Emerald Island/Oak Island experts...random question for you

[HeatherFeather]

Hi all,

Just got back from our first offsite stay at a townhome in Emerald Island resort. Everything was great except the quality of the mattresses. Other than that, I would definitely stay here again. Location is fantastic and facilities are very nice.

Now to my question. What in the world is the massive Asian fenced complex along Formosa and Funie Steed Roads? It is clealy abandoned and had No Trespassing signs everywhere. There were buildings back there and some sort of model of a temple perhaps? Also some man made mountains and loads of other interesting looking stuff.

DH and I were dying to go explore, but too chicken. One day we saw 4 young people on Funie Steed and one with a video camera was going over the fence. When we drove by again about an hour later there were at least 6 police cars stationed outside the complex at various places and one of the locked gates was open. So now we are EXTRA curious. What is/was that place? Maybe some sort of abandoned Buddhist retreat. Very spooky....

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Is it the old Splendid China?? Never went but it was in that area I think.

 

[MYDISNEYHOUSES]

Yes, that is the old Splendid China. I was at one time a Chinese themed amusment park. It think it was more educational than rides. It closed in 2003.

 

[perdidochas]

Hi all,

Just got back from our first offsite stay at a townhome in Emerald Island resort. Everything was great except the quality of the mattresses. Other than that, I would definitely stay here again. Location is fantastic and facilities are very nice.

Now to my question. What in the world is the massive Asian fenced complex along Formosa and Funie Steed Roads? It is clealy abandoned and had No Trespassing signs everywhere. There were buildings back there and some sort of model of a temple perhaps? Also some man made mountains and loads of other interesting looking stuff.

DH and I were dying to go explore, but too chicken. One day we saw 4 young people on Funie Steed and one with a video camera was going over the fence. When we drove by again about an hour later there were at least 6 police cars stationed outside the complex at various places and one of the locked gates was open. So now we are EXTRA curious. What is/was that place? Maybe some sort of abandoned Buddhist retreat. Very spooky....

It was Splendid China, which was a theme park that also had a Chinese restaurant that you coudl go to. We stayed in the La Quinta that is close by, and drove around the parking lot out of curiousity. I'm not surprised it went out of business, but the brochures looked pretty neat.

 

[HeatherFeather]

Thanks for the quick answer! While we were wondering about this, DH said to me, "Well when we get back you can ask on the DIS and I'm sure they'll know." He was right!

 

[sympatico]

Yes, it was Splendid China. We went there when it first opened and thought is was good. It was mostly scaled replicas of what you would see in China. A lot of work went into construction and detail. There were also a few acrobatic and magic shows, chinese food etc. It was good but with so many other things to see and do in Orlando no one had the extra time to visit it. It may have done better in an area where attractions were more limited.

 

[allyn]

florida splendid china links:
Florida Splendid China, Kissimmee, Florida [closed]
Florida Splendid China: one of Florida's Lost Tourist Attractions
Splendid China photoset on flickr
Florida Splendid China original web site (from internet archive wayback machine, very slow)