New Book Releases

Travel to the Gulf of Florida and discover the inception, growth and final end to the sunshine state's Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park.

John ""Brandy"" Siebenaler and his wife, Marjorie, founded the Gulfarium, the first marine attraction of its kind on the Florida Panhandle. Since the gates first swung open in 1955, guests flocked to the Gulfarium. Displays of live specimens collected from the nearby Gulf of Mexico waters by Brandy, his associates, and Destin's fishing families gave visitors a chance to view life below the sea as they had never seen it before. The park's spectacular dolphin shows gained national recognition, and the high-flying porpoises were trained by none other than Marjorie, who quickly became an acclaimed expert for her innate ability to connect with the animals. Beyond the on-cue performances of sky-high leaps, hoop jumps, and clever antics in the pool, the Gulfarium is part of a greater mission. It plays a critical role in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of stranded marine mammals, sea turtles, and other native wildlife--a need it has continued to serve for more than half a century.

Marine Studios made history on June 23, 1938, when over 30,000 people crowded a quiet stretch of Florida coastline near St. Augustine to witness sea life, as it had never been seen before--through 200 underwater portholes. Developed by three innovative entrepreneurs with ties to Hollywood, the newly coined term "oceanarium" described their novel concept as a place where marine life existed together. As the world's first oceanarium, Marine Studios sparked the country's imagination, displaying rare and unusual creatures in daily performances that included brave divers hand feeding sharks and handsome sailors presenting friendly dolphins in amazing aerial feats. Behind the scenes, Marine Studios perfected scientific innovations, breeding and raising the first dolphin calf, discovering dolphin echolocation, and featuring Flippy, the first trained dolphin in the world's first dolphin show!

Florida's first theme park, Cypress Gardens, was the brainchild of Richard Downing Dick" Pope Sr. With his wife, Julie Downing Pope, he transformed a marshy, lakeside property in Winter Haven into a magnificent garden. The park's first visitors in 1936 toured pathways surrounded by lush plants from around the world. Two years later, electric boats meandered through the park's winding, hand-dug canals. Water ski shows commenced in 1942, and the park became the "Water Ski Capital of the World." The Florida-shaped Esther Williams Swimming Pool still graces the shore of Lake Eloise. The park was a set for dozens of short feature films, a stage for beauty pageants, and a site for special television broadcasts. A butterfly garden, zoo, rides, and the small-town Southern Crossroads shopping and dining area remain popular features. Kent Buescher purchased Cypress Gardens in 2004, and today's expanded Cypress Gardens Adventure Park preserves the family-friendly appeal of Dick and Julie Pope's magnificent park."

Wander through the pages of this book and meet the mermaids of Weeki Wachee in their magical underwater theater.

Mermaids are like leprechauns: it's very hard to sneak up and catch a glimpse of one. But in a hamlet on the Gulf Coast of Florida, people have been able to do just that since 1947, when Newton Perry opened a small roadside attraction with an underwater theater. For nearly 60 years, live mermaids have been the unique focal point of Weeki Wachee Springs. Mysterious and enchanting, these young performers have done everything from teaching a class to typing a letter underwater. They are carefully trained, completely enthusiastic, and delightful to see.