Busch Gardens Monorail and Parking Lot, Tampa 1967

This authentic 1960s color photograph, captured in 1967, documents the innovative suspended monorail system at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida. The archival image features a train of red and white passenger cars navigating a curved section of the elevated steel track, which was a signature attraction of the park’s early “Serengeti Express” themed transport. In the foreground, the parking lot provides a detailed look at period-correct automotive history, showcasing vehicles such as a 1964 Chevrolet Impala station wagon in maroon and a yellow 1965 Chrysler New Yorker. The clear blue sky and towering palm trees in the distance emphasize the tropical setting of the park. Originally opened in 1959 as a brewery tour and bird garden, Busch Gardens expanded significantly in the mid-sixties with the addition of the monorail in 1966 to provide views of the free-roaming African animals. While the park is still standing and has evolved into a world-class theme park, the original suspended monorail system was decommissioned and removed in the late 1990s. This factual record preserves the sleek, space-age transit technology and the commercial landscape of Florida tourism during the late sixties. All our images are available as royalty-free instant downloads for use in books, media, and creative projects – or make your own prints for home, work, or as a truly unique gift.