What's Happened to Splendid China?

[Ballamory]

We were planning to take the kids to Splendid China this hols but have just read that it is shut - when did this happen & why?
Have to make yet another change to the itinary now!!

[edie_w]

Closed this New Year, I think.

We visited just the shops last October and were very disappointed. Very "tacky". :(

I think it just wasn't bringing in the crowds.

[BONZO]

When China Travel Services H.K. Ltd. bought the 76-acre Splendid China in 1993, it paid approximately $21.3 million.


That was a far cry from the $100 million it cost to build and open the attraction.

However, a Christmas Eve appraisal of the park places the value even lower today.

According to the Osceola County property appraiser's office, the 76-acre park -- land, buildings and other features -- was valued at a little more than $9.4 million as of Dec. 24.

This was a slightly lower number than the assessed value on the county tax rolls as of Oct. 18. At that time, both the assessed and appraised values amounted to more than $9.5 million.

The price of the land remained the same at nearly $4.3 million. However, the new, lower overall number stems from lowered appraised values of the buildings and theme park features.

The park's last day is Dec. 31. 2003

The future uses of the land may be limited, given its location in a busy commercial area.

Commercial real estate insiders believe the park's land can be used for two things: another theme park or vacation housing, such as time shares.

However, the China Travel Services isn't talking. An arm of the People's Republic of China, the government controlled agency is "very secretive", says one former employee.

© 2003 American City Business Journals Inc.

[Mike]

...we've been passing the gates on the way to and from 'our' villas on Indian Creek for the last couple of trips... and we rarely saw anyone going in or out, even before they shut! Never really got more than lukewarm reports from people... ah well, more villas I suppose!

[ashwales]

ITS WAS RUBBOSH THE WORST DY IN FLORIDA I EVER HAD WE WENT IN 1995 NOT LONG AFTER IT OPENED IT WAS A LOAD OF JUNK

[pandc]

we did once pull into the car park but walked away - it looked very tacky.