For a short period of time, the water skiing world was not centered around the professionals at Cypress Gardens. That honor belonged to a small group of friends, cousins, and an attorney who crafted a show that would rival the decades-old tourist attraction. The attention and the imagination of spectators and tourists throughout Central Florida, as well as NASCAR greats and famous Hollywood actors and entertainers, were redirected away from Winter Haven and fixed upon the Halifax River in Port Orange, Florida. Author Kent Donahue, with input from show members and fans, faithfully relates the story of landmark local restaurant Gardner’s Seafoods and the ski show that brought it acclaim. Donahue is an active member of the Port Orange Historical Trust and regularly conducts lectures and radio interviews on Port Orange history.
