Adam is demonstrating a yearning for old places as he enters the midlife existential void phase of life when you realize you have more years behind you than forward , and that you can never go home again.Shh, you can hear the whispering darkness of the psycho-sphere in his videos.
@Patrick Dolan I haven't met a jerk like you in a while...what's your beef? All I see is negative comments about ATW. You take a lot of time to vent and express your negatively...seek help.
Proud to have opened Skull Kingdom (twice) , working there for 2 years as well as the original Terror back in 93-95! So much fun to haunt those places!
Terror On Church St was truly terrifying. I remember my friends that I went with once knocked me down and I tore my shirt trying to get away from the people chasing us. I miss that place!
I was lucky enough to remember going through all 4 of these attractions back in the day, including Grim house (before it was MM)growing up in Florida. It inspired me to do my own haunt in Virginia for 10 years, but now I live back in FL. Mortem Manor is great and I hope they continue to stay open. Thanks Adam for doing this video! Ps my metal band took band photos at that haunted mansion before the academy was there lol.
Hey Adam - Thanks for another great video & paying homage to some of our great Orlando Attractions. I was the Head Makeup & Character Designer for the eight-year run of Terror on Church Street, and also did a lot of work with Skull Kingdom, HHN, Old Town, and pretty much every attraction that has come and gone in the area. After being in the business for 30+ years, designing/consulting on dozens of Haunted Attractions around the world, and even garnering the moniker of "Hong Kong's 'Father of Halloween', nothing compares to the original TOCS. Thank you for helping keep the memories alive! ~ Alan Ostrander
What a coincidence! I was watching some of your old vlogs yesterday & happened to watch TDW 1300, from 6 years ago, where some strange guy kinda kicked you off the old Mystery Fun House property for filming. Such a surprise to see it in today’s video!
I celebrated Halloween at Church Street Station in 1995 and it was incredible. I was a 9 years old, English boy, on a family holiday to Orlando, Florida and I’d never experienced anything like it. They had a costume competition so people went all-out, from a lady dressed as Cleopatra being carried around by 4 Egyptians to a guy dressed as Death dragging a coffin behind him full of beer and sweets. What was so crazy to me, is that in England we didn’t really celebrate Halloween properly back then, other than trick or treating, but in Florida it was a huge deal. Also went to Universal Studios Halloween days/nights back then too - and took part in a Dominos pizza eating competition at the Wet and Wild that is no longer there on I-drive. I remember the Mercado well too, we used to go there in the evenings for a walk around. We went back to Orlando in 1999 and the Mercado was full of ‘Y2K’ trinkets and crap to buy because of all the conspiracy theories that were going around about Y2K messing up all the computers or something. Best memories ever.
I was having trouble sleeping last night, so I browsed around and came across your channel. I love it! I enjoy urban exploration videos, especially ones that talk about central Florida since I grew up here
Terror on Church Street was so ahead of the times. Ive been to numerous haunts but nothing ever came close until I went through Erebus in Michigan a few years ago. Thanks for the update!
oooh the Merita bakery! my goodness how good it smelled when you passed by, I also remember the Merita sign with that clock giving us the time! I also remember that ET sign!
I moved to Orlando in 2005 into my first place on my own and the nostalgia .. what is it.. like joy and crying at the same time and a lot of longing.. Idrive early and mid 2000s felt like it was a golden era. My future husband worked at the IHOP and I worked at the other end of Idrive. Restaurants were short on servers. You could make a lot of money but it was also cause of many of my ptsd dreams. Nightmares of apps getting to the table after entrées 😰 Still my favorite time in my life.
When I went to Florida when I was younger with my parents, 3 separate times through the 90s for Disney World, the space center, Universal, Sea World, and other sites - I remember most of the time away from the parks we spent was on "Kissimmee St. Cloud". I remember lots of cool restaurants, mini golf, and other fun kinda touristy things. That would have been like 1994, and again in 99/00. Good memories - need to make it back down again soon, but this time I want to take 301 down instead of i95 - much more to see in my opinion. Thank you for the daily videos - they make my day!
I lived on the opposite side of Universal from 99-01 and remember Skull Kingdom well. Never went in and definitely regret it. At night it would have huge fireballs shooting out the top of the castle every 15 min or so. Don’t know why but it always reminded me of that Chevy Chase, Dan Ackroyd movie “Nothing but Trouble”. I remember when that sphere on top of the round hotel had the Sheraton name on it. I think at one point there was a similar hotel that was round like that one just outside the Universal City, CA park. I think that one might have been torn down but I remember it from 1986 when I was there last. I definitely remember the smell of the Merita bread factory at Kaley Ave and the ET billboard. The ET billboard reminded me of the first guide map they had for the Orlando park, even before it opened (and I still own it). When I was attending UCF back then and worked at Universal I always drove by it going back and forth to work. Back then that’s where the majority of the traffic jams started on I-4, now they run most of the road in Orange County.
I used to be fascinated by the facades of the carnival dark rides as a kid. I would stare at them forever, I thought the artwork was amazing! The dark ride was never as scary as the facade.
So much has changed in the Orlando area. I first started visiting Downtown Disney, I-Drive and the area around Old Town when we lived in Ocala in the 1980's. My husband traveled a lot and we had one car so I would drive him to and from the Orlando airport and we often stayed on I-Drive. I remember seeing all the attractions you talked about, and more. We moved up north for a few years and then down to Apopka in 1991 and then spent a lot more time in that area and became Disney passholders. So much is gone that we frequented like Watermania, Splendid China and Mercado. Church Street Station pretty much died before we moved. I loved going there in its heyday. The last time I remember going there I saw Huey Lewis and the News perform on the street. I never went into Terror On Church Street but saw it and the long lines outside. I was especially sad to hear when they closed Wet & Wild and tore it down. We went there every summer. The first time I went before our son was even born in 1978 and I nearly drowned in the wave pool because I got stuck under someone's raft. They had to shut the waves off to get to me. I will forever remember that place though as being where a childhood friend of my son died when he was about 8 years old. The boy was running and ran into a rope between two stanchions and the force knocked him backwards. When he hit his head, it killed him. That was way too sad. I am sure that a lot more attractions and stores are gone since we left in 2003, but I prefer to remember the way it was.
my wife and i went to mystery fun house on our honeymoon in 1982 .it was lot of fun and not really scary but we always remembered it .thanks for showing it adam
Adam- mercado hosted a horror nights like event there one year... just before it was bulldozed. They had a few houses and one inside the former guiness book of world records museum, after it closed down and before it became the original location for the titanic museum. It was a pretty decent event and was bummed when they didn't get a chance to let it take off....
Glad you went by The Ernest Saves Christmas house again. I hadn't seen anything since Micah went by. Its going to be a real shame when one of you go by and its gone.
Love the revisits, Adam. Thank you for sharing the abandoned/forgotten Kissimmee! love your knowledge of these places. looked up mercado in Spanish/English dictionary: translates to market/marketplace..
I remember an odd attraction that unfortunately went under due to COVID. Over in Kissimmee was Manor Pro Wrestling Dinner Theatre. I always wanted to check it out but never had the chance. I believe it had a slight horror theme to it as well.
Thanks for sharing this video Adam always good to see something that was from the past that you remember. Thanks again.👍👍 1976 was the year I was born.
I really appreciate when you do these types of videos Adam because I’m 42 and lived in Orlando until I turned 18. My parents still live in Lake Mary where we actually lived so it’s really nice to see the old stomping ground’s. And believe Adam when he says the smell of fresh baked bread when you drove by the factory was amazing lol that’s an understatement! Terror on Church Street THE OG of Orlando horror ahh man the memories! Adam do you recall a restaurant called Bobby Rabinos? I still to this day claim the BEST baby back ribs I’ve had from Bobby Rabinos! I believe they still might be around Florida but idk if it’s still good and the location I’m talking about is not there anymore.
@@TheDailyWoo if you ever get a chance to come upstate New York there is a small city named Elmira alot of history of Mark Twain with his grave site at a local cemetery. Idk you might find it interesting
I never went to that Haunted Mansion place but I do remember it being that. But I did frequent the country bar, Alligator Alley, that it turned into. I can say that it had no haunted attraction stuff in it when it was that country bar.~~ I remember all these things that you mentioned in this video. Wish I had gone to them but when I came down on vacation with my parents my dad would have never paid for me to go in those and my ex husband was kinda chicken when it came to horror stuff. I liked the horror stuff but he didn’t. ~~ the hotel that has the sphere on the top has always had it. I think it was suppose to be a copy of the sphere at Universal cause I stayed there in the late 90s with my parents when it was called something like Studio City Hotel I believe. That was the place I stayed at when I got my first rental car ever. It was a yellow Mustang convertible. Not surprising for me. Lol.~~ Gods and Monsters shop… I remember that place. Specifically the bar in the back. That is where I ran into you and got a good photo with you in your Hulk Hogan scary mask that you purchased that night. Also where I met Ryan (Splorin’ Ryan) Greg (Greg’s Game Room) and Jay (Tampa Jay) for the first time.
I have been watching your channel for about a month now and I got hooked on your food reviews while you were in orange county California . I am a daily viewer now. If you are ever back in Eastern Oklahoma My wife and I will buy you dinner. Have a good one keep them coming.
Man remember all these! Mystery Fun house was awesome and they had a big sign on I4 you would see w the Wizard winkin at ya! In the mid 80s there was a Hollywood Wax museum on I4 as well near Sea World. You could see some of the wax sculptures from the highway. I remember Steve Martin being at Mystery Fun House.
I remember Terror on Church Street. I had a VHS camcorder and recorded the street parties that have been transferred to DVDs now. The old camcorder was donated to Skycraft Parts when it finally died. Nobody wanted an old broken down camcorder but if anyone could use it, it would be them.
I remember living on Goldenrod road in winter park in 2003 and finding out about Skycraft. Easily can spend hours in there looking at all the goodies. Still the same?
@@andrewman8763 They moved to 5021 Edgewater Drive (close to Lee Road) - They still have a lot of stuff, although I think the original site had more room.
Ah, Skycraft! My husband was an electronics technician, and we were always stopping by there looking for something he could use. When my son was little he bought everything there to build a mock space shuttle control so my son would feel like an astronaut! Is Skycraft still in business?
A pipping caffeinated beverage sounds good to me Mr. Adam. Then off on another great adventure with ATW, yeah ! Warmer weather all week in my neck of the woods. Then cold and snow on the weekend, yuck. March, April and May here. Be safe and well. God's speed.
My favorite haunt was at Thumb Fun in Door County, Wisconsin. I remember seeing a guy and his son almost literally carrying a woman away from the house, she seemed hysterical. And right there and then I knew I had to experience the Thumb Fun Haunted House. But maybe not that day. Eventually we all worked up the nerve and it didn't disappoint. Since then it's been torn down sadly. Everything changes. Door County is still one of the go to destinations of Chicagoans looking for a break in the country. Surprised that Carpetbagger has avoided Door Co. Oh well.
In the early 70's when I worked in Orlando, International drive was just a spur road off of Kirkman. The round tower with the sphere was a LaQuinta hotel called the Hi-Q, there was a large letter Q at the top where the sphere is now. It was visible from the Florida's Turnpike, I guess so the tourists going to Disney knew where the exit was. I used to drive past the Merita bakery building every day on my way to work, there was a time and alternating temp display right next to the Merita display. One day in the summer the temp display was 101 degrees, that was the day I said to myself when our contract is over, I'm out of here.
I stayed at the Delta Court of Flags in 1989. Great hotel. They were starting to build the Universal Studios park so I guess that's why it no longer exists!
I have never said "oh yeah" aloud so many times watching a video! Been visiting Orlando frequently since 1989. So many places I had forgotten about. Bring back Skull Kingdom I say!
I lived in Central Florida most of my life, and was a kid there in the 90s, and man... this was just a greatest hits of old memories. A couple things: I'm pretty sure the globe on top of that hotel used to have Sheraton letters around its circumference and was lit up with changing colors at night. Or maybe Hilton? I definitely recall there being writing on it. And I'm not sure if the Eye is exactly where Mercado used to be, but it seems likely. We used to go there often as a family when I was a kid as it was cheap entertainment for a poor family. Basically a Downtown Disney with a Mediterranean style. I also recall there was a restaurant near it called Darryl's that had a Western cowboy theme that we went to relatively often. No idea about any haunted walkthroughs, though.
Are you gonna traverse the Sunshine Skyway bridge someday for those who are not familiar with it - now THAT is scary in my book! AND, I vividly remember that tragic day when the huge ship hit it and the main span dropped into Tampa Bay. By the way, I used to live in Bellaire Beach, right across the channel from Clearwater Beach. I miss those days.
Oh man, i did Skull kingdom on Idrive back then! It was so good. At one point you go through and it’s completely pitch black and then you heard the most loud snarling dog that was terrifying. Also it was really well done. So fun. I took my best friend there for his 21st birthday prior to getting beverages. Also i totally remember the marita bread place. It was so nice while driving back and forth from my apt. It was very yeasty.
I will never forget Skull Kingdom. I took my small boys on the enchanted day tour. Not so much enchanted more like terrifying 😂 literally traumatised them 😧😂
I remember the Birnbaum’s guide book had the “Orlando” section in the back and Mystery Fun House was always in there and Wet N’ Wild. Boardwalk and Baseball. Cypress Gardens.
huge shame that Terror ended up closing down. one of the European Pasaje’s still exists in Blackpool, England and it’s absolutely incredible easily the best haunted house in the country
As far as i can recall, there was never a haunted walk-thru in the Mercado. There was a magic shop but that's about it. Terror on Church Street is by the far the scariest haunted attracted I've been to. They really knew how to mess with you on a psychological level. Orlando had a certain energy back then that it does not have anymore. International Drive used to be packed on weekends. It still has some activity but nothing like the 90's and early 2000's.
Terror on church street was so fun miss it so much . Used to love go with my best friend. They had characters walk around while you stood in line . Still have my ticket stubs
I remember the old Mystery Fun House from the 70s and closed in the 90s. Was alot of fun! Do you remember the old "Stars hall of fame" Wax Museum from the 70s & 80s, was on I4 near the Merita Bread place.
Well you couldn't of timed that better Adam, just got a hot beverage, ham sandwich, and your vlog, makes for a great lunchtime, Thankyou, now to watchin you 😊
That DeLorean used to be inside George’s Music. I used to go there all the time in the ’90s. I also used to frequent the Mericado. There was an Irish Pub called Cricketer’s Arms. Also a Spy shop. They had a Titanic exhibit there in the later years. Not sure what occupied the space before. I don’t remember any kind of haunted place, though.
Adam as you mentioned about businesses that are no longer around it got me thinking about the many here in Torrance California from back in the day that are no longer like the arcade you did a video on here in Redondo Beach the Fun Factory which is now closed for good and it really hurts to see what used to be disappear and one thing out here in Torrance California I miss more than anything is a mall called Old Town Mall which had the total retro look it even had a mary go round in there but I often ask myself why does society have to change thing and give it that modern day look old retro buildings are where it’s at and I just wish the businesses from back in the day where still around like I always say if it’s not broke do get rid of it now if you have some free time Adam look up The Old Town Mall here in Torrance California you’ll be amazed at the way it looked inside and outside anyways thanks again for a tour of what once was and the Orlando Downtown and by the way Downtown is very beautiful now with that being said peace ☮️ love ❤️ and happiness to you Adam and I’ll see you on the next vlog adventure wherever it takes you also please be safe out there
The sphere looks similar, but the one on top of the building looks like it has an extra wrap-around bit in the middle like “The Daily Planet” sphere does. Hey, did you ever see Scott Yuken at those haunted attractions? I think he worked at one or something?
