EXPLORING A VALUES-BASED APPROACH TO THE MANAGEMENT OF HERITAGE: FLORIDA’S POSTWAR SPRINGS ATTRACTIONS By BRITTANY M. DEXTER A THESIS PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2013 1 © 2013 Brittany M. Dexter 2 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First, I would like to acknowledge my chair, Morris Hylton III, who showed much patience and kindness during this process. I would also like to thank Peter Prugh for agreeing to join my committee and for his insights on Florida spring attractions. I am also grateful for the help of Dr. Margaret Portillio whose encouragement and support was beneficial to my research process. Lorrie Muldowney was also helpful to my research as was Gabrielle McDonnell with the Florida Master Site File and John Athanason at Weeki Wachee State Park. Finally, would like to thank my parents, Gerald and Linda Dexter, for always believing in me and allowing me to follow my dreams. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................................. 3 LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... 6 ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... 7 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 10 2 ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS AND VALUE BASED PRESERVATION.................... 21 Florida Tourism ....................................................................................................... 21 The Shifting of the American Landscape and Roadside ......................................... 22 Florida as an Eden .................................................................................................. 26 Kitsch and the Souvenir .......................................................................................... 27 Tourism Boom ........................................................................................................ 28 Spring Sites ............................................................................................................ 32 Values ..................................................................................................................... 34 3 ASSESSING VALUES ............................................................................................ 40 Methodology ........................................................................................................... 40 Value Systems ........................................................................................................ 43 The Burra Charter ................................................................................................... 43 Values-Based Approach to Heritage Conservation ................................................. 46 Assessing Values ................................................................................................... 48 4 THREE FLORIDA SPRING ATTRACTIONS .......................................................... 52 Silver Springs .......................................................................................................... 52 History ..................................................................................................................... 53 1950 Silver Springs ................................................................................................. 55 Ownership and Management ........................................................................... 55 Programming .................................................................................................... 55 Marketing .......................................................................................................... 56 Cost, Access, and Amenities ............................................................................ 56 Silver Springs Values Today ................................................................................... 57 Ownership and Management ........................................................................... 57 Programming .................................................................................................... 58 Marketing .......................................................................................................... 58 Cost, Access, and Amenities ............................................................................ 59 Weeki Wachee ........................................................................................................ 59 History ..................................................................................................................... 60 4 1950 Weekiwachee ................................................................................................ 62 Ownership and Management ........................................................................... 62 Programming .................................................................................................... 63 Marketing .......................................................................................................... 63 Cost, Access, and Amenities ............................................................................ 64 Weeki Wachee Today ............................................................................................. 64 Ownership and Management ........................................................................... 65 Programming .................................................................................................... 65 Marketing .......................................................................................................... 65 Cost, Access, and Amenities ............................................................................ 66 Warm Mineral Springs ............................................................................................ 66 History ..................................................................................................................... 67 1950 Warm Mineral Springs ................................................................................... 68 Ownership and Management ........................................................................... 69 Programming .................................................................................................... 69 Marketing .......................................................................................................... 69 Cost, Access, and Amenities ............................................................................ 69 Warm Mineral Springs Today ................................................................................. 70 Ownership and Management ........................................................................... 70 Programming .................................................................................................... 71 Marketing .......................................................................................................... 71 Cost, Access, and Amenities ............................................................................ 71 Summary ................................................................................................................ 72 5 OUTCOMES ........................................................................................................... 86 Sociocultural Values ............................................................................................... 88 Economic Values .................................................................................................... 90 Summary ................................................................................................................ 91 6 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................ 93 Limitations ............................................................................................................... 95 Future Preservation ................................................................................................ 96 APPENDIX A MATRIX OF THREE SPRING ATTRACTIONS ...................................................... 98 B 1950 MAJOR ROADS MAP .................................................................................. 100 LIST OF REFERENCES ............................................................................................. 101 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH .......................................................................................... 105 5 LIST OF FIGURES Figure page 2-1 Dinosaur World in Plant City, Florida. .................................................................... 38 2-2 Entrance at Gatorland. ........................................................................................... 39 2-3 Orange World.. ....................................................................................................... 39 4-1 Welcome sign at Silver Springs.............................................................................. 78 4-2 Glass Bottom Boat in spring pool at Silver Springs. ............................................... 79 4-3 River Cruise boat at Silver Springs. ....................................................................... 79 4-4 Kids Ahoy Playland at Silver Springs. ...................................................................