Post #109067 by Kono on Wed, Aug 18, 2004 7:58 PM

Not too long ago I spotted this item on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3922002293&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

As you can see, it's a postcard for a restaurant in Winter Haven Florida called "The Volcano." Since this link will eventually die, here's the text and photo:

"Here's a vintage original chrome post card from the long-gone Polynesian paradise THE VOLCANO which was located in Winter Haven, FL. "A million dollar Polynesian showplace with restaurant and lounge in downtown Winter Haven, Fla. on Highway 17, only 4 miles from Cypress Gardens." This place was similar to Trader Vic's and Don the Beachcomber. Postally unused card is in good condition (slight dulling from age). Winning bidder pays $1.00 first class postage. NO RESERVE!"

Winter Haven is close to Orlando and so a while back I decided to drive over and do a little investigating and hopefully find some items from this restaurant in the local antique stores and thrift stores and even more hopefully, find the original building.

Winter Haven is somewhat out in the sticks, halfway between Tampa and Orlando, several miles off of I-4. As sleepy as the town is now, Winter Haven was really out in the middle of nowhere back in the 1960s, prior to Disney World and prior to I-4 being built. The only thing of consequence to tourists that was even remotely close was Cypress Gardens. The Volcano had to have been geared to the tourists visiting Cypress Gardens. A small rural town 40+ miles from Tampa is an odd place to build a "million dollar Polynesian showplace."

So...I hit all the antique stores and though most people had never heard of The Volcano, I was lucky to get some tidbits of info from a few shop owners and fellow shoppers. I was told that it was a beautiful large building surrounded by a moat (which you can see in the pic) and that "flames shot into the air from the water." It was said to have been a very upscale kind of place with wonderful food (no mention of the drinks) and that it had exotic decor including a large waterfall inside that was behind glass. It was associated with the motel that was next to it. The Volcano was owned by an Italian family who's family name began with an "F." In the early 70s it was converted into a nightclub and eventually at some point during the 1970s the building was completely torn down. There was some confusion as to what stands there now, one lady told me that a McDonalds is there. Since the building is gone I didn't bother to go and look.

In the postcard pic you can see palm trees (no great shakes for Florida) and polynesian style decor including a large marquesan style tiki, a fire spewing volcano, the fire that shoots from the water and another tiki out front.

As far as mugs and such, the only info that I got was that there used to be "mugs" and "Tom Collins glasses" marked The Volcano that were floating around. The antique store owner said that he hasn't seen any, however, in many, many years. I scoured the thrifts and the only thing I found was a nice copy of Claudine Longet's debut album. :) People who remembered The Volcano seemed pleased to be reminded of the long forgotten place and were very curious as to why someone from Orlando was interested in a restaurant that disappeared over 30 years ago.

It's not much, but that's all that I could dig up so far. Anyone out in TC land have any info or items from The Volcano that you can share? Maybe someone has picked up one of those mugs or glasses through years of thrifting? ANY info would be appreciated. To me, The Volcano is an especially interesting footnote in PolyPop history because 1) it was located near where I now live, 2) it was located in a very strange location for an upscale tiki lounge/restaurant (alligator and armadillo country) and 3) it just vanished with little evidence that it ever existed.

Winter Haven was hit hard by the hurricane and so I won't be going back for a while. I don't even know if the area has electricity back yet. I will go back every now and then and try and jog people's memories, maybe hit the local library.

Something that struck me as very odd: the Salvation Army in Winter Haven had 3(!) copies of Sylvain Sylvain's debut album. Sure, you see that album pop up now and then but three in one thrift in a small rural town? Like maybe Winter Haven had a large contingent of NY Dolls fans? Not relevant but just kinda weird.

[ Edited by: Kono on 2004-08-18 20:02 ]