Meet Gatorland’s Social Distancing Skunk Ape

May 19, 2020 — Gatorland has been shut down for several weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic but as they get ready to reopen, they have found a new way to enforce social distancing.

Introducing: Social Distancing Skunk Ape.

Once the attraction reopens, if he sees you not social distancing, he will come show you how to do it.

His outstretched arms span 6 feet-and he is  “insistent that you stay distant.”   We’re told he is a cousin of Bigfoot.

He is also a big fan of hand washing, and as a part of the new safety procedures that will be in place at Gatorland, there are 50 new hand washing and sanitizing stations around the park.

They are implementing many other new safety procedures, and have prepared a 32 page policies and procedures manual that outlines every single step that staff will take from before the park opens, until the last employee leaves at night.

The Gator Jumparoo show and the children’s playground area will be closed for now, but everything else will be open.

However,  you will notice limited seating at the shows, and on the train and swamp buggy rides.

There will also be cleaning teams constantly cleaning high touch surfaces.

Representatives from Gatorland, Fun Spot, and ICON Park met with the Bring Tourism Back working group yesterday to explain the detailed safety measures they plan on implementing.

Gatorland’s President and CEO, Mark McHugh, tells News 96.5 WDBO that the plans were well received by the group.

There are more meetings over the next couple of days to discuss the possibility of reopening.

They hope to get the green light to open from Mayor Jerry Demings Thursday and be able to open on Saturday.