Abandoned old Hard Rock Cafe at Universal Orlando Resort

[KingEric]

Ok so Universal Studios Orlando has a dirty little secret. Back behind the happy kidzone, there is an abandoned building. It seems so odd, that in the middle of this beautiful world class resort that there would be a building that resembles a haunted house... yet there is.

Back before the creation of the Universal Orlando Resort, and the beautiful new Hard Rock Cafe, and Hard Rock Hotel, there was a Smaller Hard Rock Cafe, that was half inside the park and half outside the park.


On a park map from 1996


The once beautiful exterior.

Today sadly this building was caught in the middle when they built the entire Resort.



As you can see the guitar is now cutoff, with no parking lot to extend to. This building has always fascinated me, so this past weekend, I went and took some pictures to show this modern ruin in the midst of this World Class Resort.


From a distance you can catch glimpses of it.






As you get close you can see how it is locked up, and looks like something straight out of Halloween Horror Nights.


Riding Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster you can get a neat glimpse of this former Icon.







I do hope that some day they either get rid of it, or fit it with a new attraction/show/restaurant but until then it will hold my fascination as a modern ruin, in a word class resort.

[Fishbulb]

DUDE! That is crazy! I remember going there on my first trip to Orlando.

[Melonballer]

You know, turning it into a maze for Halloween Horror Nights is not a bad idea.

[lighttragic]

if they turn it into a maze it should be a Hard rock house of horrors. a chain restaurant gone horribly wrong... Wrought with bankruptcy and the threat of closure the owners of the chain consult with a psychic . While with they psychic they are convinced that the only way to make the restaurant successful again is to showcase the darkside of hollywood... as the props are hung from these old style horror films, the props come to life and the characters come back and haunt and terrify the guests of the restaurant ... That was 20yrs ago, no one has been allowed in untill now.. Is the place still haunted? Step on in to find out

[KingEric]

if you are backstage at Universal you actually have to drive under it to get from Terminator to the main backstage areas. It is pretty creepy stuff. But I think they should totally use it as a house for HHN

[TravisMT81]

I think the Hard Rock Corp still uses the building as a "vault" for alot of their props/collectibles.

[yoyoflamingo]

Completely forgot about this version of Hard Rock - Thanks for sharing!

[lazyboy97O]

Great photos. I made a point of trying to see how much was still visible on my last trip down to Universal Orlando. I have become quite fascinated with the Resort and its history, of which there does not seem to be a lot of readily available information.

[aimster]

I ate there in 1993. When the BF & I were at Universal in 2009, I took him back there to show him the building.]

Now... how about rustling up some photos of the old Bates Motel/Psycho House photo op that used to be in a back corner. I remember being totally fascinated and creeped out at the same time looking at that set.

[KingEric]

@Aimster - do you have any old family photos of that trip?

@Lazyboy - I have been thinking about such a book, or guide. I know a lot of Universal history, but there is so much more. When I was at IOA this past weekend, I decided that I really wanted to know the story behind the entrance music to IOA, the whole composition periode, etc.

@Travis - hmmm I haven't heard this, underneath this building it is rusty, and I know that the doors are not secured.

[lazyboy97O]

@Lazyboy - I have been thinking about such a book, or guide. I know a lot of Universal history, but there is so much more. When I was at IOA this past weekend, I decided that I really wanted to know the story behind the entrance music to IOA, the whole composition periode, etc.

I would buy one. I was thinking about even just trying to compile enough information to do a good reference/history website.

[KingEric]

I would buy one. I was thinking about even just trying to compile enough information to do a good reference/history website.

well... hmmm maybe we can better collect information on here some how.

[aimster]

@Aimster - do you have any old family photos of that trip?

Which trip? 1993 or 2009?

[KingEric]

Which trip? 1993 or 2009?

1993 por favor!