Uploaded September 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
A visit to the early OITTM in 1992. There were basically three attempts at this attraction, and this was the first, which I believe opened in 1991. This attraction featured a live steam train operating around the building, a model train store, and a large G scale model railroad inside. The model railroad was advertised as the "world's largest G scale model railroad".
After about a year, the property was sold for development into the current shopping center. Festival Bay Mall and the Mall at Millenia had not yet been constructed, and this part of International Drive was fairly empty. The business moved further south on I-Drive near the Mercado, built another indoor model railroad (much smaller) and constructed a rideable train going around the complex. This train was an electric "steam outline" ride. Though the model railroad was smaller, it was still fairly interesting to see, and each of the model railways had a scavenger hunt to complete by finding various scenes around the tracks.
The final attempt is still visible in some form at the Air Florida Helicopter location. Sometime around 1999-2000 the previous location near the Mercado closed and moved here. The model railway was the smallest version yet, and the steam outline train was replaced by a single trolley that ran in a circle around the helipads. At some point, the tracks around the helipads were removed.
The abandoned attractions and theme parks around central Florida have always been interesting to me, and I'm grateful to have seen this one because it's a niche I've always enjoyed. At one point I remember the employees discussing plans to expand the trolley up and down International Drive, but of course that never happened.
A visit to the early OITTM in 1992. There were basically three attempts at this attraction, and this was the first, which I believe opened in 1991. This attraction featured a live steam train operating around the building, a model train store, and a large G scale model railroad inside. The model railroad was advertised as the "world's largest G scale model railroad".
After about a year, the property was sold for development into the current shopping center. Festival Bay Mall and the Mall at Millenia had not yet been constructed, and this part of International Drive was fairly empty. The business moved further south on I-Drive near the Mercado, built another indoor model railroad (much smaller) and constructed a rideable train going around the complex. This train was an electric "steam outline" ride. Though the model railroad was smaller, it was still fairly interesting to see, and each of the model railways had a scavenger hunt to complete by finding various scenes around the tracks.
The final attempt is still visible in some form at the Air Florida Helicopter location. Sometime around 1999-2000 the previous location near the Mercado closed and moved here. The model railway was the smallest version yet, and the steam outline train was replaced by a single trolley that ran in a circle around the helipads. At some point, the tracks around the helipads were removed.
The abandoned attractions and theme parks around central Florida have always been interesting to me, and I'm grateful to have seen this one because it's a niche I've always enjoyed. At one point I remember the employees discussing plans to expand the trolley up and down International Drive, but of course that never happened.
