Beyond Florida’s traditional tourist destinations, this state has hidden treasures worth exploring. The Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop is one of them. This is a place that began as a drive-in cinema 58 years ago and today is frequented by its many attractions.

In addition to the film screening, there is also a flea market, mechanical attractions, video games, a peasant market and the most exclusive collection of race cars. All this in a property that today extends over 35 hectares.

Its particularity is in the unique selection of sellers. Which attracts collectors, bargain hunters and curious buyers. In the different shopping areas, you will find everything from fresh products such as flowers, to used items and antiques.

This is, without a doubt, one of the most popular entertainment spots in South Florida. And if you’re still not convinced of this, here are five reasons why you should visit the Swap Shop.

5 reasons to visit the Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop

1. Your location

The Swap Shop is within walking distance of places frequented by tourists and locals, so it can be an interesting addition to any tour. For example, it is located 30 minutes from Miami and less than three hours from the city of Orlando. And it’s also just 15 minutes from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, one of the busiest in the state.

Its proximity to the coastline of Fort Lauderdale gives you access to paradisiacal beaches in the area. Deerfield Beach is ideal for those who enjoy a kayak ride or prefer to surf the ocean waves. On the contrary, those who opt for tranquility on the beach, Hillsboro Beach is the perfect place. And for those looking for good waters for fishing, Pompano Beach is the best alternative.

2. The drive-in cinema

Here began the history of this shopping and entertainment complex. Preston Henn and his wife Betty opened the doors of a single-screen drive-in theater in 1963 (Broward Palm Beach New Times, 2020). The Manchurian Candidate, starring Frank Sinatra, was the first of many presented at the Thunderbird Drive-in, as it is popularly known (Cinema Treasure, n.d.).

Such was its success that, in addition to having other attractions, the drive-in cinema of the Swap Shop today has 14 screens. Becoming one of the largest in the world. If when traveling to Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami or another nearby city you do not visit this place, you miss out on a classic family plan.

3. The flea market

After a trip to California, Henn, the founder of the Swap Shop, decided to replicate the famous West Coast flea markets. Now, the large space used by the drive-in cinema in the evenings had a new function during the day.

So when the projectors are not presenting movies, the huge batch is filled with more than two thousand sellers. After browsing this market, you will find traditional objects, but also vintage products, real antiques and works of art. There is no room here for designer brands or counterfeit merchandise.

4. The Car Collection

Being an entertainment center, it is curious that its interior houses a museum of luxury cars. This is due to Henn’s passion for race cars, as in addition to collecting them, he competed professionally. With his team and his cars he managed to win twice the 24 hours of Daytona (Swap Shop, n.d.).

The museum, which is open to all visitors to the Swap Shop, concentrates the fastest machinery in the world. Ferraris make up a large part of this collection. But the exhibition also includes exclusive models from Porsche, Maserati and Mercedes-Benz, prototypes that dominated the tracks in the 80s.

5. The farmers’ market

This is one of the most amazing farmers markets in Broward County. Here you will find everything from locally sourced products to the most exotic items that you can’t find in a traditional supermarket. Latin American and Caribbean foods predominate, such as the popular mangoes and avocados from Haiti and the Bahamas. Everything is fresh and most of the products arrive daily from Miami, the most important port in the region.

If your purpose of travel to Florida is for business, tourism or to look for houses in Orlando or Miami, do not forget to visit the Swap Shop. It’s a hidden gem within walking distance of these cities that you won’t regret exploring.

References

Cinema Treasure. (n.d.) Swap Shop Drive-In. Retrieved from https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/10592

Flood, W. (2020, March 6) Multi-Million-Dollar Cars Hidden Jewels of Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop. Broward Palm Beach New Times. Retrieved from https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/exotic-car-collection-the-hidden-gem-of-fort-lauderdale-swap-shop-10599988

Swap Shop. (n.d.) A trip down Memory Lane. Retrieved from https://www.floridaswapshop.com/about-us

Visit Florida. (n.d.) Things to Do Along the Beaches of Greater Fort Lauderdale. Retrieved from https://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/cities/fort-lauderdale/greater-fort-lauderdale-getaway.html