No two Tampa Bay neighborhoods are alike. They’re all unique, and honestly, they all deserve a mascot—something that truly represents the area.
So, we decided to put together a few of Tampa Bay’s “unofficial mascots” that represent each neighborhood like no other. Some are well-known institutions, some are people, and some are just inside jokes. Either way, what did we miss?
Tampa Heights: A newly built thumb drive-lookin’ house
Sure, there’s plenty of historic homes and character in Tampa Heights, but the developers demand more homes that look like desktop CPUs. Credit: Photo by Ray RoaSeminole Heights: I-275’s Insatiable Girth
Experts say that in the near future, Seminole Heights will just be completely absorbed by this ever-fattening stretch of interstate. Credit: Photo via MyFDOTTampa/FacebookMacfarlane Park: 2001 Odyssey’s UFO
This could probably just be the mascot for all of Tampa Bay, if you really think about it. Credit: Photo via 2001 OdysseyShore Acres when there’s a light drizzle
I, for one, prefer to canoe to work every day. Credit: Photo via ShutterstockWesley Chapel: A Traffic Jam
You don’t actually live in Wesley Chapel, you live in your car. Credit: Photo via Shutterstock
Davis Islands: A $15,000 golf cart
You’re gonna need that bad boy it to drive to Margaritas and back.Ybor City: The Senator
Ybor City has quite a few things that could be the unofficial mascot, but none of them match Mike Ricardi, better known as “The Senator.” “These people just want to have a good time,” he once said to CL, “They just don’t know how.” Heroes live forever, but legends never die. Credit: Photo by Alex Pickett
Temple Terrace: Dewey’s Liquors
Forget the historic golf course, or the Hillsborough River, Temple Terrace is home to Dewey’s, the only place around with “Stupit Prices” and no inflation. Credit: Photo by Colin WolfThe Edge District: The Butthole Sculpture
Circling a roundabout has never been more erotic. Credit: Photo visit St. Pete ClearwaterBig Cat Rescue
For 30 years, Citrus Park’s infamous Big Cat Rescue was home to an array of tigers and also controversy. The animal sanctuary was the subject of the 2021 Netflix documentary Tiger King, and also made headlines when co-founder Don Lewis mysteriously disappeared in 1997. In March of 2023, owner Carole Baskin announced that the park would close, and the remaining cats would be relocated to a sanctuary in Arkansas. Credit: Photo via Big Cat Rescue/FacebookDowntown Tampa: A submerged e-scooter
Can we also put one on the Tampa flag? Credit: Photo via ShutterstockLutz: The Edward Scissorhands House
Nothing encapsulated suburban America more than Tim Burton’s 1990 goth classic “Edward Scissorhands,” and the house from the film is in Lutz, which only makes sense. Credit: Photo by Dylan Todd PhotographySouth Tampa: The Fake Tree Cellphone Tower
Nature is cool, but nature with 5G coverage is even cooler. Credit: Photo by Eric SniderDowntown St. Petersburg: The Bends Bathroom
Some might say the Pier, but downtown St. Pete’s favorite dive bar, The Bends, is arguably the true mascot of this area, and the bathroom selfies are proof. Plus, they even have their own unofficial Instagram account. Credit: Screngrab via bendsbathroom/InstagramMidtown: The Boob Guy Billboard
Nothing scream Midtown Tampa like a plastic surgeon quoting himself on a billboard showing a giant rack. Credit: Photo by Colin WolfUSF: A singular Adderall
“If you need me I’ll be at the library rewriting an entire textbook from a class I skipped all semester.” Credit: Photo via ShutterstockBrandon: The Bass Pro Shop
Arguably the heart and soul of Brandon, no other cultural institution demands more respect from its residents than this big-ass Bass Pro Shop. Credit: Photo via Bass Pro ShopClearwater: The Original Hooters
America’s favorite breastaraunt was launched in Clearwater back in 1980, and you can still make the pilgrimage to this holy site. Credit: Photo via Hooters
Hyde Park: Some guys wearing Vineyard Vines
“Sullivan, you chode! I owe you a shot to the nuts!”Credit: Photo via Vineyard VinesWest Tampa: A bar stool at La Teresita
Just about everyone (including Anthony Bourdain) eventually ends up on a La Teresita bar stool. Credit: Photo via La Teresita
