On The Road Again: Whimzeyland

Whimzeyland

Safety Harbor, Fla.

Welcome to the eponymously “whimzical” place that likely houses more ocular blowout per square foot than anyplace else on the planet.

Whimzeyland began in 1985 as the fanciful brainchild of free spirits Todd Ramquist and Kiaralinda, artists and lifelong friends, when they purchased a pedestrian beige house near Tampa and launched their decades-long makeover.

The self-dubbed “Whimzey Twins” painted the house with an eye-popping palette of pastels, with each window frame a different color and patches of artwork, hanging ornaments and sculptures adorning the structure from ground to roof peak. Then they installed a playful array of totems, wire sculptures and flowers (both real and artificial) in the immediate curtilage around the house.

They eventually expanded their personalized accretion of kaleidoscopic artwork to pathways, gazebos, outbuildings and other nooks and crannies throughout their tree-lined parcel, such that a guided tour of the place now takes 90 minutes.

The whimsy is expressed through the media of plexiglass, bottles, recycled materials, gardens, paintings—and bowling balls.

Shortly after purchasing the home, Ramquist and Kiaralinda happened upon a cache of old bowling balls during one of their frequent flea market excursions. The price was right—free—so they hefted 10 balls home and commenced to decorate them and place them around the property. Soon they enlisted other artists to contribute their personalized works of bowling ball art and soon their collection grew, such that the collection merited its own shelter for display. The bowling ball art is now one of the central attractions of Whimzeyland.

Dismiss the enterprise as kitsch on steroids or admire it as a one-of-akind wondrous manifestation of the felicitous souls of two flower children, many of the visitors to Whimzeyland have found joy marinating in the

Whimzeyland owners Todd Ramquist and Karalinda even take their portrait selfies with out-of-the-ordinary flair. (All photos courtesy of Whimzeyland.) carefree milieu of color and serenity far detached from the brutal grind of everyday life. Ramquist and Kiaralinda parlayed the local and regional interest in their enchanting endeavor into the formation of the Safety Harbor Art and Music Center. They created and donated Whimzee the manatee to the city of Safety Harbor for display in city hall. They also sponsor participation in several art competitions, where participants have painted Honda Accords and hearses and have created a Y2K bug, a digital-inspired art car made from CDs, chipboards and keyboard pieces. Guests who would like to stay overnight are welcome to book accommodations at the two-bedroom, one-bath “Casa Loco,” described on Whimzeyland’s website, kiaralinda.com, as “our one-of-a-kind Mexicanthemed guesthouse.” As would be expected, the decor exudes vibrancy. Kiaralinda’s description: “The bathroom has a beautiful handmade Mexican sink and a mosaic tub/shower and is cheerfully painted and decorated with Mexican flair. The kitchen has modern appliances and a breakfast bar that seats two and adjoins the dining room/living room open concept area. The dining room seats six and features an Aztec carved-leather dining room table. The small front living space has two love seats and panoramic windows letting in the Florida sunshine with views of the gardens. There is a front patio for outdoor seating with a mosaic fountain to gaze upon.” Judging from the online reviews of visitors, Whimzeyland satisfies both curiosity and soul. The trifecta of most often used descriptions of visitors’ experiences are “magical,” “beautiful” and “amazing.” Lisa Renzo effortlessly worked in all three adjectives in her July 4, 2021, Facebook post: “Beautiful, magical, the art is amazing. Everywhere you look something new to see. I’m in love with this place. This is a soul filling experience.” “It’s like being in an amazing dream,” wrote Angela Amarante. “So colorful and peaceful.” Patty Olson Anderson commented, “An explosion of creativity. Such an inspirational happy place.” Jeff R. Kelledes chimed in with, “Saturate yer senses at a fascintatin’ outdoor art space, be intrigued. Renew, reuse, recycle at its finest.” Daytime visitors are free to wander the grounds of Whimzeyland According to the website, visitors are “free to wander grounds” during with no admission fee. Guided tours, which take 90 minutes, are the daytime, but are urged to verify operating hours for guided tours or reserved with a phone call. to purchase artwork. COLLAGE LEFT: As one Facebook reviewer put it: “At every corner was a lovely item.” For more information, call (727) 725-4018 or visit www.kiaralinda.com.