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- Gibsonton, Florida - Dwarf Counter Post Office
Gibtown as the locals call it is a wintering town for various circus/carnival folks. The post office has a special counter sized especially for dwarves.
[Chester Harris, 01/23/2009]Boot Monument For Civic Circus Giant:- Address:
- 9815 US-41 S, Gibsonton, FL
- Directions:
- On the southbound (west) side of US-41 about a quarter-mile south of the bridge over the Alafia River. I-75 exit 250, drive west on Gibsonton Drive for 2.5 miles, then turn right onto US-41 and drive north for one-half-mile.
- Gibsonton, Florida - Giant's Camp Restaurant
This world-famous restaurant [in a circus freak-wintering town] has finally had to close its doors. It is a sad day for Tampa Bay.
[Scott Kjeer, 07/23/2007] The Giant's Boot ain't lookin' so hot nowadays. It's peeling apart and feels really strange and waxy. The monument company seems to be shut down, the sign is leaning against a small house, and we didn't see any work area. There's a headstone against the fence that says "Rocks Monuments." The Giant's Camp is still there and open -- there were people hanging out on the back porch until it started to rain. We had to ask them about the boot -- it's right out in front, but we drove right past it. It kind of blends into the trailer behind it, I guess. Like I said, it's about to fall apart. My husband said, "Why don't they just put out the other boot?"
[Mj Shenk, 03/15/2004]October 2006 -- Giant's Camp cafe reported by several tipsters as closed.
"Human Blockhead," Gibsonton's last legendary freak, dies
Melvin Burkhart, a circus performer and magician who could hammer nails into his nostrils, died of a stroke on November 8th. Burkhart, 94, was the last of the group that had chosen Gibsonton, FL (AKA "Gibtown") as their circus freak wintering town. Many of them retired there, and have been dying off in recent years -- Jeanie the Half Girl went in 1999, joining Al the Giant, Lobster Boy, and others.
Burkhart had settled into a satisfying life with family and children, clebrating 52 years of marriage this year, but he never abandoned the sideshow tent. Known as "Rubber Face" for his amusing and expressive contortions, his most famous routine was to shove an icepick or 5-inch nail into his skull by way of his nose. As a young man, injuries from prizefighting, along with surgery to remove bone fragments from his head, left a tiny cavity that made the feat possible.
[11/18/2001]Famous Sideshow Performer dies in freak wintering town
Jeanie "The Half Girl" Tomaini, 82, died in early August. She was a long time resident of Gibsonton, Florida's Giant's Camp and "Showtown USA." Jeanie and her late husband, Al "The Giant" Tomaini, built this popular winter home for circus and sideshow performers...
[08/29/1999]
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The old post office with the dwarf counter is gone. The new post office also has a special low counter, but it's designed for people in wheelchairs, not dwarves.