Marco Polo Park
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Marco Polo Park was a theme park located just off Interstate 95 between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach near St. Augustine in Flagler County, Florida. The park's theme was based on Marco Polo's legendary travels through Europe and the Far East. The brochure provided at the park's entrance described it as such, "Like Marco Polo himself, you will be wonderstruck at the authentic Oriental splendor of your personal voyage of discovery as you journey into the exotic four worlds of the Far East, Turkey, India, China, Japan and beautiful Venice, your port of embarkation." The park featured rides, puppet shows, multimedia shows, and other attractions. The park was located just to the west, and within sight of Interstate 95, just off Exit 323.
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[edit] History
The park opened in 1974 within view of Interstate 95 traffic in the hopes of drawing tourists on their way to Walt Disney World in Orlando. The park opened to much fanfare but was never profitable and closed in 1975 after two fires ravaged the property just 8 days apart. After repairs, it briefly re-opened again that year as Passport to Fun World, keeping the same world travel theme but eventually closed for good in 1976. The remaining equipment was finally sold off at auction on March 14, 1978. No structures from the former park remain. Marco Polo Park Boulevard, once the main entrance to the park, was renamed International Golf Parkway in the 1980s for World Golf Village, which is located where the park once stood.
[edit] Lands and rides
An overhead suspended gondola system linked various parts of the park together.
[edit] Venice
The ticket booths and entrance into the park was through an elaborate Venitian-style entrance arch.
Steam Engine Train Station - a steam train with two passenger cabs ran around the perimeter of the park.
Automobile Ride - replica Model T's on a guided track through the woods.
[edit] Turkey
Flying Chairs Ride
[edit] India
Log Flume Ride
Flying Elephant Ride
[edit] China
Spinning Tea Cup Ride
