The following photos are from a current exhibitionat the Venice Historical Museum

     In April,1974 Floridaland West announced the building of an extensive tourist attraction on a 50 acre site between US41 on the east,Sarasota Bay on the west. It was to be  located south of Blackburn Point Road.  There was to be an initial investment of $1,000,000

    Floridaland opened on Christmas, 1964 to a crowd of 5,000.

     There were multiple attractions including a tour train, stern wheeler river boat ride, covered wagon rides.

     Popular shows include the porpoise and the sea island.

     There was a deer park, exotic garden and Goat Mountain. There was  western ghost town with the Golden Nugget Saloon

     By 1968, attendance was dropping.  The new Floridaland opened in 1968 with new rides,longer shows and a new orchid garden.  These steps were a failure and Floridaland closed in the 1970’s

   

   A Holiday Inn opened adjacent to the park in 1967..  This changed into the Bentley Inn.  Now this site is occupied by Casey Key Beach Front Resort.

   The former site of Floridaland is noe occupied by South Bay Yacht and Yacht Club.

     This building was originally built in 1926 as the Saunders Building.  Architect was W.H. Schumaker of Tampa.  Building was constructed by Barrett Construction Company.

     Venice Municipal Mobile Home Park is a part of the former Venice Army Air Field.  It is located at 780 Tamiami Trail, Venice, Fl. It was developed in 1947 and consists of 186 lots. It has a recreation hall, laundromat, and shuffle board courts.

     Venice Municipal Mobile Home Park has incorporated the Venice AAF officers club as their recreational facility.

     Service offered to each lot includes water and sewer,cable tv, electricity, telephone, and solid waste/recycling.  These are billed separately to the lot leasee.    Tenants must be 55 or older.

     Municipal Mobile Home residents are members of the Homeowners Association.

     Revenues from the lots go to the Airport Enterprise Fund to provide for funding of the operation and maintenance of the Venice Municipal Airport

     

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