The Rainforest Art Garden and Dinosaur Jungle theme park where prehistoric animals roamed way back in 1967
was on the west side of 301 just north of Sumterville. You’ve no doubt ridden
past it especially if you have made the loop around Lake Panasoffkee. As you go
north on 301 just north of Hwy 470 you will see Shady Brook Golf and RV Resort which is where it was located.
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| The entrance to the Rainforest. I think this road and parking lot are all that remains. |
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| A pity we can no longer have a club ride there for a Barrel of Chicken |
One of the trails like this had an animated dinosaur that ran along a rail.
It had moving limbs and made sounds like dinosaurs did! I was told the remains of
this machine can still be seen but while I walked some of the trails I was unable to find anything.
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| In color no less! |
The land is now occupied by Shady Brook Golf and RV Resort. The golf course
has a nice club house and it costs $20 to play 18 holes in the summer. They have a wall of photographs from the Rainforest days and you are welcome to pop in to see them if you are riding by.
