Who was 11-feet long, with 1 eye, 3 legs, and an appetite for popcorn and marshmallows in Lakeland? If you said Blinky the alligator, you’re correct. Blinky was Lakeland’s unofficial mascot during the ’70s.
Blinky, or as some locals liked to call him, “One-eyed Joe,” used to freely roam downtown Lakeland as a beloved communal pet. While you might be hard-pressed to find such a friendly alligator these days, the 70s in Lakeland were, well, a different time.
With frequent pats on the head and treats delivered right to him, Blinky was considered a relatively harmless member of the greater Lakeland family. He was, after all, as much of Lakeland’s mascot at that time as our ever-beloved swans are today. Children frequently visited him at his Lake Mirror home to feed him table scraps, but his favorites were reported to be marshmallows and popcorn.
Like all good things, Blinky’s downtown residence and closeness with Lakeland’s children did come to an end.
Blinky’s demise comes from one local’s daring decision to give Blinky a kiss right on his toothy snout. While the kisser came out unharmed a photo of the moment but it garnered attention from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, who ultimately called for Blinky’s removal.
In 1979, Blinky was moved to his new home in Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.
For a time, a metal structure commemorated Blinky beside Lake Mirror. Although that sculpture has since been removed, a newer and much larger tribute to our dearly departed mascot is coming to Lakeland next year.
Florida Children’s Museum, the new and highly anticipated expansion of Explorations V Children’s Museum, will feature a 100-ft. long Blinky jungle gym on the grounds of its Bonnet Springs Park location.
While an exact unveiling date for the structure has yet to be disclosed, children and Blinky fans alike can expect to visit the museum sometime in May 2022.