I toured an abandoned Florida theme park where giant dinosaur statues still stand. I think it’s one of the best free activities in the state.

The remains of Bongoland, an abandoned theme park near Daytona Beach, Florida, still includes original dinosaur statues.Cheryl Rodewig

Bongoland was once an amusement park south of Daytona Beach, Florida, known for life-size “prehistoric monsters.” A few remain today.

Bongoland was once a Florida theme park with concrete dinosaurs advertised as “prehistoric monsters.”Cheryl Rodewig

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.

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.

The theme park lasted less than five years before being abandoned to nature. The dinosaurs are now part of the landscape.

Historical artifacts from Bongoland.Cheryl Rodewig

Unfortunately, the park wasn’t a hit. It closed shortly after opening “for lack of public interest,” according to a sign on-site.

Though the exact dates of Bongoland aren’t known, the Port Orange Observer reported it to be between 1948 and 1952. It then sat neglected until it was sold to Volusia County in 1963.

What remains of the theme park was reborn in 1985 inside a botanical garden where flowers blossom year-round.

What’s left of Bongoland is found inside Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens, a 10-acre park that is open to the public.Cheryl Rodewig

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. There’s also an Asian garden with statuary and a fountain, and a Florida garden of native plants shaped like the Sunshine State.

While the animals, village, and train are long gone, I decided to visit to see some of the dinosaurs still lurking on the grounds and learn about the history.

I visited Bongoland for free.Cheryl Rodewig

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. 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. Best of all, it’s completely free to visit.

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The four dinosaur sculptures that are still standing looked surprisingly fragile to me.

Four dinosaur sculptures are still standing.Cheryl Rodewig

Made from concrete molded on wire, the statues seemed durable to me at first. 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.

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. According to the same source, there are no plans to put the T-Rex back together as it was beyond repair.

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.

Two other Bongoland statues aren’t actually dinosaurs at all.

The dimetrodon statue on the left, and the ground sloth on the right.Cheryl Rodewig

The smaller dimetrodon snarling beneath a bird of paradise is a different species of prehistoric reptile.

Meanwhile, the park’s tallest statue, currently propped up by a tree trunk, is a giant ground sloth. It’s newer than the others, completed in 1990 by the same sculptor.

I also saw the ruins of a 19th-century sugar mill, which is part of the gardens that house the remains of Bongoland.

I toured what remained of the original sugar mill from the 1800s.Cheryl Rodewig

The origins of the land where Bongoland still stands stretch back to the early 19th century.

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. The mill was rebuilt in the 1840s but burned down again in the Third Seminole Indian War.

As part of my exploration of Bongoland, I toured what remained of the mill from a wooden walkway in the park.

The more I explored, the more I was enchanted by the nature surrounding Bongoland.

The gardens surrounding Bongoland are filled with beautiful flowers.Cheryl Rodewig

I found the lush scenery to be quite peaceful and admired tropical plants and flowers like magnolias, camellias, and azaleas. As a photographer, I loved the surroundings, which I thought were especially photogenic.

One of my favorite places in the park wasn’t a dinosaur sculpture, but an ancient oak tree, dripping with Spanish moss.

The ancient oak tree.Cheryl Rodewig

Across an arched bridge and down a fern-lined path, I found a sprawling ancient oak tree. Far surpassing the dinosaurs in size, the tree is still widening with age. Some estimate it may be as old as 250 years.

I found hidden treasures throughout the park grounds.

I spotted this face carve into a tree stump, tucked away in a pond.Cheryl Rodewig

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. I also saw a grotto, a colorful birdhouse, and a shady arbor. My best advice is to keep your eyes peeled as you wander the gardens so as not to miss any of these small details.

I also viewed newer additions to the property, like a children’s garden and whimsical fairy houses.

The children’s garden.Cheryl Rodewig

A newer part of Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens is the children’s garden, where I found faux “dinosaur eggs” and hand-painted wooden flowers. Nearby, I also stumbled upon a tiny village of gnome and fairy homes, complete with pint-sized residents all gathered around a tree stump.

The site is managed by the Botanical Gardens of Volusia, an all-volunteer organization that keeps the plants and dinosaurs looking their best.

The park is free to visit.Cheryl Rodewig

There is no cost to enter, though donations are appreciated. The park is open to visit daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

By coming to Bongoland, I discovered another side of Florida that most tourists miss.

Coming to Bongoland reminded me that there’s so much more to Florida than theme parks and beaches.Cheryl Rodewig

As a Florida resident, I know that most people flock here for the wide variety of tourist attractions. But I think there’s so much more to Florida than theme parks and beautiful beaches.

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.

In my opinion, Bongoland is a can’t miss place to visit if you want to see the real Florida.

I definitely plan to visit again.Cheryl Rodewig

After spending the day in Bongoland inside Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens, I’m only left wondering why I didn’t visit sooner.

Not only is it free and a lovely outdoor activity, but it’s a particularly great attraction for families. I thought that the children’s garden, dinosaurs, human sundial, and gnome homes would be great entertainment for families with young kids.

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.

But it’s also a must for anyone interested in discovering classic, quirky old Florida. The park costs nothing to enter, is easy to find, and is guaranteed to be unique.

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