Category: Orlando History

Imperial House served prime rib, cinnamon rolls and organ music on Winter Park’s Lake Killarney for 33 years. Here is the story locals still remember.

The Infinite Mushroom sold Orlando black lights, lava lamps and concert tickets from 1968 to 2004. Relive the city’s original head shop.

Merrywood, the largest home Gamble Rogers ever designed, sold for $15 million and faces the wrecking ball. Here’s the story behind the house.

Remember the Colonial Drive-In? From a free Ford on opening night to its final show in 1992, here’s the story of east Orlando’s 550-car movie lot.

The American Building was a Dodge garage, an office hub, and an insurance HQ on South Orange Avenue. Here’s the story of Orlando’s lost shape-shifter.

Frisch’s Big Boy fed west Orlando from 1968 to 1992. Relive the West Colonial burger spot, its striped-pants mascot, and that famous tartar sauce.

Lil 500 Go-Karts thrilled Fern Park for nearly 54 years. Meet the Kline family, the scorching steel slide, the Fun Spot link, and why it closed.

Sanlando Springs had high dives, slot machines, and wartime dances. Here’s how Longwood’s favorite swimming spot ended up behind a guarded gate.

Ohev Shalom is Orlando’s oldest synagogue. Trace its story from a 1917 one-room building downtown to the lakeside Maitland campus it calls home now.

Dolly Parton died Aug. 25th at 80. Inside her real Orlando history: the Vineland Ave. dinner show, Flight 925 and books still arriving locally.