Dolly Parton's "Dixie Stampede" CLOSED

[Ed]

WKMG-TV, channel 6 in Orlando, is reporting that Dixie Stampede has ceased operations effective immediately, and is selling the property on Vineland Road, just East of Disney property. They report that a spokesperson for the company says the facility will be considering reopening in another location in the Orlando area.

Details are still sketchy.

[Ed]

WKMG-TV, channel 6 in Orlando, is reporting "breaking news" that Dixie Stampede has ceased operations effective immediately, and is selling the property on Vineland Avenue, just East of Disney property. They report that a spokesperson for the company says the facility will be considering reopening in another location in the Orlando area.

And the Orlando Sentinel adds:

Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede abruptly ceases operations
Christopher Boyd
Sentinel Staff Writer
4:23 PM EST, January 7, 2008

Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede abruptly ceased operations today, just hours after a company spokesman denied the dinner theater was having any difficulties.

The dinner attraction, located a short distance east of Walt Disney World alongside Interstate 4, has traded on its connection with country singer Dolly Parton, who did promotions for the business in its early years.

The $28 million facility, whose entertainment was built around horse acts, opened in June 2003. There are three other Dixie Stampedes, in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; Branson, Mo.; and Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Copyright © 2008, Orlando Sentinel

[Melanie]

Wow. That's weird.

[MickeyMousse]

It must be true since the location is no longer listed on the Dixie Stampede website. We always liked seeing the horses outside-hope it isn't going to become another outlet!

[DizneyFreak2002]

Honestly, I never been there.... I wondered how it compared to Mideval Times and Arabian Horses.... I know Capone's really was bad, and honestly, I am shocked that it is still open....

[DisneyTwirler13!]

I'm very upset!!!
I loved Dixie Stampede! When I was in middle school, my choir teacher took us to sing there (we paid our own way through a car wash and a cookie dough fundraiser), and some of us went back the next year as a group of friends. I t was like a tradition or something.

[Scar]

Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede abruptly ceases operations

The $28 million facility, whose entertainment was built around horse acts, opened in June 2003.

I'm very upset!!!
I loved Dixie Stampede! When I was in middle school, my choir teacher took us to sing there ...

Anyone else feeling a little old right about now.

[BelleandtheBeast]

That is strange and sudden. I had never been to the one in Orlando, but the one in Pigeon Forge was so good during Christmas time. They had and awesome Christmas show. I recommend it to anyone traveling in that area.

[Celestria]

It must be true since the location is no longer listed on the Dixie Stampede website. We always liked seeing the horses outside-hope it isn't going to become another outlet!

DING DING DING

congrats, we have a winner! that is exactly what it will be. more orlando premium outlet malls. said so on the news

[goofysbabe]

That's sad to hear. I've been to the one in Pigeon Forge and in Branson and both had really good food and the shows were awesome! My children loved it. My son was chosen to chase the chicken for our side and we won!!!! He was given a children's book signed by Dolly and a flag. Afterwards on the way out everyone was giving him high fives. What a great time. Well, guess Fla. needs another store - heard they had a shortage

[Mackflava99]

What was Dixie stampede? a restaurant?

[Beast_fanatic]

What was Dixie stampede? a restaurant?

It was a dinner show.

[NJ Camper]

Anyone heard anything new with this heard it closed but did anyone start anything new there yet or is there any rumors of what it could be used for????????

[Ed]

I drove by there a few days ago. Other than taking the Dixie Stampede signs off the building, nothing has changed. The building and land was bought by the company that owns the outlet mall on the other side of the street. But nothing has been announced as to exactly what they're going to do with it.

[Ed]

In the words of the inimitable Yogi Berra, "It ain't over 'til it's over."

No sale yet for Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede property

Mark Chediak
Sentinel Staff Writer
November 12, 2008

When Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede abruptly shut down and laid off 162 workers in early January, the dinner theater's owners said they had sold the attraction in a deal that was too good to pass up.

That deal, it turns out, has fallen apart, leaving the 13-acre lot east of Walt Disney World without a buyer and its fate unknown.

Orlando Premium Outlets, which had considered purchasing the nearby property as part of an expansion, recently said it wasn't interested in the site at 7950 Vineland Ave.

"We never said we were buying it; we said we are looking at it," said Michele Rothstein, a spokeswoman for Chelsea Premium Outlets, a division of mall-owner Simon Property Group and operator of Orlando Premium Outlets.

The mall owner had done its due diligence and wasn't going forward with a deal for undisclosed reasons, Rothstein said. Orlando Premium, one of the most successful outlets in the country, recently completed a 114,000-square-foot expansion that added 40 new outlet retailers.

As for the empty Dixie Stampede, which occupies a high-profile location in Orlando's tourism corridor and can be easily spotted by motorists on Interstate 4, its fate remains unclear.

Pete Owens, spokesman for Dixie Stampede LLC, said the company is now searching for a new buyer. Owens said the theater operator does not plan to move back into the empty building, which once held a 1,086-seat theater for shows featuring horses, buffalo, ostrich races and a cast of Civil War soldiers.

Dixie Stampede now operates namesake dinner theaters in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; Branson, Mo.; and Myrtle Beach, S.C. The concept was the brainchild of country singer and actress Parton, who remains part-owner of the company.

At the time of the announced sale of the Orlando location, which opened in 2003, Parton issued a statement saying the offer was an "opportunity we could not pass up."

Now, with the credit crunch hampering commercial real-estate transactions, a buyer might be harder to find.

"We are optimistic even with the current economic situation," Owens said. "We had several groups that expressed interested in the property at the same time that Chelsea was involved."

The property has an assessed value of $14.9 million, according to the Orange County property appraiser. Dixie Stampede purchased the vacant site in 2000 for $3.4 million.

Meanwhile, Dixie Stampede continues to search for another location in Central Florida for a dinner theater, Owens said.

[big blue and hairy]

In the words of the inimitable Yogi Berra, "It ain't over 'til it's over."

No sale yet for Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede property

Mark Chediak
Sentinel Staff Writer
November 12, 2008

When Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede abruptly shut down and laid off 162 workers in early January, the dinner theater's owners said they had sold the attraction in a deal that was too good to pass up.

That deal, it turns out, has fallen apart, leaving the 13-acre lot east of Walt Disney World without a buyer and its fate unknown.

Orlando Premium Outlets, which had considered purchasing the nearby property as part of an expansion, recently said it wasn't interested in the site at 7950 Vineland Ave.

"We never said we were buying it; we said we are looking at it," said Michele Rothstein, a spokeswoman for Chelsea Premium Outlets, a division of mall-owner Simon Property Group and operator of Orlando Premium Outlets.

The mall owner had done its due diligence and wasn't going forward with a deal for undisclosed reasons, Rothstein said. Orlando Premium, one of the most successful outlets in the country, recently completed a 114,000-square-foot expansion that added 40 new outlet retailers.

As for the empty Dixie Stampede, which occupies a high-profile location in Orlando's tourism corridor and can be easily spotted by motorists on Interstate 4, its fate remains unclear.

Pete Owens, spokesman for Dixie Stampede LLC, said the company is now searching for a new buyer. Owens said the theater operator does not plan to move back into the empty building, which once held a 1,086-seat theater for shows featuring horses, buffalo, ostrich races and a cast of Civil War soldiers.

Dixie Stampede now operates namesake dinner theaters in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; Branson, Mo.; and Myrtle Beach, S.C. The concept was the brainchild of country singer and actress Parton, who remains part-owner of the company.

At the time of the announced sale of the Orlando location, which opened in 2003, Parton issued a statement saying the offer was an "opportunity we could not pass up."

Now, with the credit crunch hampering commercial real-estate transactions, a buyer might be harder to find.

"We are optimistic even with the current economic situation," Owens said. "We had several groups that expressed interested in the property at the same time that Chelsea was involved."

The property has an assessed value of $14.9 million, according to the Orange County property appraiser. Dixie Stampede purchased the vacant site in 2000 for $3.4 million.

Meanwhile, Dixie Stampede continues to search for another location in Central Florida for a dinner theater, Owens said.

Ooops!

[AnnetteFan]

Doesn't make much sense to look for a new location when you already have one. It would be costly to build the type of building neccesary to house Dixie Stampede so I just don't see why they'd bother if they don't have an immediate seller offering them a ridiculous amount of money.

[Ed]

Given the present state of the economy and the prevailing commercial real estate conditions in the Orlando-area, I imagine this building will continue to sit vacant for quite a while. And in my book, it serves them right that the "opportunity we could not pass up" fell apart, leaving them stuck with a huge, vacant "white elephant". The way they shut the place down virtually overnight, leaving their employees jobless, was nothing short of sleazy. If they ever do decide to re-open in this area, they're going to have a tough time developing a loyal and committed employee base.

[AnnetteFan]

I really don't see that building being used for anything other than a dinner show type attraction. It makes me kind of laugh to see the For Sale or Lease sign on the building as if it were a 3 bedroom 2 bath condo that someone might make an offer on at any moment. I think they'd be better off demolishing the building and selling the empty lot if they don't intend to move back into the location.
As much as I like Dixie Stampede I think Orlando can live without it. I feel like it fits much better in it's other locations because it's the sort of entertainment people are looking for when they visit those tourist spots.

[big blue and hairy]

in my book, it serves them right that the "opportunity we could not pass up" fell apart, leaving them stuck with a huge, vacant "white elephant". The way they shut the place down virtually overnight, leaving their employees jobless, was nothing short of sleazy. If they ever do decide to re-open in this area, they're going to have a tough time developing a loyal and committed employee base.

I don't know what they were thinking either. I wouldn't close down the place until the contract was signed and iron-clad. As far as looking for another location, that just seems stupid. I f you don't anyone interested in your property, use it! The only thing I can think of (other than corporate stupidity) is that they have reason to think that when the economy recovers, the Premier Outlets will remake the"offer too good to refuse".