Moroccan Village, Busch Gardens, Tampa 1978

This authentic 1970s color photograph, captured in 1978, documents the immersive atmosphere of the Moroccan Village at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida. The archival image centers on the Moroccan Arcade, featuring a series of open-air market stalls sheltered by striped awnings. These shops, including one identified by a hanging sign as “Sidi Bacem Moroccan Curios,” display a variety of themed merchandise such as hanging woven textiles, brassware, and embroidered white tunics. A black roadside sign with orange lettering points guests toward the “Moroccan Arcade,” while several visitors in period-correct late-seventies attire stroll through the sun-drenched plaza. The area is heavily landscaped with towering date palms, enhancing the North African aesthetic. Originally opened in the mid-1970s as part of the park’s transition from a brewery garden to a world-class adventure destination, the Moroccan Village served as the primary entrance hub for guests. Today, while the park has seen massive modern expansions, the Moroccan Village remains a standing and central part of the park’s layout, though many specific shop names and facades have been updated over the decades. This factual record preserves the detailed “street-mosphere” that helped define the themed entertainment experience of the era. 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.