One of my favorite memories of where I grew up was the Kapok Tree. It was an amazing dining experience. You placed your order and wandered around the garden and shops until your dinner was ready. You had a choice of 3 entrees, Prime Rib, Ham Steak, and Red Snapper if I remember correctly. People dressed from formal wear to shorts and jeans. It was huge and the Kapok tree at the entrance was gigantic too. I loved that place.
This place left such a huge imprint on me. If I recall correctly, I could smell orange blossoms throughout the grounds. It was such an opulent and elegant place. I’ll never forget it
Made me so nostalgic. This was my grandparents favorite restaurant. A few times a year they made the several hours round-trip to eat there, many times taking their grandkids (me, etc.) in tow!
This place was absolutley spectacular!!! My ex-husband and I use to frequent this restaurant back in the day and took our son there. The gardens, statues and fountains were exquisite!! What a great memory....the food was excellent, also!!!
I was so lucky to go there several times with my grandparents. How beautiful and grand it was! I wish it was still open. What wonderful memories. Thank you
Thank You for a beautiful, nostalgic, rememberance. I saw this place for the first time when i was 10 yrs old in 1971. I was absolutely transfixed into paradise. With a childs mind, I believed that my parents had taken me back into time, to Ancient Rome. I will be traveling to S. Florida this year, and hope to stop by, and see this, one more time, 52 years later.
Went on a family vacation to Florida in 1976 when I was 10 yrs old. My mom was so excited to take me and my cousin to this restaurant. It was so strange, tropical and exotic for a kid from Queens, NY. While visiting for two weeks we saw many attractions including Disney World but this was a highlight of my trip and a wonderful memory of my mom.
Have fond memories of eating at the restaurant and browsing in the gardens adjoining the eatery in the 1950’s at the Kapok Tree in Clearwater, Florida: Some information on who planted the seed of the famous tree in Clearwater, Flowida. Daniel Campbell McMullen and Solomon Smith ("S. S.") Coachman, hung the first telephone line in the area outside of Clearwater when they connected the log cabin to the nearby Coachman store and Dan McMullen's house; a simple three way telephone system. Dan, a leader at the Friendship Methodist Church received kapok tree (bombax ceiba) seeds from a church missionary. Robert D Hoyt, a noted taxidermist grew two small kapok trees from the seeds. One of those trees survived a frost and was planted at the site of the former Kapok Tree Inn Restaurant along McMullen-Booth Road.
I ate there a couple of times when on vacation. It was a great experience and the food was very good. They had a special drink that when you ordered it you got to keep the glass. I still have them. If I remember correctly, before it became a restaurant it was a private estate. Thanks for sharing, brings back a lot of memories.
The video is appreciated, thank you. I, too, walked around as you did about 10 years ago. On our last visit (December, 2023) the gardens, waterfalls, etc. were padlocked. There were signs posted (not too friendly). It was not the positive atmosphere of previous years and times. We used to eat at the restaurant, in its heyday. I was very, very young but have vivid memories of everything. I even have one of the glasses, engraved with the name of the restaurant. The owner was charismatic and positive. He seemed to care about others and their experience. Following his death, he must have been a hard act to follow, if not impossible. Thank you, Mr. Baumgardner, for all the awesome memories. P.S. The employees at the Sam Ash Music store were positive. Our sons are musicians, and we went there not only to see the former Kapok Tree Restaurant grounds (did not happen), but for musical reasons.
We lived about 30 miles away from The Kapok Tree & visited it many times in the 1970's for special dinners. I was always enchanted. Since moving to Saint Augustine in 1981 I have a deeper appreciation for all history.
My great aunt, uncle and 2nd cousin moved to Clearwater the year I was born in 1961. We would travel to Clearwater every other year to visit and made several trips to the Kapok Tree. What a wonderful place to eat, look around and be in awe of the statues, gardens and roman look to everything. I remember eating in the Florida room. Sad that it is gone. I will always have my memories though.
Wow what memories! We lived across the street in the Kapok Tree Mobile Home Park. We walked over many times always enjoying the Plantars Punch drinks with Souvenir Glass and Fried Shrimp. Remembering the Madeira Beach Baumgartner Kapok Tree too!!!
I remember going here in 1981, as a 9 year old child. We came to Florida for Disney World! Loved the architecture, and I remember this grand place with a person walking around dressed as a chicken! 😊
I am an original Florida native, my family came to Florida in the 1800's. I love hearing about places like this, old Florida, there's lots of hidden history, or eye treasures all over Florida like this, for instance, my great grandfather built a coral home in the 1800's, that's still standing in Miami, I believe it's a library as of today. But it's still there, and the stories it could tell from here to the 1800's, that's what is cool about Florida, like St. Augustine Fl., oldest city in North America, if you like historical places and buildings, check it out. Thanks for sharing, next time I am in clearwater Fl., I'll check out the Kapok Inn! Cheers!
This was such a beautiful restaurant and would have been such an experience to dine there. I find it very sad that we do not have that opportunity any longer. My Father dined there in the late 60's and told us about it. He was so impressed and I can see why through this video. Thank you for all of this information.
The Kapok Tree was on of my most favorite memories when I was a kid....Every year we would visit my mother's aunt that lived in St. Petersburg and we never missed a trip to the Kapok Tree. I am planning a trip this year with my granddaughter and I wanted this to be part of our memories, how sad to find out that it closed years ago.
I sure miss this place,If I ever come there,this will be a place form e to visit and would bring back memeories of my family and went there on my grandparents 50th wedding Anniversary,Oh How i miss this.Miss my Childhood years and hate gettin old.
I went there as a kid. The kapok tree had these amazing flowers when we went, and I took some that had fallen on the ground for my mother. When we went, it was not just a restaurant. They had artisans there, including a glass blower. I bought a dozen hand blown glass Christmas tree ornaments, and we still have most of them. That must have been a small fortune for someone my age (they were sold individually). Statues and fountains galore. A nice memory.
What an experience it was to go to the Kapok Tree! You felt like you had been transported to another world. I remember the corn fritters.....and, of course, the Kapok Tree Punch!
I also remember the kapok tree in. It was opened the year I was born! We are planning a trip down to that area in a month, and I was so sorry to hear that it was closed as a restaurant. Many happy times there with my family growing up.
I loved your video. My parents and friends went there in 19070-71 for dinner. I remember how ornate and beautiful it was. Even had a souvinor tropical drinking glass my mom had gotten. Unfortunately, it got broken. What a shame that it didn't stay opened. Amazing that you had photos from before and after. Really enjoyed reminiscing with you video!
I was there in '76 with my mother. still have pics of our time there. For me a 5 yr old, it was an incredible place. It was HUGE!! I remember sitting at a big round table with friends and I remember sitting in the garden room and watching the peacocks outside strutting by with their big plumes opened up. We had a cup that lasted forever. So sad to see its gone, would've loved to have my kids experience this icon. Great video, brought back lots of memories. Thanks for shorting.
My family and I visited the Kapok Tree Inn on Florida trips both in 1970 and 1981. I remember what a grand place it was. Thanks for giving me another look at what it was like after all these years.
***** There was a Kapok Tree in Maryland too. Very upscale. It was between Baltimore&Fredrick I believe on Rt. 80. The closest town I think was Mt. Airey. I remember waiting outside for a table with relatives(early 1970s) and you could get close to the peacocks as they walked around in large cages. I think both restaurants were owned by the same management. I have no idea if the one in Maryland is still open.
***** It was called the Peter Pan Inn in Frederick, Maryland. Also a restaurant called Baumgardners was across the street from the Kapok Tree, owned by the same family.
It was a beautiful place in the 70's and 80's. Any time relatives and friends would come from out of town my parents would bring them to the Kapok Tree! It was such a cool place to roam around and eat! One of my son's prom's was held there in around 2013, but it was Sam Ash by then.
OMG I so remember going there when we visited my aunt and uncle in the late 70s - early 80s. I remember the tree in the middle of the dining room, and the awesome fritters they served before dinner!
I was leaving a lounge last night and looked across the street and saw this huge tree and i was amazed at how beautiful it was. I took a few photos and a guy was walking his dog and he gave me some brief history of the tree and i had to do more research. Thanks for the awesome video 📸📷
I can remember the large garden areas had artists who made melted glass art. It was amazing to watch how fast they could make custom glass sculptures. You could get personalized engraved Kapok Tree Inn drink Glasses. In the seventies it was a magical place.
CAN NOT BELIEVE THE KAPOK TREE WENT UNDER, I HAD A CHANCE TO GO IN THE EARLY 70'S AND JUST WILL NEVER FORGET IT. GLAD I HAD A CHANCE TO GO AND SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT ROOMS AND GIFT SHOPS. SEEMS LIKE EVERY PLACE YOU LIKE ENDS UP NO MORE. ARLENE
We ate quite a few times. Special events in our family’s life . The seating, followed with great food, the silver platers, the different jams, on a huge serving tray! ( like a tree stand of sorts) silver . It was special!! Memories come to me as you go about. I thought in the 70’s it was all restaurant. Lines always. Afternoon evening ! Funny I can’t recall the main course. Only the jam tree?!
Wow! Asked my present husband to look Kapok up as I have a booklet about the restaurant and over 100 shares (worthless, I guess) that a collector might be interested in owning. Lived in Pinellas Park in the 60s and went to Kapok often and Baumgardner (took Mom and nephew there on his graduation). Wonder why it closed. I also went to the one in Madeira Beach. Thanks for the memory and for sharing it with Godfrey. Shirley Phillips
Was there in 77 when I was 24...married for a year (divorced now...lol). My ex husband remembers bugs being all over the car in the parking lot and I remember stepping on one and it going crunch....lol. We were from NJ so this was very strange to us. I remember that lovely tree with the huge roots coming out of the ground and walking around the elaborate grounds...such a shame it is not a restaurant now...stranger still to see all that music equipment placed around the fountains and such...still a nice memory for me...Nice job on this video showing comparisons to before and now !
Always a great place ! Excellent service! Pleasant place . Servers always happy, smiling!! Great food . Never complaints. Lots of $$. Spent there!! Lots! Why did they closed?
We visited the Kapok tree restaurant in Clearwater back in 1976. It was beautiful and just amazingly huge. It amazed me how they managed to feed the amount of people that went there. I have a small clipping of it on video with my children there.
I remember visiting the bathroom there as a kid during our visit as a family. The door to the entrance was a part of the stone wall. I thought that was coolest thing I had ever seen.
I used to manage it and it was bought up by a big corporation, then it and several other company restaurants around the country were sold or developed for other uses. It was a case where the land was worth more split up and sold separately. I have amazing stories about events in every dining room, courtyards, and the mall.
I went there to eat and I thought the tree was on the inside of the bldg. The gardens outside remind me of Ringling Museum in Sarasota. Good videos Camerasober. My old stompin grounds was Crows Bluff Community outside of Deland heading toward Paisley, Umatilla.
My Mom took us here every year until 1987. An amazing experience from 1980-87. I am sad it is no longer the restaurant. I wish I could restore it and oneday I might
I was at an educational convention in the late 90s in Tampa Florida and I had a field day that was cancelled to see the manatees so rented a car and ran in to this place. On the John Kennedy highway there is a big sign that said historic kapok tree so I went to see the kapok tree and found this beautiful building that used to be a restaurant. I wish you would have gotten close-ups of that wooden door inside because it was from I think the 12 century and had individual monks heads carved into it each one was a different real person centuries ago. You should have gotten close-ups of all of the various statues and you missed a very unusual thing in the garden. When you turn the corner back where the marble black and white patio is and you walk around all of a sudden there's this huge head of a goddess that is mesmerizing. And a close up of the fountain wall in the back would have been nice because your video didn't do it justice. My understanding that music store isn't there anymore but something else is in its place
I have dined there a few times in my younger days. Did not realize Sam ash "formerly Thoroughbred Music" put s store there, So many things that made Tampa Bay have gone away. Ringling Bros train in port Tampa, Bounty at the Webb City, Tom Sawyer Steam Paddle boat before the Davis island bridge. Sunken Gardens, Colonnade, The Requin Sub downtown. 49th street mining company, Club Detroit. so many things gone I figured I would move to a whole different country, lol Mission Bell theater and the other that ran "Rocky Horror picture show for 30+ years. the Banana docs, Bush Beer facility tours, Tampa Bay Mall, Remember pulling up Sponge from the bay when fishing as a kid. Clam fishing on the south side of the causeway.
www.sun-sentinel.com/features/fl-kapok-tree-memorablia-20150724-story.html There was three according to this link. They have a lot of information on the Kapok Tree History. I still have a small rose made by the glass blower that was on the inside, I remember the place just being breath taking, a beautiful piano was played and it made you feel like, It was all for you, like you were the reason for it's Grandeur! thanks for the memories
Great post!! So interesting, looking like an abandoned Greek city. It must have employed 2. Thousand people! Who goes there now? And besides the electronic store what is there?
There is another sound studio there and a special events company. I later found out the they hold weddings in the garden and they still use the Grand Ballroom for rehearsal dinners and such. That's why I couldn't get in at the time to that area.
My mother and I flew to Florida to visit my Aunt and Uncle ( mom's sister ) in 1982 when I graduated 8th grade. My Aunt and Uncle lived in Tampa and wanted to take us to The Kapok Tree Inn, we got all dressed up and went. I remember we ate in the Grand Ball Room. I have so many wonderful pictures, we also went to Disney World , and visited friends in Fort Lauderdale. Mom, and my Aunt and Uncle are all gone but my memories stay the same. Makes me sick to see its a music store, so sad!
Unfortunately, the irresponsible new owners of the Bounty took it out in the Atlantic ocean off of the coast of North Carolina (after about 1993, it spent Summers in Connecticut and Winters in St Pete) during Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and it sunk, killing two crew members. I remember visiting it as a child in St Petersburg.
I remerbed.when we went there,we were staying at my Aunts in St.Petersburg and we decided to go eat at there and we ordered a huge steak dinner and first,we had to wait for our Table and there was a place you could ordered a drink and wait for them to call your name and then we were sent to the Florida room and believed me,the food was really good.Good thing,I was a Kid,I don't even know,what my father paid for it all.I really miss this.
One of my favorite memories of where I grew up was the Kapok Tree. It was an amazing dining experience. You placed your order and wandered around the garden and shops until your dinner was ready. You had a choice of 3 entrees, Prime Rib, Ham Steak, and Red Snapper if I remember correctly. People dressed from formal wear to shorts and jeans. It was huge and the Kapok tree at the entrance was gigantic too. I loved that place.
Jayne Hasselroth great story.
This place left such a huge imprint on me. If I recall correctly, I could smell orange blossoms throughout the grounds. It was such an opulent and elegant place. I’ll never forget it
Made me so nostalgic. This was my grandparents favorite restaurant. A few times a year they made the several hours round-trip to eat there, many times taking their grandkids (me, etc.) in tow!
This place was absolutley spectacular!!! My ex-husband and I use to frequent this restaurant back in the day and took our son there. The gardens, statues and fountains were exquisite!! What a great memory....the food was excellent, also!!!
Thank you for the beautiful memories. My parents met each other there.
Went there when I was 12, 43 years later it is a fond memory that has not faded.
I was so lucky to go there several times with my grandparents. How beautiful and grand it was! I wish it was still open. What wonderful memories. Thank you
Thank You for a beautiful, nostalgic, rememberance. I saw this place for the first time when i was 10 yrs old in 1971. I was absolutely transfixed into paradise. With a childs mind, I believed that my parents had taken me back into time, to Ancient Rome. I will be traveling to S. Florida this year, and hope to stop by, and see this, one more time, 52 years later.
Went on a family vacation to Florida in 1976 when I was 10 yrs old. My mom was so excited to take me and my cousin to this restaurant. It was so strange, tropical and exotic for a kid from Queens, NY. While visiting for two weeks we saw many attractions including Disney World but this was a highlight of my trip and a wonderful memory of my mom.
It's to bad the Kapok tree can not be restored and brought back for more generations to enjoy.
What happened to it?!
Have fond memories of eating at the restaurant
and browsing in the gardens adjoining the eatery in the 1950’s at the Kapok
Tree in Clearwater, Florida:
Some information on who planted the
seed of the famous tree in Clearwater, Flowida.
Daniel Campbell McMullen and Solomon
Smith ("S. S.") Coachman, hung the first telephone line in the area
outside of Clearwater when they connected the log cabin to the nearby Coachman
store and Dan McMullen's house; a simple three way telephone system.
Dan, a leader at the Friendship Methodist Church received kapok tree (bombax ceiba)
seeds from a church missionary. Robert D Hoyt, a noted taxidermist grew two
small kapok trees from the seeds. One of those trees survived a frost and was
planted at the site of the former Kapok Tree Inn Restaurant along McMullen-Booth Road.
Love the info !!
I loved this place as a girl. Won't someone bring it back again?
No, we are trying to become a third world country.
One of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Very sad it is no longer in operation. Thanks for a trip down memory lane
My memories of Kapok Tree as a child was of a magical experience!
I ate there a couple of times when on vacation. It was a great experience and the food was very good. They had a special drink that when you ordered it you got to keep the glass. I still have them. If I remember correctly, before it became a restaurant it was a private estate. Thanks for sharing, brings back a lot of memories.
I came here because of the Kapok Tree Inn glass that I found while cleaning out my mother's house- it has the date on it, 1984!
I Would love to see pictures of your cups please if you don't mind
The video is appreciated, thank you. I, too, walked around as you did about 10 years ago. On our last visit (December, 2023) the gardens, waterfalls, etc. were padlocked. There were signs posted (not too friendly). It was not the positive atmosphere of previous years and times. We used to eat at the restaurant, in its heyday. I was very, very young but have vivid memories of everything. I even have one of the glasses, engraved with the name of the restaurant. The owner was charismatic and positive. He seemed to care about others and their experience. Following his death, he must have been a hard act to follow, if not impossible. Thank you, Mr. Baumgardner, for all the awesome memories. P.S. The employees at the Sam Ash Music store were positive. Our sons are musicians, and we went there not only to see the former Kapok Tree Restaurant grounds (did not happen), but for musical reasons.
We lived about 30 miles away from The Kapok Tree & visited it many times in the 1970's for special dinners. I was always enchanted.
Since moving to Saint Augustine in 1981 I have a deeper appreciation for all history.
My great aunt, uncle and 2nd cousin moved to Clearwater the year I was born in 1961. We would travel to Clearwater every other year to visit and made several trips to the Kapok Tree. What a wonderful place to eat, look around and be in awe of the statues, gardens and roman look to everything. I remember eating in the Florida room. Sad that it is gone. I will always have my memories though.
Wow what memories! We lived across the street in the Kapok Tree Mobile Home Park. We walked over many times always enjoying the Plantars Punch drinks with Souvenir Glass and Fried Shrimp. Remembering the Madeira Beach Baumgartner Kapok Tree too!!!
I remember going here in 1981, as a 9 year old child. We came to Florida for Disney World! Loved the architecture, and I remember this grand place with a person walking around dressed as a chicken! 😊
I am an original Florida native, my family came to Florida in the 1800's. I love hearing about places like this, old Florida, there's lots of hidden history, or eye treasures all over Florida like this, for instance, my great grandfather built a coral home in the 1800's, that's still standing in Miami, I believe it's a library as of today. But it's still there, and the stories it could tell from here to the 1800's, that's what is cool about Florida, like St. Augustine Fl., oldest city in North America, if you like historical places and buildings, check it out. Thanks for sharing, next time I am in clearwater Fl., I'll check out the Kapok Inn! Cheers!
I'm planning on doing some videos there this year. I think I haven't yet because it's such an obvious place. Guess your right, it's about time I do.
Florida back then seems like a lot different place than it is today. A lot more ancient Spanish culuture and design.
This was such a beautiful restaurant and would have been such an experience to dine there. I find it very sad that we do not have that opportunity any longer. My Father dined there in the late 60's and told us about it. He was so impressed and I can see why through this video. Thank you for all of this information.
The Kapok Tree was on of my most favorite memories when I was a kid....Every year we would visit my mother's aunt that lived in St. Petersburg and we never missed a trip to the Kapok Tree. I am planning a trip this year with my granddaughter and I wanted this to be part of our memories, how sad to find out that it closed years ago.
I sure miss this place,If I ever come there,this will be a place form e to visit and would bring back memeories of my family and went there on my grandparents 50th wedding Anniversary,Oh How i miss this.Miss my Childhood years and hate gettin old.
I went there as a kid. The kapok tree had these amazing flowers when we went, and I took some that had fallen on the ground for my mother. When we went, it was not just a restaurant. They had artisans there, including a glass blower. I bought a dozen hand blown glass Christmas tree ornaments, and we still have most of them. That must have been a small fortune for someone my age (they were sold individually). Statues and fountains galore. A nice memory.
I had my fifteens pictures taken there. Great memories!
What an experience it was to go to the Kapok Tree! You felt like you had been transported to another world. I remember the corn fritters.....and, of course, the Kapok Tree Punch!
I also remember the kapok tree in. It was opened the year I was born! We are planning a trip down to that area in a month, and I was so sorry to hear that it was closed as a restaurant. Many happy times there with my family growing up.
I remember going there in the 70's. It was always a favorite of grandma and the aunts.
This is awesome! Very nostalgic for me. Thank you for this
I loved your video. My parents and friends went there in 19070-71 for dinner. I remember how ornate and beautiful it was. Even had a souvinor tropical drinking glass my mom had gotten. Unfortunately, it got broken. What a shame that it didn't stay opened. Amazing that you had photos from before and after. Really enjoyed reminiscing with you video!
I was there in '76 with my mother. still have pics of our time there. For me a 5 yr old, it was an incredible place. It was HUGE!! I remember sitting at a big round table with friends and I remember sitting in the garden room and watching the peacocks outside strutting by with their big plumes opened up. We had a cup that lasted forever. So sad to see its gone, would've loved to have my kids experience this icon. Great video, brought back lots of memories. Thanks for shorting.
Jennifer Constant my mom and I took my kids there in 76 and was amazed at this place. Just beautiful. In fact I have a video of it.
My mom and I took my kids there in 76 and was mesmerized. I have a video of it while we were there. Just beautiful.
My family and I visited the Kapok Tree Inn on Florida trips both in 1970 and 1981. I remember what a grand place it was. Thanks for giving me another look at what it was like after all these years.
i was here in the 60s as a teen & just remembered the name of the restaurant. so sad it’s gone, just like all of my family from then.😢❤️
Excellent and interesting video as usual Ross
thanks for sharing.
camerasober
*****
There was a Kapok Tree in Maryland too. Very upscale. It was between Baltimore&Fredrick I believe on Rt. 80. The closest town I think was Mt. Airey. I remember waiting outside for a table with relatives(early 1970s) and you could get close to the peacocks as they walked around in large cages. I think both restaurants were owned by the same management. I have no idea if the one in Maryland is still open.
***** It was called the Peter Pan Inn in Frederick, Maryland. Also a restaurant called Baumgardners was across the street from the Kapok Tree, owned by the same family.
It was a beautiful place in the 70's and 80's. Any time relatives and friends would come from out of town my parents would bring them to the Kapok Tree! It was such a cool place to roam around and eat!
One of my son's prom's was held there in around 2013, but it was Sam Ash by then.
Amazing 🌳💎🌲FLORIDA ❤️is a 🎁 PRIZE🎁that’s PRICELESS 💎🌲🌳THANK U 🏆🏆🏆💯💯💯✨✨✨
OMG I so remember going there when we visited my aunt and uncle in the late 70s - early 80s. I remember the tree in the middle of the dining room, and the awesome fritters they served before dinner!
I was leaving a lounge last night and looked across the street and saw this huge tree and i was amazed at how beautiful it was. I took a few photos and a guy was walking his dog and he gave me some brief history of the tree and i had to do more research. Thanks for the awesome video 📸📷
thanks. that's nice of you.
I can remember the large garden areas had artists who made melted glass art. It was amazing to watch how fast they could make custom glass sculptures. You could get personalized engraved Kapok Tree Inn drink Glasses. In the seventies it was a magical place.
CAN NOT BELIEVE THE KAPOK TREE WENT UNDER, I HAD A CHANCE TO GO IN THE EARLY 70'S AND JUST WILL NEVER FORGET IT. GLAD I HAD A CHANCE TO GO AND SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT ROOMS AND GIFT SHOPS. SEEMS LIKE EVERY PLACE YOU LIKE ENDS UP NO MORE. ARLENE
We ate quite a few times. Special events in our family’s life . The seating, followed with great food, the silver platers, the different jams, on a huge serving tray! ( like a tree stand of sorts) silver .
It was special!! Memories come to me as you go about. I thought in the 70’s it was all restaurant. Lines always. Afternoon evening ! Funny I can’t recall the main course. Only the jam tree?!
Wow! Asked my present husband to look Kapok up as I have a booklet about the restaurant and over 100 shares (worthless, I guess) that a collector might be interested in owning. Lived in Pinellas Park in the 60s and went to Kapok often and Baumgardner (took Mom and nephew there on his graduation).
Wonder why it closed. I also went to the one in Madeira Beach. Thanks for the memory and for sharing it with Godfrey. Shirley Phillips
Was there in 77 when I was 24...married for a year (divorced now...lol). My ex husband remembers bugs being all over the car in the parking lot and I remember stepping on one and it going crunch....lol. We were from NJ so this was very strange to us. I remember that lovely tree with the huge roots coming out of the ground and walking around the elaborate grounds...such a shame it is not a restaurant now...stranger still to see all that music equipment placed around the fountains and such...still a nice memory for me...Nice job on this video showing comparisons to before and now !
Went there every year as a kid in the 70s. Great memories with my grandparents.
I was a waitress here in the late 70s. So beautiful!
Always a great place ! Excellent service! Pleasant place . Servers always happy, smiling!! Great food . Never complaints.
Lots of $$. Spent there!! Lots! Why did they closed?
We visited the Kapok tree restaurant in Clearwater back in 1976. It was beautiful and just amazingly huge. It amazed me how they managed to feed the amount of people that went there. I have a small clipping of it on video with my children there.
I remember visiting the bathroom there as a kid during our visit as a family. The door to the entrance was a part of the stone wall. I thought that was coolest thing I had ever seen.
Well it seems a shame that a music store is in their now what a waste someone should buy it and turn it back into a restaurant
Absolutely agree
I'm so thankful it wasn't torn down. Maybe one day someone can turn it back.
I used to manage it and it was bought up by a big corporation, then it and several other company restaurants around the country were sold or developed for other uses. It was a case where the land was worth more split up and sold separately. I have amazing stories about events in every dining room, courtyards, and the mall.
I am the granddaughter of Richard Baumgardner
Dancing 0strich so what can you tell us about the restaurant and your family
My uncle worked at the Kapoc Tree
I went there to eat and I thought the tree was on the inside of the bldg. The gardens outside remind me of Ringling Museum in Sarasota. Good videos Camerasober. My old stompin grounds was Crows Bluff Community outside of Deland heading toward Paisley, Umatilla.
My Mom took us here every year until 1987. An amazing experience from 1980-87. I am sad it is no longer the restaurant. I wish I could restore it and oneday I might
One of the most amazing places. I have vivid memories as a child eating here.
My parents would go there when we lived in Tampa in the early 70's
I was at an educational convention in the late 90s in Tampa Florida and I had a field day that was cancelled to see the manatees so rented a car and ran in to this place. On the John Kennedy highway there is a big sign that said historic kapok tree so I went to see the kapok tree and found this beautiful building that used to be a restaurant. I wish you would have gotten close-ups of that wooden door inside because it was from I think the 12 century and had individual monks heads carved into it each one was a different real person centuries ago. You should have gotten close-ups of all of the various statues and you missed a very unusual thing in the garden. When you turn the corner back where the marble black and white patio is and you walk around all of a sudden there's this huge head of a goddess that is mesmerizing. And a close up of the fountain wall in the back would have been nice because your video didn't do it justice. My understanding that music store isn't there anymore but something else is in its place
Thanks for sharing!!!
I have dined there a few times in my younger days. Did not realize Sam ash "formerly Thoroughbred Music" put s store there, So many things that made Tampa Bay have gone away. Ringling Bros train in port Tampa, Bounty at the Webb City, Tom Sawyer Steam Paddle boat before the Davis island bridge. Sunken Gardens, Colonnade, The Requin Sub downtown. 49th street mining company, Club Detroit. so many things gone I figured I would move to a whole different country, lol Mission Bell theater and the other that ran "Rocky Horror picture show for 30+ years. the Banana docs, Bush Beer facility tours, Tampa Bay Mall, Remember pulling up Sponge from the bay when fishing as a kid. Clam fishing on the south side of the causeway.
I went there back in 1975. It was really nice.
Fascinating! The fountains may have to do with th true kapok tree, possibly a giant tree stump upon which the whole building is erected
I still have a glass from 1976. Alas, the green plastic straw with the orange lily around it is long gone.
Great video, thanks for sharing it.
Thank you sooooooo very much!!!!!
Had one in Davie. Such good memories. I remember the glass sculptures.
I remember you could cut their steak with a fork. The shrimp were huge. Circa 1972.
Does anyone remember a man outside of the Kapok Tree in the 70"s making things out of hand blown glass?
www.sun-sentinel.com/features/fl-kapok-tree-memorablia-20150724-story.html
There was three according to this link. They have a lot of information on the Kapok Tree History.
I still have a small rose made by the glass blower that was on the inside, I remember the place just being breath taking, a beautiful piano was played and it made you feel like, It was all for you, like you were the reason for it's Grandeur!
thanks for the memories
Great post!! So interesting, looking like an abandoned Greek city. It must have employed 2. Thousand people! Who goes there now? And besides the electronic store what is there?
There is another sound studio there and a special events company. I later found out the they hold weddings in the garden and they still use the Grand Ballroom for rehearsal dinners and such. That's why I couldn't get in at the time to that area.
My mother and I flew to Florida to visit my Aunt and Uncle ( mom's sister ) in 1982 when I graduated 8th grade. My Aunt and Uncle lived in Tampa and wanted to take us to The Kapok Tree Inn, we got all dressed up and went. I remember we ate in the Grand Ball Room. I have so many wonderful pictures, we also went to Disney World , and visited friends in Fort Lauderdale. Mom, and my Aunt and Uncle are all gone but my memories stay the same. Makes me sick to see its a music store, so sad!
Our prom was held there. It was considered "swanky" back then.
Great family memories of visits with parents to uncle and aunt and family! Fun!
This was High dollar busy very busy place. A lot of chefs moved into other local areas cause of this place .
how about the kapok trees? They were magical!
Is the Bounty(the replica used in the movie)still on the waterfront in St. Pete ?
Unfortunately, the irresponsible new owners of the Bounty took it out in the Atlantic ocean off of the coast of North Carolina (after about 1993, it spent Summers in Connecticut and Winters in St Pete) during Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and it sunk, killing two crew members. I remember visiting it as a child in St Petersburg.
Sad it's goneMy parents took us therefore special family dinners
Thanks heaps.
Lovely
I remerbed.when we went there,we were staying at my Aunts in St.Petersburg and we decided to go eat at there and we ordered a huge steak dinner and first,we had to wait for our Table and there was a place you could ordered a drink and wait for them to call your name and then we were sent to the Florida room and believed me,the food was really good.Good thing,I was a Kid,I don't even know,what my father paid for it all.I really miss this.
I was head bar there
sadly gone, like mama
i went to prom there lol
poo'd there 1970. all class no gas, figured why it closed