February 27, 2021 - Alligator Farm,
St. Augustine, Florida

We lived in Jacksonville back from 1992-1994.  The kids were little then.  We rented a house that had a pool.  It was a good time.  One of the places we went to was the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine, Florida.  I liked it.  Lots of alligators plus a huge salt water crodadile named Gomek.

So on this trip we decided to stop by and check out the Alligator Farm, this time with the grandkids.

The Alligator Farm is still there and seems to be doing as well as it did back in the day.

Here we are at the outer entrance.  That huge crocodile in the background is from the 2003 movie Peter Pan [I have never seen it].
   
Now we're inside the park, checking out all the little baby gators.
   
Lucy and the boys are all over a fake alligator.
   
Two real albino alligators.
   
Now that's a big one!
   
The main area of the farm with lots of big gators.  I don't remember them being this big.  Gators live a long time; maybe they grew up in the last 27 years?
   
The Miner Family at the Alligator Farm.
   
The boys were fascinated by the gators, of course.
   
 
   
The gators love to lay out in the sun.
   
 
   
In addition to the gators, there were also a bunch of reptiles and birds.  Here are a couple of rattlesnakes.
   
Some smaller guys hanging out by the water.
   
A huge turtle on the move.
   
 
   
Uh-oh, one of the gators got Teddy.
   
Checking out a big Komodo Dragon.
   
The big salt water crocodile I remembered from 27 years ago -- Gomek -- died in 1997 at the age of 70 but they have acquired another large salt water croc since:  Maximo!  Here he is.
   
When the farm acquired Maximo, they also acquired his significant other: Sydney.  Here she is.
   
Gomek!  Yes, they have built a nice indoor display honoring the great Gomek, and here he is.  Apparently Gomek was amazing tolerant of people and was considered a tame croc.  I guess when you are as big as Gomek was, you aren't worried about anything.
   
Yep, Gomek was one big Croc.  He was 17 feet, 9 inches long and weighed 1,896 pounds.  I was pleased that the Alligator Farm has done such a good job of remembering him.
   
 
   
Check out all the white birds in the trees.
   
 
   
That big turtle is a real ham.
   
A NewWorld Parrot, also called a Macaw.
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   

The boys attack a spider web climbing rig.

We enjoyed the Alligator Farm.  Recommended.
   
 
   
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