Retrolando

Retrolando Welcome to Retrolando, our collection of designs are inspired by the past, present, and future of the greatest city in the world, Orlando!
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This city has a lot of heart. It also has a lot of lost and iconic history. From you favorite radio stations, to old hangouts. Orlando has seen its history paved over and replaced. We're here to bring back and preserve some of the very best of old school Orlando. So take a walk down memory lane with us!

Remembering BJ105: Orlando’s Hit Music Station!From 1973 to 1989, BJ105 (WBJW-FM) was the heart of Orlando's music scene...
02/13/2026

Remembering BJ105: Orlando’s Hit Music Station!

From 1973 to 1989, BJ105 (WBJW-FM) was the heart of Orlando's music scene, bringing us Top 40 hits, iconic shows like *The Breakfast Bunch*, and unforgettable memories. Whether you jammed to Madonna, Michael Jackson, or Prince, BJ105 was more than just a station—it was the soundtrack to our lives. Though it rebranded as Mix 105.1 in 1989, its legacy lives on through nostalgia and online streams.

What are your favorite BJ105 memories?

Throwback to a Seafood Legend If you grew up in Orlando, there’s a good chance you remember the iconic Gary’s Duck Inn. ...
02/13/2026

Throwback to a Seafood Legend

If you grew up in Orlando, there’s a good chance you remember the iconic Gary’s Duck Inn. From 1945 to 1994, it was the place for fried shrimp, seafood dinners, and celebrity sightings on South Orange Blossom Trail. More than just a restaurant, it was a cherished part of our city’s story—and even helped inspire the creation of Red Lobster!

Remembering Mystery Fun House! From 1976 to 2001, Mystery Fun House brought creativity and fun to Orlando with its mirro...
02/12/2026

Remembering Mystery Fun House!

From 1976 to 2001, Mystery Fun House brought creativity and fun to Orlando with its mirror maze, Moonscape, Starbase Omega laser tag, and dinosaur mini golf. Located near I-Drive, it was a quirky alternative to mega theme parks, sparking joy and imagination for decades. Though it’s gone, it remains a nostalgic favorite for locals and visitors alike.

What are your favorite Mystery Fun House memories? Share below!

Remembering Orlando’s Merita Bread Factory For over 50 years, the Merita Bread factory on South Division Street was a ch...
02/12/2026

Remembering Orlando’s Merita Bread Factory

For over 50 years, the Merita Bread factory on South Division Street was a cherished part of Orlando’s history. Opening in 1961, the factory filled the air with the comforting aroma of freshly baked bread as it produced household favorites like Merita, Wonder, and Nature’s Pride products. Residents and commuters on I-4 fondly recall the smell and sight of the iconic facility that symbolized home and community for generations.

The factory was also famous for its towering neon sign, designed by Bob Galler, which lit up the Orlando skyline for decades. This sign became an unofficial gateway to the city, greeting locals and visitors alike. Though the sign has been removed, it now lives on as a historic artifact preserved at the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park.

Sadly, the factory closed in 2012 following the bankruptcy of Hostess Brands, marking the end of an era. The building was demolished in 2015 to make way for a commercial truck dealership, leaving behind memories of simpler times when the scent of baking bread was a familiar part of Orlando’s charm.

Today, the Merita Bread factory remains a nostalgic memory for many. Its story reminds us of the importance of preserving the landmarks that shape our cities and hearts.

Share your memories of the Merita Bread factory in the comments below!
Check out more from Orlando’s past at www.retrolando.com

The Fern Park Station was a well-known local music club and bar just north of Winter Park that earned a loyal following ...
01/11/2026

The Fern Park Station was a well-known local music club and bar just north of Winter Park that earned a loyal following from the late 1980s into the 1990s. It sat near the Fern Park area, right on the edge of Winter Park and Casselberry, and became one of those places people remember more for the nights they spent there than the building itself.

Fern Park Station was best known for live music, especially rock, alternative, and jam-oriented bands. It was the kind of venue where regional acts, touring club bands, and local favorites could all share the same stage. The room was raw and unpolished, more about volume and energy than aesthetics, which made it feel authentic and approachable. If you were into loud guitars, long sets, and sweaty crowds, this place delivered.

What really defined Fern Park Station was its crowd. It pulled in college students, local musicians, and regulars who treated it like a second home. Unlike the more stylized clubs downtown, this was a neighborhood joint with a music-first mentality. You went there to hear bands, drink cheap beer, and stay out later than planned. It wasn’t uncommon for people to discover new bands there before they ever hit bigger stages around Orlando.

As Orlando’s nightlife evolved and development pressures changed the area, Fern Park Station eventually closed, fading into the long list of beloved Central Florida venues that no longer exist. Today, it lives on mostly through word of mouth, old photos, and stories shared by those who were there when it mattered.

For a lot of locals, Fern Park Station represents a very specific era of Orlando-area nightlife. Loud, local, unpretentious, and unforgettable.



Mannequins Dance Palace was one of the most iconic nightlife spots at Pleasure Island, and for a long time it was the pl...
01/11/2026

Mannequins Dance Palace was one of the most iconic nightlife spots at Pleasure Island, and for a long time it was the place to dance at Walt Disney World after dark.

Opening in 1989, Mannequins was designed as a high-energy, European-style nightclub. Its most famous feature was the slowly rotating dance floor, which gave the entire space a surreal, constantly moving feel. Above the floor hung suspended mannequins dressed in flashy, futuristic outfits, reinforcing the club’s fashion-forward, slightly theatrical vibe.

Music was the main draw. Mannequins leaned hard into top 40, dance, house, and pop remixes, keeping the floor packed night after night. Unlike some of the more theme-heavy venues on Pleasure Island, Mannequins felt closer to a real big-city club, which is why it attracted both tourists and locals looking for a legit nightlife experience inside Disney property.

The club went through several updates over the years, refreshing its lighting, sound system, and overall look to keep pace with changing music trends. Still, the rotating floor and mannequins remained its signature elements and what most people remember when they talk about it today.

Mannequins Dance Palace closed in 2008, along with the rest of Pleasure Island’s clubs, when Disney shifted away from late-night adult nightlife and toward a more family-friendly entertainment model. The closure marked the end of an era for Orlando nightlife fans who remember when Pleasure Island felt edgy, loud, and unapologetically fun.

For many longtime Orlando locals and Disney regulars, Mannequins isn’t just a club. It’s a snapshot of a time when Disney experimented with nightlife in a big way, and when a spinning dance floor under neon lights felt like the center of the city after midnight.

01/10/2026

Remembering Artie Grindle and Tropic Traveler Vans

Artie Grindle, son of the renowned Orlando car dealer Art Grindle, was a notable businessman in Central Florida. He founded Tropic Traveler Vans in Casselberry, Florida, specializing in custom van conversions. The dealership became well-known for its "Sporty Shorty" conversion vans, which featured distinctive interiors with plush seating and wood paneling. Artie Grindle's energetic advertising style mirrored his father's, making him a recognizable figure in the region. He passed away suddenly on February 22, 2015, at the age of 60, leaving behind a legacy in the automotive industry.

If you ever spent a night at 8 Trax, you know it wasn’t just another club, it was a full-on throwback party.Located insi...
01/10/2026

If you ever spent a night at 8 Trax, you know it wasn’t just another club, it was a full-on throwback party.

Located inside Pleasure Island, 8 Trax leaned hard into nostalgia. Disco, classic rock, funk, and pop anthems filled the dance floor, and somehow everyone knew the words. It didn’t matter if you were a local, a tourist, or a cast member. Once the music started, everyone was on the same wavelength.

While other clubs chased trends, 8 Trax focused on familiar hits and pure fun. Packed dance floors, sing-alongs, and a crowd that spanned generations made it one of the most welcoming spots on the island. When Pleasure Island closed, 8 Trax disappeared with it, marking the end of a very specific era in Orlando nightlife.

If you remember nights that ended at 8 Trax, this one’s for you.

If you’ve ever been downtown Orlando during the holidays, you’ve probably seen it glowing high above Orange Avenue. The ...
12/24/2025

If you’ve ever been downtown Orlando during the holidays, you’ve probably seen it glowing high above Orange Avenue. The Jack Kazanzas Christmas Star is one of the city’s longest-running holiday traditions and a quiet reminder of a time when downtown celebrations were simple and local. Saved and preserved thanks to the efforts of Jack Kazanzas the star has become a symbol of continuity in a city that’s always changing. For generations of locals, spotting it in the sky is the moment the holiday season truly begins.















12/23/2025

WDIZ 100.3 FM, also known as "Rock 100," was the heartbeat of Orlando's rock scene from 1971 to 1996. The station’s unique album-oriented rock format, featuring deep cuts and classic hits from legendary bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Queen, made it a favorite for rock fans. WDIZ wasn’t just about the music—it was a community. With iconic DJs like Mark Samansky and Alan Baxter, the station became a cultural staple, supporting local talent, promoting concerts, and creating a space for listeners to connect over their love for rock.
Though WDIZ’s era ended in 1996 with a format change, its legacy lives on in the memories of its devoted audience. The station played a pivotal role in shaping Orlando’s music scene, and its influence continues to resonate with rock lovers in the city. Today, the 100.3 FM frequency is no longer home for rock but for those who remember, WDIZ will always be "Rock 100," the soundtrack of an unforgettable era.











Lil 500 was one of those places that perfectly captured old-school Central Florida fun. Tucked away in Maitland, this sm...
12/22/2025

Lil 500 was one of those places that perfectly captured old-school Central Florida fun.

Tucked away in Maitland, this small go-kart track gave kids and teens their first real taste of speed during the 70s, 80s, and early 90s. It was loud, gritty, and just risky enough to feel exciting. No theme park polish, no corporate branding. Just helmets, engines, and the thrill of racing your friends lap after lap.

Named as a playful nod to the Indianapolis 500, Lil 500 felt huge when you were a kid. Tight turns, short straightaways, and fierce bragging rights made every race feel serious. Birthday parties, weekend hangouts, and summer afternoons were built around waiting your turn at the track, watching spins and passes, and hoping you could come out on top. For many locals, this was the first place they ever felt competitive, independent, and fearless.

Like so many independent attractions around Orlando, Lil 500 eventually disappeared as Maitland grew and redevelopment took over. The track is gone, but the memories are not. If you raced here, you probably still remember the sound, the smell, and the feeling of gripping that steering wheel like it was the real thing.

Do you remember Lil 500, or did you race there? Drop a comment with your memories, tag someone who went with you, and follow Retrolando as we keep preserving the lost places that made growing up in Central Florida unforgettable.














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150 Atlantic Dr
Maitland, FL
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