Dezerland is up and running, I’ve been twice already, amazing car collection, especially for James Bond fans! The boat and plane you saw are from Bond movies.
Ahhh. Memories of visiting Orlando from the UK on several occasions in the mid-to-late 2000s. When it was Festival Bay and had a large fountain outside the entrance. I remember there being Fuddruckers, a Ron Jon surf shop and some outdoor gear shop. It was a ghost town.
Steve and Barrys, HotTopic, Cinemark, Vans Skatepark, RonJons, Bass Pro Shops, NeonGolf and later on Gods and Monster. This was the most kickass mall for teens and young adults. You get the coolest venues with none of the crowds you get from the Florida mall. When Vans left and S&B went bankrupt, it went downhill.
now it's turned into a massive arcade; way better now that it's become Dezerland. Go there to check out the tricked out 2008 Bentley coverable, bowling ally, bumper cars, go carts, an awesome pin ball arcade, and a ton more. My only issue is the location of the bathroom is hilariously hidden in the back behind 3 sets of doors in what can only be described as some "back stage" area (seriously????).
Interesting! While on a trip to Orlando, I visited that mall in february of 2014 and it was completely empty. The Bass Pro Shop anchor was still open but it's door to the mall was closed. I walked around the inside of the mall and there was maybe 2 or 3 desperation stores still open (like hair and nail places, tarot readers...) and one of the water features inside was still operating. The new (at the time) Outlets mall down the road on the other hand was rocking it hard and packed.
"People don't build circular malls for a reason" --Yet the circular design of the Mall of America is considered to be one of the reasons it has been so successful.... hmmm....
I lived in Orlando for 27 years and have watched the Democrat leadership turn Orlando towards decline and poverty. They transformed Pine Hills into a crime ridden slum. Even with all the development downtown is declining inspite of the development. College Park is heavily LGBTQ with crime issues from neighboring Pine Hills. Ben White Raceway is gone and Lake Fairview Park is a not a nice place to go anymore. Rosemont has been destroyed. The Golf Club, Tennis Club, and Restaurant named The Vintage is gone. Even Publix has closed its stores in Rosemont and Pine Hills. Mercy Hospital on Mercy Drive closed. The slum and the crime has spread to Metro-West, Ocoee. Windermere is still nice. I-Drive is degraded and crime there is a problem. The Democrat leadership will eventually destroy the Orlando area.
Sounded like one of those malls that was quite fantastic and too big to fail. Sadly that's exactly what it did. And it's too bad one can seem to put it back together. It's a great space for all sorts of activities.
Orlando has 3 other indoor malls and several outdoor malls. Nothing lasts here if it isn't Disney or Universal. You gotta love people who buy spaces that have failed multiple times and think their idea will be a success.
I was in this mall in the early 2000's and it was dead then.. It gave me the feeling and looks of a Mills Mall, Why? It has a Bass Pro Shop.. All or most Mills Malls have either a Bass Pro or Cabalas store. (Bass Pro owns Cabalas)
One of the most beautiful malls in Central Florida at least - Now repurposed as Dezerland Auto Museum. Only a shell of its wonderful past, but it was always too far on the outskirts for the traffic it deserved.
The competition in the area is too good, not to mention it IS genuinely a pain in the ass to get to. I went there a few times when it was Artegon... Only went for Gods & Monsters, and the Theater. I do go to Outdoor World every now and then because that place is fantastic. It's a shame, but honestly the Outlet Mall is nearby and they're doing just fine... Aside from the parking. I hate the parking there, it's literally impossible.
Dezerland is up and running, I’ve been twice already, amazing car collection, especially for James Bond fans! The boat and plane you saw are from Bond movies.
Ahhh. Memories of visiting Orlando from the UK on several occasions in the mid-to-late 2000s. When it was Festival Bay and had a large fountain outside the entrance.
I remember there being Fuddruckers, a Ron Jon surf shop and some outdoor gear shop. It was a ghost town.
Me too!
There was a nice little pub on the outside too
Steve and Barrys, HotTopic, Cinemark, Vans Skatepark, RonJons, Bass Pro Shops, NeonGolf and later on Gods and Monster. This was the most kickass mall for teens and young adults. You get the coolest venues with none of the crowds you get from the Florida mall. When Vans left and S&B went bankrupt, it went downhill.
I didn’t know I could watch video after video of dead malls ! Love it, thank you 👍🏽 xx
now it's turned into a massive arcade; way better now that it's become Dezerland. Go there to check out the tricked out 2008 Bentley coverable, bowling ally, bumper cars, go carts, an awesome pin ball arcade, and a ton more. My only issue is the location of the bathroom is hilariously hidden in the back behind 3 sets of doors in what can only be described as some "back stage" area (seriously????).
It's now Dezerland.
I’m excited about it
What a cool idea for a mall. I love the animals you could ride on. Its too bad it didn't make it as an artegon. Thanks for the video. 💕
Excellent work! Again. This time, you really take us there and to it in the past. Future there - IDK but you’ve got me thinking of that too.
Interesting back story RR. Strange, all the concepts they tried with this place seemed like decent ideas. Nice work! Thank you.👍🏼🤘🏼😎
Interesting! While on a trip to Orlando, I visited that mall in february of 2014 and it was completely empty. The Bass Pro Shop anchor was still open but it's door to the mall was closed. I walked around the inside of the mall and there was maybe 2 or 3 desperation stores still open (like hair and nail places, tarot readers...) and one of the water features inside was still operating. The new (at the time) Outlets mall down the road on the other hand was rocking it hard and packed.
Yaaay thank you! Ive been here so many times! The place has been surreal since... 2011 honestly
"People don't build circular malls for a reason" --Yet the circular design of the Mall of America is considered to be one of the reasons it has been so successful.... hmmm....
I loved Artegon. It was so unique and fun to shop at
I remember when this mall had a Dixie crossroads in it! Literally only reason I went
I lived here 18 years. When that mall had the skate park and Steve and Barry’s, it did very well. Once that left…. It was done
I lived in Orlando for 27 years and have watched the Democrat leadership turn Orlando towards decline and poverty. They transformed Pine Hills into a crime ridden slum. Even with all the development downtown is declining inspite of the development. College Park is heavily LGBTQ with crime issues from neighboring Pine Hills. Ben White Raceway is gone and Lake Fairview Park is a not a nice place to go anymore. Rosemont has been destroyed. The Golf Club, Tennis Club, and Restaurant named The Vintage is gone. Even Publix has closed its stores in Rosemont and Pine Hills. Mercy Hospital on Mercy Drive closed. The slum and the crime has spread to Metro-West, Ocoee. Windermere is still nice. I-Drive is degraded and crime there is a problem. The Democrat leadership will eventually destroy the Orlando area.
Would you like some cheese with that whine?
Sounded like one of those malls that was quite fantastic and too big to fail. Sadly that's exactly what it did. And it's too bad one can seem to put it back together. It's a great space for all sorts of activities.
Thanks for the tour.
Orlando has 3 other indoor malls and several outdoor malls. Nothing lasts here if it isn't Disney or Universal. You gotta love people who buy spaces that have failed multiple times and think their idea will be a success.
Check out the Courtland Center Mall in Flint MI. That is a ghost mall.
I think old town has the ride ons now at fun rides
I was in this mall in the early 2000's and it was dead then.. It gave me the feeling and looks of a Mills Mall, Why? It has a Bass Pro Shop.. All or most Mills Malls have either a Bass Pro or Cabalas store. (Bass Pro owns Cabalas)
5:50 Look at all that (empty) parking! Clearly they expected so much more.
8:25 Great shot.
One of the most beautiful malls in Central Florida at least - Now repurposed as Dezerland Auto Museum. Only a shell of its wonderful past, but it was always too far on the outskirts for the traffic it deserved.
Feel weird watching this. I went to Bass Pro Shops all the time, went to Fuddruckers, watched a movie.
Same here. Although every now and again I'd hit up Long John and A&W. and the bookstore. sigh.
It is done and open now!
Not as a mall
Vans used to be there.
Pipe and drape does not a wall make.
Change it into apartments, that will work out.
Too soon, jr.
The competition in the area is too good, not to mention it IS genuinely a pain in the ass to get to. I went there a few times when it was Artegon... Only went for Gods & Monsters, and the Theater. I do go to Outdoor World every now and then because that place is fantastic.
It's a shame, but honestly the Outlet Mall is nearby and they're doing just fine... Aside from the parking. I hate the parking there, it's literally impossible.
Lmao everything around here is 🗑….wish it would clean up,
The irony is that theres a Cinemark now. 🤣🤣🤣
The Cinemark was there before the mall was built. I used to park right about where the indoor golf is at now.
It was a dead mall that never lived.
Old people using the word "extreme". Cringe.