The Abandoned $100 Million Florida Theme Park

Have you ever dreamed of pushing through a dense unexplored jungle, vines and branches scratching at your face, animals and bugs screeching in the trees - only to walk up to a lost or abandoned city? Would you tip back your brown felt fedora hat, a subtle grin crossing your face as you gazed on some vanished and forgotten world? Can you answer, "Yes" to these questions? Well, then we'd have something in common. Welcome to your inner Indiana Jones!

My discovery of the forgotten Splendid China park started about a month ago when I stumbled onto a website known as Florida's Lost Tourist Attractions. Before I knew it, I was reading about a 76 acre Central Florida theme park. Opening in 1993, it had a ten year run before finally closing its doors on December 31, 2003. Visitors during that time were treated to miniature versions and replicas of China's well known locations such as the Great Wall of China (painstakingly built brick-by-brick, and over half a mile in length), The Terra Cotta Warriors of Xi'an, The Leshan Grand Buddha Statue (in 1/8th scale), The Forbidden City, Potala Palace and more than 50 others.

I remembered this place! Though I'd never visited while it was open, I began to recall the TV commercials showing the tranquil settings, trapeze and acrobatic acts, the miniatures. Frankly, I hadn't even known that the park had closed. I pulled up an aerial view courtesy of Bing and Google Maps and was captivated by what I saw. From the air, the park looked somewhat intact. I zoomed and twirled the images, taking in the remains of gardens, statues, buildings. Some of the former attractions were very easy to spot, especially The Great Wall and The Forbidden City. Boy, wouldn't it be cool to visit this place?

Weeks later, my family and I were visiting a timeshare over near Davenport, just outside of Kissimmee, Florida. As I travelled along West Highway 192 (aka West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway) my eye was drawn to what appeared to be an abandoned Day's Inn-style hotel. There was something about the place that drew my interest. I visited a couple of times, snapping various photos through the chain link fence with its "No Trespassing" sign, wondering what had happened to this giant complex. And then I looked it up on the map. A Google map. And a Bing map.

The hotel itself was comprised of a giant square, with a huge pool in the center. Depending on which satellite photo you viewed, the pool was either blue with life, or brown, stagnant and dead. I kept looking around the property. And it was then that I spotted what looked like a road coming off the southern edge. Was it a road? Or a footpath? I twirled and zoomed...and followed the path through trees, over a dried up marshy area, back into trees and into...

No. It couldn't be...

But it was. The path/road led right to the main parking lot of what had once been Splendid China. The abandoned theme park was THAT close to me? Oh my!

Road Trip! Indiana Jones is on the job.

It was time to go see this place for myself. Because this park is somewhat off the beaten tourist path, in the midst of a residential area, there were few cars. Only the occasional breeze stirred the gripping humidity. I parked along the very short Splendid China Blvd, and stepped out onto its red pavers. Because the property is owned by Rolling Oaks Investment Properties (The same as the hotel over on 192) a fence has been erected to prevent drivers from getting to the main entrance. Still, I was able to snap a few shots of buildings over the fence and the curving main wall.

Stepping from the pavers and over the curb, I spotted my first real "treasure" find. Behind overgrown trees and grass, a nearly unspoiled Chinese dragon sculpture stared back at me. It was eerie to think of the work that had gone into making it. And here it was, to enjoy and view. I would later find another dragon sculpture nearly obliterated by vines and vegetation at the intersection of Formosa Garden Blvd. The intricate tile work along the park's outer wall was made even more ghostly by the vines that grew up and around. The sidewalk leading along the wall gave me the chills, the overgrown weeds lending a distinctly "other world" feeling to the hot air. "Hey, Indy. I'm liking this adventure!"

I began walking the sidewalk that runs along Formosa Garden Blvd., stopping occasionally to point the camera over the wall and snap pictures of some overgrown ruin in the distance. At one point a miniature structure sits majestically atop a large hill and is easily seen and photographed without getting into trouble. Speaking of trouble, I'd be lying if I said otherwise, but I totally wanted to jump that wall! The "jungle" of this park just ached to be explored! (And, hey, if you're reading this, and you have some pull in allowing me to visit legally, I'd love to hear from you!)

Until a phone call comes, freeing me to walk the ruins, you can still become an urban explorer right from your computer. Following are links that will take you right to specific spots within the sprawling park. I highly recommend using Bing or Google Map's "Aerial View" or "Bird's Eye" views whenever possible. They manage to truly give you a feeling of "being there".

Without the humidity, of course.

Say, Indiana Jones, you ready to visit one of Florida's lost parks? Old Splendid China awaits!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

3 Ways To See My Splendid China Photos:

#1. Click the "Numbered Squares" near the top of this article's title, then click directly on the photos for a larger, more close-up peek as the park sits today. Use the backspace to return to the previous page.

#2.Slideshow of Splendid China images taken during my recent visit

#3. Slideshow of the Abandoned "Splendid China" hotel

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Splendid China on Google and Bing Maps:

Use these links to zoom see specific areas inside of Splendid China Orlando. The Bing maps open up already zoomed in. When viewing Google, you'll need to zoom in further.

• The Forbidden City - Click Here (Bing) / Click Here (Google)
• Splendid China's Main Entrance - Click Here (Bing) / Click Here (Google)
• Rock Fountains - Click Here (Bing) / Click Here (Google)
• The Great Wall of China - Click Here (Bing) / Click Here (Google)
• The Mysterious Path to the Abandoned Hotel (follow it North) - Click Here (Bing) / Click Here (Google)

  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

• 
  More Internet Resources on Splendid China:
• Florida's Lost Trourist Attractions Website
• YouTube - Good overview of the park in 1996 - Click Here
• YouTube - Splendid China - Vanished Theme Park Florida
• YouTube - Skateboarders illegal entry
• YouTube - An old Splendid China Commercial
• YouTube - Splendid China how it looks February 2010

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

More of Ron's "Indiana Jones" Style Explorations:

¢-º How to Find Old and Forgotten Places to Explore - Click here

¢-º The Burning Vessel Miss Kaitlyn Sinks in Indian River - Click Here

¢-º The Search for 12 Lost Submarines from 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea -Click Here

¢-º The Abandoned Treasure Island Hotel in Daytona, FL - Click Here

¢-º See all of my articles, videos, slideshows ..... Click Here