This South Florida city had a theme park and an oceanfront mall. Take a look
By Miami Herald Archives
A view of downtown Dania Beach in 1999.
Candace West
Miami Herald File
The city was known as Modello at first, for the Florida East Coast Railway’s Model Land Co. Later, it was renamed by a delegation of Danes from Wisconsin, led by A.C. Frost.
Formed in 1904, Dania was the first Broward city to be incorporated.
The city, now known as Dania Beach, is best known for its jai alai fronton, antique district, Canadian visitors, fishing pier and Jaxson’s ice cream parlor.
In decades part, Dania beach was home to Pirates World, a theme park and concert venue, and an oceanfront dining and shopping complex called SeaFair.
Here’s a look at Dania Beach through the years from the photo archives of the Miami Herald:
Pirates World
A ride at Pirates World in Dania.
Sonja Economu, an 18-year-old Broward College student from Plantation holds the title of “Miss Pirates World” and salutes the opening of the amusement park’s winter season in 1967. Miami Herald File
A visitor at Pirates World. Miami Herald File
A greeter at Pirates World. Miami Herald File
The remains of the Mousetrap roller coaster at Pirates World in 1975. The theme park closed in 1973. Miami Herald File
Along the ocean
The Dania Pier. Miami Herald File
Dania pier restaurant in 1962. Miami Herald File
In 1965, a car stranded on the Dania Beach sand. Joe Lippincott Miami Herald File
In 1990, SeaFair mall in Dania. Miami Herald File
Guests visit the SeaTech ocean engineering research center in Dania Beach in 1999. Marsha Halper Miami Herald File
Jai alai
Vergara at Dania Jai Alai. Miami Herald File
Seven champions at Dania Jai Alai: Left to right, Echaniz, Aldolfo, Javy, Frias, Alex, Egurbi and Echave. Miami Herald File
Downtown
A view of downtown Dania Beach in 1999. Candace West Miami Herald File
Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor serves up a kitchen sink sundae in 1998. Miami Herald File
Downtown Dania Beach along US. 1 in 1999. Candace West Miami Herald File
Traffic on U.S. 1 in Dania in 1959. Lewis McLain Miami Herald
Early years
First Baptist Church of Dania. Miami Herald File
First Methodist Church of Dania, with parsonage on left. Clyde Miami Herald File
Dania City Hall in 1957. Miami Herald File
Dania library in 1963. Miami Herald
Old post office in Dania.
The abandoned Florida East Coast Railway station in Dania collapsed from the force of Hurricane Cleo in 1964. According to police witnesses, a runaway box car, pushed along at tracks 30 miles an hour to Fort Lauderdale where it injured a man, plowed through the debris of the fallen station. They said the car tossed boards on all sides and never stopped. Workmen cleared the tracks of the landmark. Minerva Wagner Miami Herald File
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