Abandoned Orlando, Florida
A World of Orchids 🌺

Orlando, Florida is full of themed attractions. Some thrive, some don’t. It makes the area a great place for exploration, though many of its notable and unique ruins get gobbled up in redevelopment quickly in constant turnover. A World of Orchids, however, has been sitting in decay since its official closure in 2012. Once lauded as a worthwhile and beautiful addition to your Orlando itinerary, boasting the world’s largest display of orchids within its 22,500 square feet, it was the destruction of 2004’s Hurricane Charley that began its decline. When the attraction was in operation it did not charge admission, relying only on plant sales to sustain its life. After the storm, A World of Orchids did not have the fund to fix the damage and visitors began to spread the word about the “sad” state of deterioration it was in–leaking roof, mangled greenhouse, dying plant life, atrocious conditions for the resident parrots. (source)

At the time of my visit I saw that nature was its new landscaper–plant life flourishing once again, taking the structure over as the rest of its parts crumbled.