Gatorland at 75: It’s a family business that’s long in the tooth

Gatorland at 75: It’s a family business that’s long in the tooth

Before there was Walt Disney World or the Daytona 500 or Interstate 4, there was Gatorland. The roadside attraction, presenting reptiles and “real Florida,” was started by Owen Godwin, and his family continues to run the business, which is now marking its 75th anniversary on South Orange Blossom Trail. Aside from being an Orlando entrepreneur, Godwin could have listed adventurer and entertainer on his resume. “He was definitely a character. He w…