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All the United States Florida Tampa Ulele Fairyland Figures

Ulele Fairyland Figures

These former theme park figures have a new lease on life outside a water plant-turned-restaurant.

Tampa, Florida

Added By
Jeff Houck
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Humpty Dumpty sits on the wall above the patio at Ulele.   sidesalad / Atlas Obscura User
The Fairy Godmother in the Fairyland display at Ulele.   sidesalad / Atlas Obscura User
Cinderella, pre-glass slipper, in the Fairyland character display at Ulele.   sidesalad / Atlas Obscura User
Fairyland Figures at Ulele restaurant in Tampa.   sidesalad / Atlas Obscura User
  metasia8 / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  metasia8 / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Fairyland Figures at Ulele restaurant in Tampa   sidesalad / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Once upon a time (in the 1950s and ‘60s), there was a Fairyland exhibit at the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa beloved by generations of children. The exhibit featured dozens of fairytale characters children could enjoy visiting. Then one day, the zoo expanded and decided to send the characters to a storage lot because there wasn't enough room.

After the fiberglass figures spent decades rotting away in storage, the city decided to auction them for sale. Restaurateur Richard Gonzmart bought the fairytale characters, restored them, and had them put out for display at his restaurant Ulele, which is located within a historic, centuries-old former water plant.

Now, Humpty Dumpty, Jack and the Beanstalk; the Three Little Pigs and their house of sticks; Cinderella and the fairy godmother, mice, and pumpkins; and Hickory Dickory Dock have all found a new home. They live within a small play area outside the restaurant.

Generations who grew up with the Fairyland figures began bringing their children and grandchildren to Ulele to see them and share their stories of visiting the old exhibit. For many longtime Tampa locals, the characters are a nostalgic blast from the past.

Related Tags

Restaurants Fairytales

Know Before You Go

The figures are free to view around the exterior of the restaurant. They're near the front entrance, adjacent to a ramp access, next to Ulele Spring on the lawn next to patio furniture and perched high on one wall overlooking the Hillsborough River.

Ulele asks only that people "touch only with their eyes" since the historic restored fairytale characters can break with too much physical contact.

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Added By

sidesalad

Edited By

Collector of Experiences, metasia8

  • Collector of Experiences
  • metasia8

Published

June 8, 2018

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Sources
  • http://www.ulele.com/artwork/
  • http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/gonzmart-spends-nearly-30000-in-bidding-war-for-fairyland-figures-hopes-to/2309619
  • http://www.83degreesmedia.com/features/Tampa-artist-revives-fairyland-figures-0517.aspx
Ulele Fairyland Figures
1810 N Highland Ave
Tampa, Florida
United States
27.959882, -82.462871
Visit Website
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