Kapok Tree Inn

[jtdl]

Is there anyone out there that knows anything about this restaurant? I went when I was a kid and thought it was the most awesome place ever! We even had family pictures taken by photographers. I asked at the Florida Welcome Centre and they thought it had closed down. I don't even know exactly where it was. I know we stayed in Orlando and Ocala on that trip (many, many years ago).

 

[Citrus Swirl]

Yes, it has closed down. I also remember going there many years ago. I tend to recall the menu was limited but good. Fried shrimp, chicken and ham. The drinks came in hurriane glasses with the Kapok Tree Inn logo on it. (I think I still have one buried away in the basement). This sure brings back alot of memories...the statues and and all.. I think the one I went to was near the Tampa area.

 

[talicskai]

I remember that restaurant! We went in 1974 and during every trip thereafter. It closed down at least 10 years ago but what great memories!
Thanks for reminding me of it!

Teresa

 

[jtdl]

I'd say it must've been around 1974-75 when we went also. I remember they did have steak. Being the age I was, I did not like steak and ordered the chicken. But I remember tasting my mom's steak and loving it. I remember there were several dining rooms and everyone registered at a desk and ordered and then when your meal was ready, your name and dining room was announced over the speaker system. It was great - you could wander around the grounds instead of sitting at a table waiting for your food. We were probably in Tampa, I remember now staying on the beach for a night or two, so that was probably the beach. It does bring back memories doesn't it?!

 

[Otter49]

The original Kapok was in Clearwater, west of Tampa.

It was a fun place with sort of average food, but you didn't go for the food anyway. I remember something with powdered sugar on it that the place was known for.

There were expansion plans for Orlando and other Florida cities at one time. The O'town location would have been somewhere in the vicinity of Belz.

I remember driving by the shell of the Kapok building in 1990, so it's been closed a long while.

 

[dturner]

The original Kapok was in Clearwater, west of Tampa.

It was a fun place with sort of average food, but you didn't go for the food anyway. I remember something with powdered sugar on it that the place was known for.

There were expansion plans for Orlando and other Florida cities at one time. The O'town location would have been somewhere in the vicinity of Belz.

I remember driving by the shell of the Kapok building in 1990, so it's been closed a long while.

I also went to Kapok Tree Inn as a kid. WOW, what a trip down memory lane. I still have a couple of those hurricane glasses, the dates were on them, mine says 1974 - thanks to the OP for making me remember that place.