Trip Report A Visit to Splendid China an abandoned amusement park!

OFTEric · 08-21-2008, 09:58 AM

I had the pleasure of going to Splendid China recently. For those of you who are not aware, Splendid China is an amusement park in Central Florida that closed in 2003. If you want to read up on Splendid China and it's history I suggest you read http://www.lostparks.com/china.html or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splendid_China so you can learn about it's history and what contributed to it's closure!

So I was able to visit last week as a treat for my friend JP who just moved back to Indiana. I want people to know that we had gotten an okay to be there, so know that we were not trespassing, and I would never suggest, or imply that trespassing is ok.

Now on to SPLENDID CHINA!

Making out way into Splendid China

Heading over to Guest Parking

Why can I not get tickets?

The main plaza

A mess of wires

A Beautiful theatre!

You could tell it was once a great place!

Employee costumes left

I don't think it is going to open anytime soon!

A lot of care went into the displays!

The overgrowth was beautiful!

Yes I am this charming in real life!

JP on the great wall!

So beautiful!

This didn't feel like Florida!

Walking the wall with care!

We wanted to explore everything!

OFTEric vs. The Hidden City

Really great care went into these displays!

Jump

Taking a walk!

It was really beautiful!

I am really glad I was able to visit Splendid China! I wish it was still running! The buildings are all in great shape, and you can tell that they built the park to last through the ages! It is amazing how some of the plants that they brought over from China are still alive and well without additional care!

I would like to go back with a better camera and more time! All in all it was surreal to be in a place built to bring people joy, and have it be empty and abandoned.

mikeland · 08-21-2008, 11:55 AM

I remember going to this place and thinking that it would be great as a side exhibit for a great Chinese restaurant, but the price of admission alone was not worth it.

Thanks for the memories!

WheresMickey · 08-21-2008, 12:06 PM

Nice photos!

*SummerInFL* · 08-21-2008, 12:18 PM

Wow, I had no idea this had closed, thanks for the photos Eric, sad that it's no longer available.

BC_DisneyGeek · 08-21-2008, 12:37 PM

Looks like it was once a quaint little park. I love the tiny great wall.

OFTEric · 08-21-2008, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BC_DisneyGeek

Looks like it was once a quaint little park. I love the tiny great wall.

The great wall was amazing! It is 1 mile long and was built brick by brick! We took extreme care when walking on it, as we did not want to harm the amazing wall!

OFTEric · 08-21-2008, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeland

I remember going to this place and thinking that it would be great as a side exhibit for a great Chinese restaurant, but the price of admission alone was not worth it.

Thanks for the memories!

do you have any photos you could post of the attraction when it was running?

Olympicnut · 08-21-2008, 12:52 PM

Awesome!!!

Nancywitt · 08-21-2008, 12:59 PM

It sure didn't take long for Mother Nature to reclaim that bit of land. I wonder why noone has snatched up that land?

Great photos by the way. Thanks for sharing.

mikeland · 08-21-2008, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OFTEric

do you have any photos you could post of the attraction when it was running?

Yes ... I found one with my nephews and one of the statues. I didn't happen to see this statue in your photos above.

I will try to look for more, but I don't think I have any.

*SummerInFL* · 08-21-2008, 01:09 PM

Love ya Mike but the faceless kids are freaking me out.

OFTEric · 08-21-2008, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeland

Yes ... I found one with my nephews and one of the statues. I didn't happen to see this statue in your photos above.

I will try to look for more, but I don't think I have any.

Sadly I didn't get a photo with this statue! But thank you so much for sharing the pic! Hopefully you will find more!

mikeland · 08-21-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SummerInFL

Love ya Mike but the faceless kids are freaking me out.

Funny! I just wanted to protect their privacy. Of course if you look for them in Facebook or Myspace, they're all out there now.

OFTEric · 08-21-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SummerInFL

Wow, I had no idea this had closed, thanks for the photos Eric, sad that it's no longer available.

We need to have a photo expedition day! You, me, Nobdyhome, and a script for a parkour meets scooby doo meets teen slasher meets youtube meets micechat movie!

*SummerInFL* · 08-21-2008, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OFTEric

We need to have a photo expedition day! You, me, Nobdyhome, and a script for a parkour meets scooby doo meets teen slasher meets youtube meets micechat movie!

LOL I would SO be game for this. We could use Stitchs Great Mistake as the horrific slasher scene.

08-21-2008, 09:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
OFTEric Orlando Fun Tickets Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Orlando Florida Posts: 1,207	A Visit to Splendid China an abandoned amusement park! I had the pleasure of going to Splendid China recently. For those of you who are not aware, Splendid China is an amusement park in Central Florida that closed in 2003. If you want to read up on Splendid China and it's history I suggest you read http://www.lostparks.com/china.html or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splendid_China so you can learn about it's history and what contributed to it's closure! So I was able to visit last week as a treat for my friend JP who just moved back to Indiana. I want people to know that we had gotten an okay to be there, so know that we were not trespassing, and I would never suggest, or imply that trespassing is ok. Now on to SPLENDID CHINA! Making out way into Splendid China Heading over to Guest Parking Why can I not get tickets? The main plaza A mess of wires A Beautiful theatre! You could tell it was once a great place! Employee costumes left I don't think it is going to open anytime soon! A lot of care went into the displays! The overgrowth was beautiful! Yes I am this charming in real life! JP on the great wall! So beautiful! This didn't feel like Florida! Walking the wall with care! We wanted to explore everything! OFTEric vs. The Hidden City Really great care went into these displays! Jump Taking a walk! It was really beautiful! I am really glad I was able to visit Splendid China! I wish it was still running! The buildings are all in great shape, and you can tell that they built the park to last through the ages! It is amazing how some of the plants that they brought over from China are still alive and well without additional care! I would like to go back with a better camera and more time! All in all it was surreal to be in a place built to bring people joy, and have it be empty and abandoned. __________________ This is just Eric

08-21-2008, 11:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
mikeland World Traveler Join Date: May 2005 Location: Aventura, FL Posts: 3,462	Re: A Visit to Splendid China an abandoned amusement park! I remember going to this place and thinking that it would be great as a side exhibit for a great Chinese restaurant, but the price of admission alone was not worth it. Thanks for the memories! __________________

08-21-2008, 12:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
WheresMickey Looking for Hidden Mickey Join Date: May 2008 Location: 626 SGV Posts: 1,397	Re: A Visit to Splendid China an abandoned amusement park! Nice photos! __________________ Check out my page at www.myspace.com/wheresmickey Check out my pin collection at www.pinpics.com. User name is WheresMickey Roller Coaster Counter, how many did you go on? Check out my list! http://www.coastercounter.com/WheresMickey

08-21-2008, 12:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
SummerInFL Nerds are Hot. MiceChat Teen Scene Leader MiceChat VMK Forum Leader MiceChat Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Not close enough to WDW... Posts: 12,521	Re: A Visit to Splendid China an abandoned amusement park! Wow, I had no idea this had closed, thanks for the photos Eric, sad that it's no longer available. __________________ Your portal to WDW photos... www.wdwfanpics.com

08-21-2008, 12:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
BC_DisneyGeek Merry Christmas Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1,315	Re: A Visit to Splendid China an abandoned amusement park! Looks like it was once a quaint little park. I love the tiny great wall. __________________

08-21-2008, 12:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
Olympicnut Happy Winter! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Baby it's cold outside. Posts: 14,117 Blog Entries: 49	Re: A Visit to Splendid China an abandoned amusement park! Awesome!!! __________________ "I'm a drinker with a writing problem." Brendan Behan - poet

08-21-2008, 12:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
Nancywitt Faith, Trust & Pixie dust Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pennsylvania6-5000 Posts: 2,815	Re: A Visit to Splendid China an abandoned amusement park! It sure didn't take long for Mother Nature to reclaim that bit of land. I wonder why noone has snatched up that land? Great photos by the way. Thanks for sharing. __________________

08-21-2008, 01:09 PM	#11 (permalink)
SummerInFL Nerds are Hot. MiceChat Teen Scene Leader MiceChat VMK Forum Leader MiceChat Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Not close enough to WDW... Posts: 12,521	Re: A Visit to Splendid China an abandoned amusement park! Love ya Mike but the faceless kids are freaking me out. __________________ Your portal to WDW photos... www.wdwfanpics.com