Source: ezinearticles.com
Gibsonton was named in 1926 after James Gibson, a settler who, in the 1880s, bought 150 acres at the mouth of the Alafia River. The town was at various times called Garden City, Adamsville and "The Kitchen" for the bountiful supply of fish, oyster and other seafood provided by Tampa Bay. In the 1940s, the 8'4" giant Al Tomaini and his wife Jeanie the half-girl, a 2'6" woman born without legs, stopped in Gibsonton while touring with the circus. The Tomaini's found the land plentiful and affordable and so decided to stay, and other sideshow personalities quickly followed suit. Over the years, the community was home to innumerable dwarves and many famous performers, including Percilla the Monkey Girl, the Lobster Boy and the Human Blockhead, the last of the famous performers who died in 2001. Because the carnival zoning laws still exist so, too, do circus performers, who continue to winter and retire here despite the slow demise of circus-type entertainment with the birth of the electronic world.
Shopping and Dining
Most Gibtown folk drive to nearby Brandon, Riverview or Tampa for an expansive list of dining and shopping options, such as the Westfield mall in Brandon or Hyde Park Village and Westshore Plaza in Tampa. A new Applebee's and McDonald's opened down the road in Apollo Beach in 2007. Within town, try the Tropicana Bar, a Gibtown fixture on US 41 since 1961, you'll know you're arrived when you see the Tropicana's colorful mural with views of the tropics and local sports. Or, drop by Showtown USA, a sports bar on the corner of US 41 and Mott Road, this one you'll know by its colorful murals of carnival and circus life; the murals, when first painted, were too risqu? to be considered family fare and so were repainted quickly to portray the more acceptable, go today, murals you see today. River's Edge Lounge is another local favorite; on Ohio Avenue, this rustic riverfront bar and grill caters to bikers and boaters alike.
Leisure and Play
There's lots to do in and around Gibsonton! Being home to the International Independent Showmen's Association, Gibsonton is host to the week long "super trade show extravaganza" for the circus, amusement and carnival industry. It is also home to East Bay Speedway on Burts Road, a 1/3 mile oval dirt track where many races and events take place throughout the year. For more quiet enjoyment, head over to Williams Park on Riverview Drive. With picnic areas and public boat ramps, Williams Park is considered one of the top freshwater fishing locales in the Tampa Bay area. Or try the Gardenville Recreation Center and Park on Symmes Road, with its new $1.6 million facility, after school programs, and outdoor sports galore.
Gibsonton is also home to Bird and Sunken Isles, two manmade islands that, when formed in the 1920s by dredging at the mouth of the Alafia River, became an important nesting site for gulls, terns and skimmers. Today the islands are known as the Richard Paul Sanctuary; they are owned by the local phosphate company and leased to the Audubon Society for $1 a year. Up to 18,000 pairs of up to 20 species of birds nest there, making the Paul Sanctuary one of the largest colonies in Florida and one of the most diverse in the continental United States. The Sanctuary is, at this writing, only available to local schools although there is talk of opening the area for public enjoyment as well.
Even though you might not be able to visit the Sanctuary, you can certainly visit 80-acre Alafia Scrub Preserve, just east of I-75 on Gibsonton Drive. The preserve, one of many in the area, offers a hiking trail and nature study opportunities.
Jana Hristova is the author of Where to Live in Tampa Bay Guide Her website Tampa New Homes has a complete Tampa Bay relocation guide.
