Gibtown has started to take off with
the addition last year of a Super
Wal-Mart.
However 30 years ago there were 5
Restaurants, a twin screen movie
theatre, a big hardware store, two
lumberyards, 2 supermarkets, a
drugstore, a dry cleaner, 2 laundry
mats, 3 marinas, a florist and gift
shop. etc.
Now there are 2 Restaurants, one
launder mat, and NONE of the other
things mentioned.
Still the same number of bars and
used car dealers. This I believe is
the only town in the state of
Florida that shrunk over the years,
while others nearby have had a
tremendous growth. We have had an
increase of population,
schoolchildren (no additional school
houses) a much higher crime rate,
and a tremendous amount more of
highway traffic going through. There
also used to be a tent factory three
ride manufacturing plants and four
trailer builders. Now: one ride
factory that doesn't seem to be
putting out much new product. At
it's height there were between 75
and 100 professional human oddities
residing here, today the only active
one is Poobah (He is running for
mayor of Gibsonton) and there are a
couple that are no longer in the
business. Gibsonton will never again
see it's prominence as "Carnival
Capital of the Nation".
The IISA trade show has declined
both in attendance and vendors over
the past few years. A reflection of
an ailing carnival - circus
industry, which in turn is a
reflection of the declining economy
of discretionary general public
spending available.
The new things announced to be built
are all projected for the traffic
exchange at I-75. I've not heard of
any new businesses in the town
itself.
I've made Gibtown my home since
1967. As we stated in one TV story
when asked "If you had to stay in
one place the rest of your life,
where would you want it to be??
We simultaneously replied
"We're there
now!"
Cordially, Ward Hall
