By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider I explored Bongoland and think it's one of the best free things to do in Florida. 
But Florida weather is harsh, and as I looked closer, I noticed wear and tear, perhaps due to the humidity, high winds, and storms that are common in this part of Florida's coastline. The origins of the land where Bongoland still stands stretch back to the early 19th century. A newer part of Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens is the children's garden, where I found faux "dinosaur eggs" and hand-painted wooden flowers. There is no cost to enter, though donations are appreciated. As I wandered, I saw unexpected surprises, like a human sundial where my shadow told me the time, and a face carved into a tree stump in a pond. Far surpassing the dinosaurs in size, the tree is still widening with age. It then sat neglected until it was sold to Volusia County in 1963. Best of all, it's completely free to visit. In fact, the park formerly had a T-Rex on display that once towered 42 feet high, but it fell in 2019 following a storm, the Port Orange Observer reported. Some estimate it may be as old as 250 years. It was once home to a plot of land named Dunlawton with a sugar mill that operated briefly before it was burned during the Second Seminole War. It boasted a replica Seminole Indian village, live animals including a baboon named Bongo, and a tram ride past concrete dinosaurs advertised as "prehistoric monsters," made by Manny Lawrence, a local cement worker. My best advice is to keep your eyes peeled as you wander the gardens so as not to miss any of these small details. Unfortunately, the park wasn't a hit. Similarly, I'm now recommending a visit to all of my garden enthusiast, history buff, and photographer friends who will certainly appreciate the combination of tropical plants, kitschy sculptures, and sugar mill remains. I thought that the children's garden, dinosaurs, human sundial, and gnome homes would be great entertainment for families with young kids. Nearby, I also stumbled upon a tiny village of gnome and fairy homes, complete with pint-sized residents all gathered around a tree stump. As a photographer, I loved the surroundings, which I thought were especially photogenic. Dr. Perry Sperber leased several acres in the coastal city of Port Orange, Florida, to create an unusual theme park. The park costs nothing to enter, is easy to find, and is guaranteed to be unique. And while most people come to Daytona Beach to swim in the ocean, stroll the boardwalk, or see a race at the Daytona International Speedway, I came for Bongoland. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens and the Bongoland ruins are less than 15 minutes from downtown Daytona Beach, but as I wandered through them, seeing abandoned dinosaur replicas, fairy homes, and lush flowers, I felt a world away from the crowds. The park is open to visit daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. As a Florida resident, I know that most people flock here for the wide variety of tourist attractions. Now, there are just four left, and I spotted a 30-foot stegosaurus and a 25-foot triceratops, plus two others that aren't technically in the dinosaur family. It closed shortly after opening "for lack of public interest," according to a sign on-site. Given new life inside Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens, Bongoland sits within a 10-acre property that is open to the public, and is a vibrant oasis blooming with flowers and trees. I also saw a grotto, a colorful birdhouse, and a shady arbor. Made from concrete molded on wire, the statues seemed durable to me at first. I found the lush scenery to be quite peaceful and admired tropical plants and flowers like magnolias, camellias, and azaleas. After spending the day in Bongoland inside Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens, I'm only left wondering why I didn't visit sooner.
Get a daily selection of our top stories based on your reading preferences. As part of my exploration of Bongoland, I toured what remained of the mill from a wooden walkway in the park.
Though the exact dates of Bongoland aren't known, the Port Orange Observer reported it to be between 1948 and 1952. Remnants of the theme park remain such as prehistoric concrete dinosaurs now surrounded by a garden. But it's also a must for anyone interested in discovering classic, quirky old Florida. Not only is it free and a lovely outdoor activity, but it's a particularly great attraction for families. The smaller dimetrodon snarling beneath a bird of paradise is a different species of prehistoric reptile.
It's newer than the others, completed in 1990 by the same sculptor. In the 1940s, a man named Dr. Perry Sperber leased several acres in the coastal city of Port Orange, Florida, to create an unusual theme park. According to the same source, there are no plans to put the T-Rex back together as it was beyond repair. Meanwhile, the park's tallest statue, currently propped up by a tree trunk, is a giant ground sloth. There's also an Asian garden with statuary and a fountain, and a Florida garden of native plants shaped like the Sunshine State. The mill was rebuilt in the 1840s but burned down again in the Third Seminole Indian War. But I think there's so much more to Florida than theme parks and beautiful beaches. As a fan of both gardens and Florida roadside attractions, I wanted to visit the ruins of Bongoland ever since I read about it online. Bongoland was a Florida amusement park in the 1950s named for a resident monkey called Bongo. Across an arched bridge and down a fern-lined path, I found a sprawling ancient oak tree.