Abandoned & Forgotten Roadside Attractions on Highway 192 | Kissimmee, FL
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- Опубліковано 31 лип 2024
- #abandoned #RoadsideAttractions #Orlando #Kissimmee #Highway192 #WorldofMicah #SplendidChina #ShellWorld #Watermania
Abandoned & Forgotten Roadside Attractions on Highway 192 | Kissimmee, FL
I used to drive by all of that mid and late 90’s heading to WDW. Giant gator, Xanadu, Haunted Mansion, Arabian Nights, American Gladiators, Water Mania. Shell World is now a shell of its former self. Good memories! You should do a video of Old Town sometime. 😉😂 Happy Birthday!
I love the 192 content. I remember my family always stayed beside Old Town on vacation and loved the unique businesses along 192. Disney and Universal closed earlier back in the late 90’s/2000’s and this stretch of road was the place to be at night. So sad to see these places close down but I’m glad Old Town seems to withstand the test of time!
Old Town is still thriving thanks in part to the Fun Spot amusement park that's there. They got a really great roller coaster called Mine Blower. Plus Old Town has classic car shows often that are super popular.
My family as well my mom loved old town and Kissimmee I miss those days
"They probably don't know that this was Shell World, nor do they probably care". That was awesome!
Interesting stuff.... Don't remember anything of these attractions when I was younger.... I remember the wizards and different unique gifts shops outside art when I was a kid going to WDW.... Remember all of the videos you did in the past.... They are all great.... History is fun and interesting.... A look back is good, but change can be for the better too ( depends on the circumstances...) .... Thanks for sharing... take care.... have a great day.... thanks...👍👍👍
I love this throwback to yesteryear. It's really bittersweet, in so many ways. Thanks, Micah for the memories.👏👏
Thanks for the tour. I remember when 192 was an extremely busy highway with plenty to do. Loved staying at the various hotels that were close to Disney. Would love to see this area come back to life
Great vlog Micah!! As somebody who's lived in Central FL since 1998, I remember driving down 192 all the time just to look at all of the attractions! Great memories brought back!
Micah, your videos are awesome.
My wife and I we love watching your videos they are so much fun and educational. Thank you for taking the time to go filming all around Orlando. Great job brother 👏
Sending you so much from New York.
Loved your video ! I moved to Orlando in 1985 and worked at Disney with College Program in 1986. Lived in Lake Vista Village. I spent a lot of time driving down 192 in Kissimmee and my coworkers would hang out at the Bamboo Lounge. I remember when they built Splendid China and driving by it all the time. Thanks for the memories ! I currently live out of the country and get homesick for the US, so your videos really help ! I have always wondered if they tore down Lake Vista Village to make room for Vista Way or did it become part of Vistana Resort or the Marriott ? Thanks again for the great content ! 😀🇺🇸
Thank you, its lovely to see all the old places, we have been coming for over 30 years, due to covid we have missed 4 holidays to Orlando, we don't do theme parks anymore, we are coming next year🥳🥳 so can't wait, thanks again take care and stay safe.
This was great.just come back Oct 2023.big difference.we ate in golden corral.only realised it was the old water mania site which was fantastic.thanks for the memories😊
So great! I recognize these areas today and remember the former attractions. Good to put the the memories together with the current layout.
BTW I went to Shell World when they were closing that location. Bought a shell magnet. I think it was 2011. They moved to a smaller store for just a couple years.
Love the history of this place. Respect your dedication, thanks.
Awesome vlog Micah, many memories. Never been too many of these. We did do Arabian nights years ago. And totally remembered Xanadu! Thanks again!
Ah, the Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway…I remember it very well, especially because it was a bit of a mouthful. Thankfully, it’s also known as Highway 192. It’s sad to see that it appears to have lost some of it’s shine and attractions over the years, although thankfully, Old Town Kissimmee still exists. I saw a video on here a few years ago saying that it was pretty run down and forgotten. I have very happy memories of it and always loved to visit it. Shell World is a place I remember visiting, but only because it used to have an old VW Beetle parked outside completely covered in shells. Did I go in the store? No. Xanadu looked pretty sad and run down back in the 90’s, but I’m surprised to see it’s gone. The Haunted Mansion is a place I visited, but for some reason never actually experienced the attraction itself. Possibly because I’d already experienced Disney’s Haunted Mansion, so didn’t really feel the need. It did have a great gift shop though. Kind of odd to see that it’s now a school of all places. Good to see that Orange World is still in existence with that very distinctive building, although once again, it’s not actually a place I ever used. Watching the video, it’s clear to see that the area has changed quite a bit over the years, with many of the places I remember now being long gone, even hotels that I stayed in, such as the Wilson World as it was known then.
Oldtown still there still packed its not run down or going down they even still have car shows night on Friday or Saturday
I moved to Orlando in 1976. I didn't go to any of these attractions, because my job as an overnight engineer at WFTV and WRDQ I didn't have a lot of daytime hours. About all I saw was Stars Hall of Fame, the creepy wax museum. I do remember a brief local TV show, related to Orlando Weekly, that documented Xanadu and its downfall. Seems "the home of the future" was made from a foamed construction plastic similar to Styrofoam. They had such late 70's gimmicks as a tube-type TV built inside a wall. What killed Xanadu was that chemicals from the foam plastic seeped into the air, and they were carcinogens. It would be a very short future for anyone living there. Also, the plastic was disintegrating in the Florida heat, light and rain. I think you can safely say that most of these attractions and businesses were built by people with a lot of money, who were convinced it was easy for them to become the next Walt Disney. They discovered too late that being Disney wasn't easy...even Disney wasn't Disney every time he built something. "Holy Land Experience," anyone?
I absolutely love 192 It's like my 2nd home I live in rhode island but love orlando and Kissimmee I have been going there since the 80s I has just down there in August on my honeymoon my wife loves it also we are moving down there next year alot of places have changed over the years I sure do miss angles seafood buffet it was in the old holiday Inn on 192 they have Boston lobster feast we tried that but it food was horrible I have been to midevile times and Arabin nights both nice shows we did al capone's last visit great show love Kissimmee maybe see ya next time we are down that way great videos keep up the great work have a great day
- Started hanging on 192 back in 1975, completely different now of course. Also add the little faux "Airboats" Attraction. Always had the Same exact room at the Gator(land) Inn, my room was over the registration/front office. Thanks Micah for all your great videos.
We haven't been to any of these places but we love learning about them and the charm they brought to the area.
Micah you are always a wealth of information… Thanks again for sharing this with us much appreciated 😁😁
We used to stay at The Larson's Lodge right next to the Watermania water park,The Larson's Lodge and an offbeat Disney souvenir shop,Shoney's restaurant and a video arcade in the lobby. I miss that area
Well i really enjoyed that vlog Micah, a couple of the places were there when we holidayed in Florida, Thankyou x
Wow loved this, brought back some great memories of our time visiting from Scotland for the last 30 years. Can't wait to be back next year.
i admit it was a little weird moving into the area in fall 2005, just when water mania and xanadu were closed, but not quite taken down. i keep thinking there was a twistee ice cream place near the xanadu. love the history walk down 192. Thank you!
Attended Splendid China back in the day. It was very well done. I’m sorry you never got to attend it. It was kind of off the beaten path from other attractions. Great video.
How timely! I'll be at Fairfield Inn in 18 days! We're exploring Kissimmee and Old Town for a couple of days until spending two weeks at WDW. Join us for lunch or dinner!
Thank you so much. A real blast from the past .Water Mania was a favorite of mine. I saw the big Gator at Gator Inn. We stayed in that motel.
Shell world was around for pretty long time. I can remember going there while in vacation about 35 years ago and most recent!y for me was about 2005ish. I loved that place when I was there as a kid. Tons of nice pieces of coral. I remember my brother-in-law buying a bunch of large sea fans they were selling at the time. Times change and I'm sure there are limits or band on selling these items now which most likely lead to its demise. The last time I was there in 2005ish it was just a couple rows of various sea shells lol. They did have a older VS bug out in front that was covered with sea shells. Probably have a pic of it somewhere.
Wow, I remember! Thank you for this video!
Great video, I moved here in 1992 and mannnnnnnn what a different place. So much fun back in the days.
Nolan’s Irish pub in the shopping center with the American gladiators was great
Awesome video
Brought back many memories. We used to own timeshares off Poinciana Blvd called Resort world in the 80’s. Now we own at HolidayInn Club Vacations across from Margeritaville. We especially remember Fort Liberty and was real sorry that left. Our kids loved that place! The one thing I miss the most is the smell of orange blossoms as we drove south on US 27. Now it’s all built out and very few if any orange trees. So sad. Thanks for the memories👍
Great video
Thank you!!
I went to Xanadu when I was about 8, I also remember it sitting there for sale until it was covered in algae.
I believe it finally was tore down in the early 2000's, I think.
I was an AP holder at Wet n Wild for years.
We did visit Water Mania once right before they closed.
I personally had a soft spot in my heart for Wild Waters in Ocala and of course W&W.
But I wanted to check out Watermania before it closed, knowing it was there all those years and I never went.
It was nice, just much smaller than Wet N Wild.
Wow! I've been vacationing down here since 1998 and live here now. I've been to a lot of the places you noted including Xanadu and splendid china. My late wife and I actually went into Xanadu long after it was closed. Pretty much became a shooting gallery for heroin addicts but you can see where it used to be pretty cool.. Splendid China was a lot of fun. You might not remember but we met earlier this month at the Chuy's in kissimmee. I was with the ladies dressed like elvis.
I saw Warrant there in Concert (Water Mania)
When I hear the name Xanadu, I think of the 1980 movie of that name, Citizen Kane, or the Frankie Goes to Hollywood song "Welcome to the Pleasuredome"...
In Xanadu did Kubla Khan the Pleasuredome ERECT...
(Holly Johnson was not subtle.)
I remember when Xanadu opened, I think I was 10 then. We visited Florida every spring break and it took my parents a couple years before they finally gave in and took me to Xanadu. At the time I thought it was awesome and tied into Epcot (Center) nicely. I still have the polaroids of it somewhere. We used to stay at the Days Inn/Days Lodge in the 70's and early 80's, right beside Old Town which I remember being built. I believe the motel is now Celebration Suites. Back then there was still plenty of open countryside and fields along the highway. When I went back in 2015 with my family, it sure was a shock to see how built up the area has become since the late 80's. I guess that's what 25 years or so will do.
@world of Micah. The haunted mansion was also a honkytonk called "Alligator Alley". It had several bars, pool tables, and the DJ booth was in a monster truck. I loved that club. They also had a mechanical bull. I have a few wild stories from there.
So much has gone from that shopping centre at Formosa.
Gone is Dairy queen , TGI Fridays..
Absolutely used to love Winn dixies.
Would always pick up groceries there.
Wasn't there a buffalo wild wings across the street too . Perhaps I'm wrong.
Great content as usual.
I remember as a child when 192 was two-lane, part of it was a dirt road, I also lived on 192. The 1950s raised graduated from Osceola high school, married, and had children that was born in Orlando, Orange Memorial Hospital, last I knew was ORMC, Disney started coming in 1970, and I worked at Disney 1972 Contemporary Hotel, The Language changed and Crime started building, wasn't no place to raise children, moved 1991 to North Florida. My population is 6,000, nice breathing room.
It's always a bummer when roadside attractions go under.
I remember these places growing up in Winter Haven and Lakeland in the 90s and 2000s. Now I live in Orlando only 20 minutes from these places. I definitely remember shell world. I sure do miss that place.
In the early 90s they had a lot of little interesting things to do and shops selling cheap gifts dollar store value. Wish I still had those cheap souvenirs now in 2022. Old Town and the ferris wheel I remember. Old Town had 5 cent cokes in, at the time, rare glass bottled form. We took took two days the second and final trip in 95 just to drive around and check what looked cool out. All of our photos were in the parks. I wish we took some outside on this corridor, even at the shitty Best Western. It is an underrated part of what used to be the Orlando experience like Wet N Wild.
I was I could find some home movies of 92 in the 90s on UA-cam.
I remember Haunted Mansion back in the late 90s. Had no idea it only existed a couple years. Never got to experience it but I was always curious. Also. the sign that promoted Arabian Nights on I4 is still there... well the pedestal is still there. The signage and the horse that used to sit on top are both gone. But every time I drive past there, I remember.
OMG! My hubs and I went to Medieval Times on our honeymoon in 1993! We stayed at Homewood Suites in Kissimmee which I'm sure is also no more. At least the hubs and I are still together!😊
Where the CVS is now used to be the main building of Larson's Lodge Hotel. Both the Hotel and Watermania were owned by the Larson family.
I loved hearing about the rock church because I been there many times.
This is SO damned depressing. Our kids will never know, much less see the things WE were familiar with.
I spent my whole life going to all these places and the parks.
I know they aren't in Kississimmee, I wish Mystery Fun House, Skull Kingdom, Wet and Wild were on this list.
There is one that was in Orlando and kissimmee, it was called Movie Rider from the late 90s to the early 2000's.
I know there are tons of videos that cover the Orlando area, it's just so nostalgic to see them all in one video.
I delivered pizza on West 192 in late 90's, Total flashbacks! Thanks 👍
Remember staying at a place called Wilson world maingate hotel back in 96 & 98 those were the days
192 used to be so fun in the 80 and 90s. It was less residential too.
Skull Kingdom closed because the property was supposed to be sold, but the sale fell through, at the time it was for sale I Drive was still crazy busy. Most of the props from the haunt was sold to Daytona Lagoon who was going to do a haunt but never did.
Shell World had several locations throughout Florida, but now the only store is located in Key Largo
I lived there when it was awesome in the 90s. I worked at Disney, had a farm and the entire area makes me so sad now. I traded some birds to the owner of that zoo.
I drove by all that in 1996-97. Worked security at the rest area on I-4 until it was shut down.
i remember early 90s there was a howard johnson with an indoor pool, but not sure if it's still there that when that whole stretch of road would be fully lit at night with slingshots & other roadside things
Do you remember the Wilson World hotel? I think they changed names a few times but I heard they recently closed. Would very much appreciate if you could film & report on it.
I stayed there back in the 80's as a teen then again in '98 with my 2 kids. So many memories.
What's crazy is before the Reborne Academy, (Haunted Mansion) It was a Nightclub/Bar. Lol, and if you would've went down Formosa Gardens Rd, You'd Seen The Dragon Statues and Stuff Still down some the roads.
still remember driving in mid 90's & erlo brunson was always jumping! they had a slingshot that was always screaming
I’ve been to all of those places. It’s all gone. 🥺
I wonder if a new tiki bar would work well on 192 … if someone could create something on the scale of Mai Kai in Fort Lauderdale, but with the heart and interaction level of Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, it might just be one of the biggest attractions to hit central Florida if done correctly.
That is the first Mideavel Times to exist in the US. The family came from Italy, and had the same thing over there. Great story about how they started here in the States.
Ohhh I use to go to Shell world 🐚 for some gifts to bring back home, photo frames with shells 🐚 memories from late 80s
Add Holy Land to parks that no longer are with us...😪
I made so many videos at almost all those places, Jungleland, Arabian Nights, the 192 Haunted Mansion, I will post them sooner or later...
Fuckin love all the places you just stopped in. I remember them growing up
When we evacuated for the hurricane that 192 was a pain in the 🤐 😂😂
Thank god the big orange is still around
also hotel days inn west where i stayed first time in florida
Before they built the moderate hotels at WDW, my family would stay at the Days Inn Kissimmee. I was just a child, but remember they did have some sort of gift shop with Disney items. Any idea where that motel was located back in the day?
I have lived in Kissimmee for 27 years and I NEVER knew of Xanadu
We were in Kissimmee in 1994, 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004 all along the 192 but I can't recollect Xanadu. What mile marker was it at?
I was in a tv commercial in water mania
Any chance of doing a real before and after of Wet n Wild - an extremely popular attraction - thanks !
There used to be a Duff's smorgasbord on 192 do you know what's in its place now?
Awe smack I forgot about splendid China
They had an auction when splendid China closed and I was able to get some of their display pieces, some figures and horses. It was a beautiful place to see. It was boring for kids and was a 1/2 day park at best. Overpriced for what it was.
Sherwood Forest Dinner theater. Little Darlings 50s and 60s club at Oldtown
I did a whole episode on little Darlins check it out also did one on Fort Liberty dinner show
is the howard johnson with indoor pool still open?
9:31 I smell what The Rock Church is cookin’!
Never got a chance to go to Arabian Knights. Sad when it closed.
Xanadu also had interior problems, and kept failing the inspections
whatever happened to the days lodge?
Who else heard the Olivia Newton-John song from the movie “Xanadu”?
There use to be a flea market in that area
West side of 192 is my side. I have a splendid China video or 2.
We drove to Mystic Dunes resort the other day for my teens’ homecoming dance and I was pointing out Splendid China remnants.
You forgot about the if I'm not mistaken the Ft. Liberty Dinner Theater. It was by not far from Old Town if I'm correct.
Did a whole episode on that ua-cam.com/video/hETMFiZBAK0/v-deo.html
@@worldofmicah ok thanks
It was real and it was fun, and it was really freakin fun
I use to live off of 192 so much history I never knew about, I would walk by there a lot looking at that gator then it disappeared 😂 and she’ll world was very unwanted
I was one of the first waitress at Arabian nights my husband was the cook. She’ll works I still
Have a braclet . Water park my two
Older kids went once a week. We lived across from KoA campground on 192
I was sad to see that Arabian Nights was closed down.
Technically h20 water park is the water mania of this era
Omg she’ll world closed too :(
Don’t miss the Boston lobster feast
Gloomy day? Yes please
They are the best
I remember visiting in the 90s from Scotland 🏴 in fact the last time I was in water mania it came over the tannoy that oj Simpson was found not guilty lol
Did he miss capones dinner show?
I would like to live in Kissimmee i am tired of living in Broward.