Church Street Station

Atlantic Coast Line Railroad The station was originally built by the South Florida Railroad in 1889 (although some sources say it was built in 1890) to serve Orlando. The South Florida Railroad was bought out by the Plant System in 1893, which in turn was taken over by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1902. The station also served the Tavares, Orlando and Atlantic Railroad and the Orlando and Winter Park Railway. In 1926 passenger operations were transferred to a new station built by the Coast Line. The Church Street depot still survives to this day on the National Register of Historic Places. SunRail The SunRail commuter rail project uses the historic Church Street Rail Depot as one of three stops in downtown Orlando. A new platform on the same side of the tracks was built down the block from the Church Street Station, within walking distance of Orlando City Hall. Church Street Station is typical of most SunRail stations featuring canopies consisting of white aluminum poles supporting sloped green roofs and includes ticket vending machines, ticket validators, emergency call boxes, drinking fountains, and separate platforms designed for passengers in wheelchairs. The station is located along the former CSX A-Line (originally constructed by the South Florida Railroad) and is one of two located in the central business district, providing easy access to the new Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and hotel development within the same block; Camping World Stadium, which recently underwent a complete renovation; Inter&Co Stadium, home of the Orlando City SC MLS team; and the Kia Center and proposed entertainment complex, home of the Orlando Magic NBA team ==Night club complex==

Entrepreneur Bob Snow opened '''Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium''' on July 19, 1974. The Kia Center across Interstate 4 an entertainment arena, within close walking distance of Church Street Station, opened in 2010. The arena is home to the Orlando Magic of the NBA. In 2019 a local tour company planned to base their office and open a bar with live entertainment in the station. ==Timeline==

• 1889: Station building constructed by South Florida Railroad • 1926: Passenger service is discontinued at the station • 1972: Entrepreneur Bob Snow announces plan for a downtown Orlando entertainment complex. • 1974: Snow opens Rosie O'Grady's. • 1976: The station is added to the National Register of Historic Places • 1982: Cheyenne Saloon & Opera House opens. • 1985: Church Street Station draws 1.7 million visitors, making it the fourth-largest tourist attraction in the state after Walt Disney World, Sea World and Busch Gardens. • 1988: Snow sells 50 percent interest in Church Street Station. • 1989: Snow sells remainder of his interest to Constellation Real Estate Group a subsidiary of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. for an estimated $48M. • 1994: Church Street Station completes major expansion with a Presidential Ballroom for $5.5 million. • 1998: Church Street Station loses $1M on revenue of $20.85M, attracts only 550,000 visitors. • 1999: Baltimore Gas & Electric sells Church Street Station to Enic PLC, a British firm, for $11.5M. • 2001: Enic PLC sells Church Street Station to F.F. South & Co. for $15.9M. • 2002: Lou Pearlman buys into Church Street Station. • 2003: Pearlman buys the property through his company FF Station. • 2007: Pearlman's legal trouble and arrest lead to seizure of his corporate offices in the station and trigger a foreclosure lawsuit against Church Street Station. • 2007: Cameron Kuhn purchases Church Street Station at bankruptcy court auction for $34.M. • 2008: Church Street Station retail opens including The Cheyenne Saloon by Bob Snow, Bliss Ultra Night Club, Brick and Fire Pizza and Wine Company, Ceviche Tapas Restaurant and Bar, The Dessert Lady and Hamburger Mary's. • 2008: Lender Tremont Net Funding LLC files to foreclose on the property while Mr. Kuhn tries to retain control & negotiate the re-sell of the complex. • 2010: Historic Church Street Station RR FRISCO 0-6-0 Switcher #3749 Locomotive, which had been on display for many years at the station, is acquired by the City of Orlando and put up for sale. • 2012: RR FRISCO 0-6-0 Switcher Locomotive #3749 is donated by the City of Orlando and relocated to the Florida Railroad Museum facility in Parrish. • 2013: St. Petersburg businessman Mark Ferguson signs a 20-year lease with an option to purchase. • 2014: SunRail commuter rail begins service with its platform beside the original station • 2017: Lincoln Properties purchases the majority of the property. ==References==