During a recent evening out on Hwy 192 I stopped by the Winn Dixie, located at 7840 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway. This Winn Dixie is special because it was originally designed to be at the front door of one of Central Florida's most ambitious projects, the $100million Splendid China educational theme park. The miniature heavy park opened to much fan fare in 1993 but after rumors of a buyout by Disney and falling numbers the park closed just ten years later. Today the park sits rotting away, Legoland looked at the Splendid China site before moving on to the land finally decided on in, Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven.
But while Splendid China is just a forgotten memory of the area out front the Winn Dixie still stands, proud of it's Chinese touches, creating one of the most unique shopping experiences in all of Central Florida. The grocery store also has a secret hidden, now closed Chinese restaurant in it as well. If the Chinese Winn Dixie isn't enough for you to get your Splendid China fix some of the miniatures from Splendid China are still on display locally, sitting along the front parking of The Deco Gallery in Apopka, along the icon metal 4 seater UFO that used to sit along Edgewater Drive. So for now you can sit in a UFO looking out over a miniature China but sadly both are now in a state a disrepair. Hopefully the right person or group will come along eventually are restore these pieces for permanent local display. If you still are in need of a Splendid China fix the sister park in China is still open and supposedly is doing really well.
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| They fly imaginary kites! |
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| The panda is supposedly robotic but it wasn't moving during my visit. |
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| For all those UK visitors |
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| Need a lawn chair to go with that yogurt? |
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| Tons of special displays throughout the grocery store like this one for Landshake |
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| A sandcastle to entice you to buy beer! |
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| Do other Winn Dixie's have random giant things selling balls? |
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| The koa pond is still there but not koa :-( |
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| The Winn Dixie also features this Panama Jack mini store |
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| Groceries and skateboards! |
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| All the front windows of the Winn Dixie have giant beach towels in them. |
