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- Kissimmee, Florida - Xanadu - Homeless of the Future
I wanted to see Xanadu back in the early '80s, when it was in my science magazine. I accidentally happened upon it in Dec. 2004. What a mess! The neglect and hurricanes have left nothing more than a futuristic homeless shelter. ALL of the windows and doors have been smashed, so I was able to walk around inside. It must have been beautiful at one time. I went into the vast living room with an old circular couch facing a hanging styrofoam-encased DOS computer. Everything is torn up, the walls are moldy, and beer cans and broken glass are everywhere. The place is falling apart. Some "Home of the Future."
[Vince, 01/19/2005]Xanadu: Home of the Future:RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report
- Hours:
- 2005: Demolished.
- Status:
- Gone
The condition of Xanadu - Home of the Future is in decline -- the Florida rains have taken a toll on the building, which is covered with mildew. The carpet has the same problems with mold and mildew, not a pleasant smell inside. The rest of the structure is in rather good condition for the time it's been vacant. The walls are sound, as is the floor. Several windows have been broken and those left very much need to meet a bottle of Windex.
Due to the constant hurricane threat that is Florida, I can't imagine living in a styrofoam home. Aside from that, I found the design rather off-the-wall and very "new age" but also cramped and without much space. I'm only 5'1'' and there were parts of the building which I had trouble standing in, mainly side rooms (where you'd have basic storage) and stairwells. Needless to say, you can't find a flat surface, so hanging pictures would be out.
[Carrie, 01/25/2004]- Kissimmee, Florida - Xanadu - Home of the Future
Xanadu - home of the future was totally run down when we got out of the minivan to videotape it. It still had a for sale sign on the front and one of the glass domes was smashed. We peered inside. Any equipment left in there was looted long ago. We walked around the back, looking at a dome that looked like a bathroom, and found a few glass/screen doors which we looked into to find a sign staring us in the face saying "WARNING! Do not proceed any further! The police are watching this place due to a recent string of break ins! You are being monitored!" and other such nonsense. The place was mostly broken down, with plants growing from the styrophoam rooftop.
[06/01/2003] - Kissimmee, Florida - Xanadu
While the property looks to be shrinking (I missed the "lake" that was supposed to make it "lake side property"), it is still for sale. The pond out front by the road had long since dried up, and merely looks like a ditch. Some of the windows have been broken and covered with cardboard, while the rest are opaque. The sign is still out front. We drove to the back of the house but didn't get out to nose around.
[Kristi Cothern, 07/06/2002] - Kissimmee, Florida - Xanadu, Home of the Future
Xanadu is owned by a vacation ownership property, Star Island Development Corporation, 5000 Avenue of the Stars, Kissimmee, FL 34746. It was purchased to be the sales office for this timeshare resort. It is presently empty, but is still patrolled by Star Island security.
There is talk that the managing director of Star Island, Bill Quesing might designate the site as a fully functional daycare center for the 200+ employees of Star Island and its sister property, Clarion Suites Resort World.
[Johnny Berry, 07/06/1998]
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