means even these lost parks become part of the story.

6. Everglades Gatorland (roadside zoo)

Everglades Gatorland never reached the scale of Florida’s major attractions, but locals and travelers remember its quirky roadside charm. The zoo featured concrete pens for alligators and other reptiles, with a souvenir shop that once bustled with families exploring Florida’s wild side. Over time, neglect and relentless growth left the site looking more like a lost relic than a destination.

For years, you could still spot the old enclosures and crumbling shop, silent under the shadow of sawgrass and towering palms. The structures stood as reminders of an era when Florida’s highways hosted endless animal attractions, each one battling for attention.

In October 2020, demolition crews cleared away the remnants. Now, only stories and photographs preserve the spirit of Everglades Gatorland. It may be gone, but for many, it remains a symbol of Florida’s offbeat roadside culture and the power of nature to reclaim what people leave behind.

7. A World of Orchids (Kissimmee area)

A World of Orchids once filled the air with the scent of rare blooms and the soft whisper of water features. I remember seeing postcards showing row upon row of colorful orchids, all thriving under glass just outside Orlando. Over time, the crowds faded and maintenance became too much, leaving the enormous greenhouse to the elements.

Peering in today, you’ll see wild vegetation bursting through the shattered glass. Some orchids have survived, their roots tangled with weeds and fallen beams. For those fascinated by abandoned places, it’s a striking sight, part beauty, part melancholy.

Listed among Florida’s lost attractions, the greenhouse stands as a reminder of the region’s boom in botanical tourism. Even as nature erases the careful order of cultivated gardens, it leaves behind a wild legacy. The magic of A World of Orchids lives on in hidden blossoms and stories passed between locals.