Kissimmee, Florida: Big Bamboo Lounge (Gone)

The Big Bamboo Lounge is closed for good. It suffered significant damage during Hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Jeanne in the summer of 2004, and the owners just didn't have the wherewithal (or heart) to fix it.

The BB Lounge is still in business as of 9/03. My girlfriend and I stopped in and had a chat with some of the regulars and the bartender -- they knew of no plans to close in the near future. Disney employees, including construction crews and animators, apparently have made the place a hangout, and there are some sketches on the walls. Keep your eyes open for the "jungle tower" and truck close to the road, as the bar itself is set back from the road and is basically a non-descript concrete bunker. This is a great Disney antidote.

My girlfriend and I visited Kissimmee on 10/18/03 and were pleased to discover that Big Bamboo is still alive and kicking, contrary to a previous report that it was to close last February. The house specialty "Big Bamboo" was a great drink (ingredients, according to the bartender: "rum, rum, and more rum"), and the bar was a colorful, cozy place to relax after a busy day exploring the many strange sights in Kissimmee.

A unique destination in Kissimmee, FL, once described to us by a lady at the Orlando Chamber of Commerce as "a crummy old bar," is scheduled to close in February 2003. Run by crusty founder Bruce Muir before his death, the "Boo" was a strange mix of love and neglect.

My friend Chuck and I just visited Orlando for the Universal Horror Nights celebration and I just wanted to let everyone know that the Big Bamboo is still going strong. We did have a hard time finding the place as even more of the sign out front had fallen off. It now only reads - G MBOO OUNGE - and it is not really lit up so it's real easy to miss. However, once inside we knew it was worth the trouble. After taking a seat at the bar I ordered the house special, The Big Bamboo (of course). The bartender informed me that while the drink was expensive at $4.75 (if he thinks that's expensive he should try drinking in Atlanta!) it had a lot in it. Man was he right, two of those really did the trick! Anyway if you ever find yourself in Kissimmee, go to the Big Bamboo! And afterwards I recommend staying down the street at The Viking Motel.