4 Fun Orlando Facts
Orlando is a wonderful city to take your family vacation, but there are a number of fun and interesting facts that you may not know. In today’s post, we’ll take a look at four fun facts about this wonderful home to some of the world’s best amusement parks.
At Orlando Heli-Tours, we offer a new and exciting way to view some of your favorite destination spots in Orlando — by helicopter! Whether you’ve flown many times before or this is your first time, you are sure to enjoy your time with Florida’s premier helicopter touring company. Contact our Top Rated Local® tourist attraction to learn about the different tour options we offer, and schedule your helicopter tour today.
1. Orlando is home to more than 100 lakes!
As Orlando is situated so close to the ocean, many people don’t realize that it also boasts a number of lakes, including Lake Eola, which is actually a giant sinkhole that is 80 feet at its deepest point! In fact, many of the lakes are the results of sinkholes. Rose Lake is among the lakes formed from sinkholes, and was mentioned in the HBO series “The Sopranos” as a good place to hide bodies.
2. Gatorland, the first theme park in Orlando, opened in 1949.
When Gatorland opened in 1949, the main attraction was a 15-foot alligator, which was said to be the biggest in the world. Founded by Owen Godwin on former cattle land, Gatorland has been privately owned by his family since then. While they definitely have plenty of alligators and crocodiles to see, they also boast a free-flight aviary, petting zoo, one-of-a-kind animal shows, and more! At Orlando Heli-Tours, we offer an aerial tour of Gatorland, which is sure to create some wonderful memories for your family!
3. The old city hall building was blown up in the opening scene of Lethal Weapon 3.
In 1991, the city of Orlando was able to offset the cost of demolition to the old City Hall building by selling film rights of the implosion to Warner Brothers for $50,000. During the opening scene of Lethal Weapon 3, LAPD officers Riggs and Murtaugh (Mel Gibson and Danny Glover) respond to a bomb threat inside International Control System, Inc. (Orlando City Hall). What many people don’t realize is how close the demolition was to the new City Hall building — four feet to be precise!
4. Orlando was the original hub of Florida’s citrus industry.
Prior to the numerous theme parks that now populate the city of Orlando, the land was actually covered in orange groves. Orlando was the hub of the citrus industry in Florida until a deep freeze in the late 1800s caused many citrus farmers to move their farms further south. Today, most citrus is grown in the lower two-thirds of the state where there is a lower probability of freezing temperatures.
We hope that you enjoyed reading these four fun facts about Orlando, and that your excitement to visit has been increased. As you plan your family vacation, remember to contact Orlando Heli-Tours to schedule the helicopter tours that are most interesting to you. We look forward to helping you create some exciting memories of your time in Orlando!