Eli's Orange World
Kissimmee, FL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Here's a rather huge orange, perhaps the world's largest? The giant Orange World certainly makes a strong case. Rising above Highway 192, this oversized piece of citrus has been tempting travelers to pull over for years. It may not be as old as it looks, but it has become one of those landmarks that's hard to imagine the road without.

Florida has always had a knack for building giant roadside attractions, and Orange World fits right in. Step inside and you'll find everything from fresh citrus and orange juice to souvenirs and plenty of Florida kitsch. It's the kind of place that reminds you of the days when family vacations included stops at orange groves before heading off to the theme parks. The giant orange standing here today replaced an earlier version that was destroyed by fire in the late 1970s. More recently, another fire in 2023 filled the building with smoke and temporarily closed the shop, but Orange World bounced back after repairs and is once again welcoming visitors.

UPDATE: Orange World is still open, and the giant orange continues welcoming travelers along Highway 192. 07-26

Jungleland (Demolished)
Kissimmee, FL
Photo courtesy Bob Jagendorf

Welcome to Jungle Land, a roadside attraction with Alligator wrestling, snakes, and other local animals. This has been around since I was a kid and is now closed down for good. Many thanks to Bob Jagendorf for info.

Driving down Highway 192, it was almost impossible to miss Jungleland. Out front was a gigantic concrete alligator stretching an incredible 126 feet long, complete with a safari jeep parked inside its open mouth. It was exactly the kind of over-the-top roadside attraction that made Florida highways so much fun to explore. You didn't have to go inside the zoo to remember seeing that gator. It was an attraction all by itself.

The park opened in the late 1970s as Alligatorland before later becoming Jungleland. Inside were hundreds of animals, from big cats and bears to birds and, of course, plenty of alligators. For years it was one of the more memorable stops along the Kissimmee tourist strip, where every attraction tried to outdo the next with something bigger or stranger. Even after the zoo closed, the giant alligator lingered for years, becoming a landmark for anyone driving through the area.

UPDATE: Jungleland closed in 2002. The giant alligator and the rest of the zoo were demolished in 2014, and the roadside landmark is gone. 07-26

Sinclair Gas
Weeki Wachee, FL
Photo courtesy Randie Lee Van Ness

Here's is a photo of a former Sinclair Gas Station on highway 50 in Weeki Wachee, FL. Many thanks to Randie Lee Van Ness for info. 02-08

Traveling through Weeki Wachee, it is hard not to notice the Sinclair Gas station with its familiar green dinosaur watching over U.S. 19. Back when nearly every oil company had its own mascot, Sinclair's friendly Brontosaurus was one of the most recognizable sights on America's highways. It was the kind of place where you could fill the tank before heading over to see the famous Weeki Wachee mermaids.

The station served travelers for years along this busy stretch of road, and its dinosaur sign gave it a little extra personality. Like so many old service stations, it eventually outlived its days as a gas station but found a new purpose instead of disappearing altogether. The building is still easy to recognize, even though the pumps and Sinclair signs have long since vanished.

UPDATE: The old Sinclair station survives today as an auto repair shop and U-Haul dealer. The familiar Sinclair dinosaur sign has been removed. 07-26