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Big Bamboo Lounge

1977 establishments in Florida2004 disestablishments in FloridaBuildings and structures in Kissimmee, FloridaDefunct restaurants in FloridaDrinking establishments in Florida
Houston AstrosRestaurants disestablished in 2004Restaurants established in 1977

The Big Bamboo Lounge was a bar in Kissimmee, Florida known as a popular after-work hangout for players, coaches, and fans of the Houston Astros during spring training in nearby Osceola County Stadium and year-round for employees of the Walt Disney World Resort. It was located at 4849 W. Irlo Bronson Highway, Kissimmee, FL 34746. It was known simply as "The Boo" by regulars. One of those regulars was Ralph Kent, the Disney artist who was hired by Walt himself in 1963. The front of the bar was decorated with a World War II-era ambulance and spotting tower which were maintained by customer and employee volunteers. The bar opened in 1977 when Bruce Muir, a former World War II fighter pilot, bought the former home of a doctor and modeled the bar after those he had experienced in the South Pacific. The walls were decorated with Disney employee name tags and business cards from visitors. In keeping with the theme of the South Pacific of the 1930s bartenders wore Hawaiian shirts and featured swing music. The Big Bamboo was closed in 2004 due to hurricane damage. In December 2005, a fire destroyed the building, believed by officials to be started by vagrants trying to keep warm. The bar remains closed.The bar featured an eclectic drink menu (cocktails, beer, wine) with the signature drinks being "The Big Bamboo" and the legendary "Swamp Water," with the former listed in the menu as made with "Rum, rum, and more rum" and having an appropriately murky dark greenish appearance. The bar did not make or serve food; however, at various times bagged snack chips were available for purchase. Customers were also allowed and encouraged to order pizza delivery to the bar. Over the years employees from both Universal and Walt Disney World donated a limited amount of theme park paraphernalia. Most notable and recognizable were Disney ride vehicle seats from "Test Track" which found a home in the small hallway just outside the restrooms. Perhaps most unique to the Big Bamboo was the tradition of "The Book" which was kept under the bar. "The Book" was an album of photos of mostly female patrons who were photographed flashing their breasts in the bar and who also would then donate their bras to "The 'Boo" so they could then be stapled to the ceiling of the bar. The current whereabouts of "The Book" are not known.In 2003, Astro's broadcaster Larry Dierker was so enamored with the bar that he built a replica at the Astros Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.On Sept 1, 2020, the now-vacant land was sold for $1,150,000. No information can be found pertaining to what will be built at the site but there is a blurry design for a building with parking and "lake bamboo" https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/4849-W-Irlo-Bronson-Memorial-Hwy_Kissimmee_FL_34746_M51799-74238#photo0 In early spring 2021 the property was observed to have been recently enclosed by what appears to be a construction fence. No signage was observed.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Big Bamboo Lounge (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors).

Big Bamboo Lounge
West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway,

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N 28.33347 ° E -81.47663 °
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123 Plus Dollar Store

West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
34746
Florida, United States
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Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center

Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center is a hotel and convention center, opened in Kissimmee, Florida, on February 2, 2002. It also acts as the de facto convention center for Osceola County, Florida, until plans for their own dedicated convention center are realized. It has 500,000 sq ft (46,000 m2) of total meeting space, and a total of 1,718 guest rooms and suites. Gaylord Palms is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (formerly known as Gaylord Entertainment Company), and operated by Marriott International. It is a sister hotel to the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, and Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center. It is located at the corner of International Drive South and Osceola Parkway, about 1⁄2 mile (800 m) east of Interstate 4, 1⁄2 mile (800 m) west of the Central Florida GreeneWay, 1-mile (1.6 km) north of US 192 and a few minutes away from Walt Disney World Resort. Gaylord Palms was originally to be named Opryland Hotel Florida. However, when Gaylord Entertainment decided to re-brand their Opryland Hotels division to Gaylord Hotels on October 26, 2001, the name Gaylord Palms was given to the Florida hotel. Gaylord Palms conducts Christmas programming with large-scale events like Best of Florida Christmas and ICE!, an attraction hand-carved from two million pounds of ice inside an attraction that is kept at 9 degrees Fahrenheit. In 2021, Gaylord Palms opened its largest expansion ever, a $158-million project which added 100,000 square feet of convention space and more than 300 guest rooms and suites. It's Cypress Springs Water Park was also expanded with the addition of an "action river" attraction. Gaylord Palms is a member of Great Hotels Of The World alliance.

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