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Remembering Church Street Station, one of Florida’s biggest tourist attractions

By on Fri, Apr 26, 2019 at 7:55 pm

Believe it or not, there was a time in the not-too-distant past when downtown Orlando was indeed a tourist destination right up there with the Mouse and SeaWorld. That was when Church Street Station, the now-defunct nightclub/entertainment complex was still in operation. Developed in 1972 by Pensacola entrepreneur Bob Snow, the space housed a number of businesses in a Dixieland Jazz Era-themed complex. The place contained five showrooms that offered live jazz, blues, country and Top 40 music, as well as retail stores, a midway and restaurants. In 1985, it attracted more than 1.7 million visitors, making it the fourth-largest tourist attraction in Florida, after Walt Disney World, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.

But by the 1990s, Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando perfected their own downtown entertainment districts, which drew business away from Church Street, and by 2001, most of the businesses that were part of Church Street Station were failing or closed. After changing hands several times, the property was foreclosed in 2009. These days, Church Street Station's most notable rooms, the Cheyenne Saloon and the Orchid Garden Ballroom, are available for private functions, including Orlando Weekly's Whiskey Business.

Check out these vintage photos from the State Library & Archives of Florida and reminisce on the Church Street Station that once was.

Scroll down to view images
Group portrait of women dancers at Rosie O'Grady's in Church Street Station, likely after 1972.
Group portrait of women dancers at Rosie O'Grady's in Church Street Station, likely after 1972.
Church Street Station was developed in 1972 by entrepreneur Bob Snow. In 1985 it was the fourth-largest tourist attraction in the state after Walt Disney World, Sea World and Busch Gardens. Photo taken after 1972.
Church Street Station was developed in 1972 by entrepreneur Bob Snow. In 1985 it was the fourth-largest tourist attraction in the state after Walt Disney World, Sea World and Busch Gardens. Photo taken after 1972.
Interior view at the Church Street Station, likely taken after 1972.
Interior view at the Church Street Station, likely taken after 1972.
Group portrait of food servers at the Church Street Station, likely taken after 1972.
Group portrait of food servers at the Church Street Station, likely taken after 1972.
View showing a horse-drawn carriage in front of Rosie O'Grady's at Church Street Station, likely taken after 1972.
View showing a horse-drawn carriage in front of Rosie O'Grady's at Church Street Station, likely taken after 1972.
Rosie O'Grady's fire truck tour bus at Church Street Station in Orlando, likely after 1972.
Rosie O'Grady's fire truck tour bus at Church Street Station in Orlando, likely after 1972.
Bartenders take orders at Rosie O'Grady's restaurant, 1974.
Bartenders take orders at Rosie O'Grady's restaurant, 1974.
Interior view of Rosie O'Grady's at Church Street Station, likely taken after 1972.
Interior view of Rosie O'Grady's at Church Street Station, likely taken after 1972.
Interior view of Rosie O'Grady's at Church Street Station, likely after 1972.
Interior view of Rosie O'Grady's at Church Street Station, likely after 1972.
Interior view showing tourists at the Church Street Station, likely after 1972.
Interior view showing tourists at the Church Street Station, likely after 1972.
Tourists playing pool at the Cheyenne Saloon and Opera House in Church Street Station, likely after 1972.
Tourists playing pool at the Cheyenne Saloon and Opera House in Church Street Station, likely after 1972.
View of tourists at the Church Street Station in Orlando, likely after 1972.
View of tourists at the Church Street Station in Orlando, likely after 1972.
Tourists shooting pool at the Cheyenne Saloon and Opera House in Church Street Station, likely after 1972.
Tourists shooting pool at the Cheyenne Saloon and Opera House in Church Street Station, likely after 1972.
Interior view of Commander Ragtime's at Church Street Station, likely after 1972.
Interior view of Commander Ragtime's at Church Street Station, likely after 1972.
Interior view of Commander Ragtime's at Church Street Station, likely after 1972.
Interior view of Commander Ragtime's at Church Street Station, likely after 1972.
Tourists dining at the Church Street Station in Orlando, likely after 1972.
Tourists dining at the Church Street Station in Orlando, likely after 1972.
Church Street Station with old steam locomotive in Orlando, 1982.
Church Street Station with old steam locomotive in Orlando, 1982.
Tourists tasting wine at the Church Street Station in Orlando, likely after 1972.
Tourists tasting wine at the Church Street Station in Orlando, likely after 1972.
Couple at Rosie O'Grady's restaurant, 1979.
Couple at Rosie O'Grady's restaurant, 1979.
Nighttime view of the Church Street Station in Orlando, likely after 1972.
Nighttime view of the Church Street Station in Orlando, likely after 1972.
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