Airports & Bowling Alleys—The Surprising Story of Cady Way Pool
See the surprising story of Cady Way below…
Our big event to fund the Cady Way Revitalization Project is this Sunday, February 23 at Primrose Lanes sports bar. The silent auction is now open, so check it out. While the auction is accompanying our fundraising event at Primrose Lanes, you DO NOT have to be present at the event to bid and win an auction item.
We chose Primrose Lanes Sports Bar as the fundraising venue for a very specific reason—not only is it a fabulous place but it has a direct tie-in to Cady Way Pool. Get ready for a doozy of a story to see how they are intertwined!
Now on the the story!
✅ Part I: Cady Way was Originally an Airport
In 1945, World War II veterans Howard and Sandy Showalter, along with their partner Ford "Buck" Rogers, established Showalter Airpark right on the land where Cady Way Pool currently sits.
Recognizing the growing interest in flying and the need for accessible flight training, the trio transformed 100 acres of scrub pine land into the first private airport in the area, Showalter Airpark. The airpark featured grass runways, hangars, and support facilities, quickly becoming a central hub for pilots, aviation enthusiasts, and aspiring airmen.
Click a picture below to learn more about the Airpark:
Thank you to the Winter Park History Museum and Orlando Memory for the photos.
Several prominent Winter Park residents took flight lessons, including attorney Hope Strong as well as two of his sons. Even his wife took lessons!
Over time, the need for larger, paved runways led the Showalters to switch their focus to the Orlando Municipal Airport (now Orlando Executive Airport).
Though the Showalter Airpark ceased operations in the early 1950s, its legacy lived on, as the site would later be repurposed for the Winter Park Pines, Cady Way Pool, and eventually Showalter Field and the surrounding sports complex.
✅ Part II: Colonial Lanes
Similar to Showalter Airpark, Colonial Lanes was also opened by World War II veterans. Bob Berzin and Don Berg, both former Army Air Patrol fighter pilots, were the founders and operating partners behind 13 bowling alleys throughout the area, but Colonial Lanes was their flagship.
The grand opening of Colonial Lanes was a celebrated community event, attended by local dignitaries, including Orlando Mayor Robert S. Carr and Miss Florida of the time, Ms. Tauscher. For nearly six decades, Colonial Lanes remained a cornerstone of Orlando’s social and recreational scene, fostering a strong sense of community among generations of bowlers and families.
The lanes became a beloved landmark in Orlando’s Milk District, and even into his 80s, Berzin remained deeply involved in its operations, making daily visits to oversee the business. After his death, the property changed hands until the venue reopened in 2023 as Primrose Lanes Restaurant and Bowling Club.
✅ Part III: Colonial Lanes and Cady Way Coming Full Circle
Berg and Berzin are the key to this story coming back to Cady Way Pool. The duo went on to develop multiple business ventures, including Winter Park Pines, along with the land that was donated for the pool in the late 1950s!
✅ A Final Touching Note
We’re proud to swim in a place with such a storied history. There’s one more piece that is worth mentioning, and aligns with our mission of providing swim lessons that are accessible to everyone.
On October 9, 1965, Howard Showalter, then 52-year-old, tragically lost his life while heroically rescuing 11-year-old Anthony J. Woodruff from drowning at New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Anthony, who was not a strong swimmer, ventured beyond a submerged sandbar approximately 150 feet from shore and became fatigued in the deep riptide, began calling for help. Showalter, who had been a lifeguard in his youth, swam 85 feet to reach the struggling boy, who was flailing in 10-foot-deep water about 275 feet from shore. A lifeguard finally made it to the duo and helped get the boy safely to shore.
Showalter, however, had drifted farther seaward. Rescuers retrieved him with the aid of an inflated raft, but he could not be revived. In recognition of his selfless act, Showalter was posthumously honored by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.
✅ We’ve Got an 1950s Era Plane
As a nod to Showalter’s history and to honor Howard’s selfless act, a plane has been donated for our renovation project at Cady Way.
Thanks to the generosity of local developer Scott Fish, we have acquired a 1959 Piper Comanche from the Charlie Bradshaw estate. (Bradshaw was instrumental in the development of Lake Highland Prep.) We plan to put together and display this plane in the green space at Cady Way to inspire future generations to reach for the stars!
Special thank you to Coach Joe and Blue Dolfin and Florida Institute of Technology swimmer Connor Bryant for transporting the plane. Watch below:
✅ Silent Auction Now Open
As you most likely know, we are raising money to revitalize the Cady Way Pool and the surrounding area.
Our Blue Dolfins Foundation is making this happen for the City, providing 100% of the funding through a mixture of private and corporate funds from well-known community partners. However, more private dollars are needed.
👉 We currently have a silent auction with some fabulous items—you can bid and be a hero to our cause! While the auction is accompanying our fundraising event at Primrose Lanes, you DO NOT have to be present at the event to bid and win an auction item.
📌 Donations are 100% tax-deductible and can be made in almost any form: cash, checks, Venmo, or even stock gifts. Gift some stock before the end of the year and take advantage of the deduction while avoiding those gains!
👉 Contact Anne Gustin for more info about how to arrange this.
Thank you for your excitement about this project and for being a part of the Blue Dolfins family, 50+ Years Strong!