Extinct Orlando: 20 local experiences we miss having in our hometown

Anybody who's ever been nostalgic for bygone Orlando institutions has likely spiraled through Google searches to revisit favorite spots and, if that person is lucky, he or she ended up at Extinct Orlando, a charmingly disarrayed collection of Orlando memories that's open-ended, serving to crowdsource Central Florida reminiscences. We spent some time checking out the establishments longtime locals were most longing to revisit - places like Montgomery Ward, Pebbles, Club Space Fish and Ben White Raceway - and assembled this list we hope doesn't sting too badly, particularly recent losses like the Round Building and Patsio's. Many thanks to the people of Extinct Orlando for keeping the memories alive.

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If we were super sentimental, we'd say we miss tiptoeing through the spooky castle at Skull Kingdom, but in reality, we mostly just miss seeing that imposing facade when we headed out to International Drive, which might explain a lot ...
Related: Another one bites the dust
Image via aragec.com

Discovering secret rooms at Off the Wall or just enjoying the sensory overload. Check out this awesome Livejournal post that includes photos of a walk-through the abandoned building.
Image via airport-data.com

Artie Grindle's car dealership memorably featured a statue of the man pointing to passersby who undoubtedly recalled his commercial as Extinct Orlando documents, "I want to sell you a car!"
Image via Flickr user bookmanpc

Architecture nerds and downtown commuters alike lamented the destruction of the Round Building last year.
Related: Downtown’s historic Round Building meets the wrecking ball
Photo courtesy of Hunton Brady

Catching some of the area's most memorable big-name concerts at Orlando Sports Stadium (a.k.a Eddie Graham Sports Complex), like Bob Dylan seen here and originally posted as part of 25 things you won't see in Orlando again, where author Eric Mohrman notes, "There were also big-time concerts, like Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Review, and Elvis Presley just six months before he died. It opened in 1967 and was demolished in 1995."
Related: Nostalgic scene overlords invite everyone to relive Orlando Music History on Facebook
Image via movoto.com

End of an era. Montgomery Ward on West Colonial Drive has been struggling. But some still hold fond memories of the store. ORG XMIT: 9708012

Digging into comfort food on Pebbles' awesome diner menu, which we wish was better represented by this menu page we found from 1991.
Image via collectibles.bidstart.com

Whether you remember dancing or skating at the Coliseum (or attending concerts at the very end), it was a memorable and much-missed venue.
Image via Orange County Regional History Center on orlandosentinel.com