The first train station in Orlando was used by the South Florida Railroad and reached the area in 1880 which was just a little wooden depot opened in 1881. On that same site a brick station would be built  till 1886 and eventually in 1887 the Victorian style brick building which is known as Church Street Station which still stands today. 

In 1886 a man by the name of Henry Plant decided it would be a good idea to control a railway from the east coast of Florida all the way to the West Coast.  Most of the tourist at that time were traveling on the Eastern Sea Board from North to South like St. Augustine and Miami those were part of  Henry Flagler's Railroad line. Plant decided to develop a railroad line that would cut through Orlando and into Tampa Bay which would rival Flagler's prosperous tourist railroad line. Back during this time railroading was a competition between such tycoons. Plant had several railroad stations built along his line some of them still stand today including the grand Church Street Station which we investigated today. 

The Church Street Station was constructed from 1887 to 1889 and was dedicated in 1890. It was built by Henry B. Plant who was a railroad and hotel magnate for the development of Western Florida. The architect was T. B. Cotter who was very familiar with designing Queen Anne/Eclectic Victorian Structures like these. 

Over the years many modifications had been done to the station. The original slate roof in the 1920s was replaced with a tin roof. The dormer windows were changed from an eyebrow shape to a gabled triangular shape. In the 1980s the entire building was deteriorated and was restored with the original eyebrow dormers and the roof had been once again replaced with red, silver and gray slate. 

From 1889 to 1926 the station served as a passenger train depot then from 1926 to 1972 it was a ticket outlet and freight station. Then from 1972 to 2001 the station became an entertainment complex with many retail shops. It then became abandoned until recently when many parts of the station were leased out. Today their are comedy clubs, Restaurants, the famous Club Paris, The Pearl Steakhouse just to name a few. The main part of the train station still remains abandoned however with the Orange Blossom Special Steam Engine parked on the desolate train tracks out front. They called this train "Old Duke" and it was built in 1912 at the Baldwin Steam Engine and Iron Works Company. 

The buildings that make up the Church Street Station complex are much older then the station itself. Some of them are the Leon Building, Bumby Hardware Building, Orlando and Strand Hotels.  Then behind the train station was the Fidelity Storage and Transfer Company made out of concrete which was the home of Eatsum Products Corp. In 1963 a 12,000 pound steal weather ball was installed at the top of this building which had a diameter of 18 feet on a 150 foot tall tower. If the ball turned green the weather forecast was good, if red it was bad. The owners used different color spotlights to illuminate at that time. Back during this time Church Street Station was just a large tourist attraction but I think today people tend to overlook its long history and significance. 

Near the area of the train station is an adjoining railroad right-of-way which was Orlando's widest street before the railroad came through in 1880. Gertrude Ave it is now called was named for the sister of C.D. Sweet the mayor in 1881. There is a small portion of the former avenue called Gertrude's Walk. Today parallel with that set of tracks is two other train tracks which many freight trains and Amtrak pass through. 

Sometimes the freight trains stop dead in their tracks downtown Orlando and things get pretty crazy. A couple times being Orlando we noticed that everytime the trains stop downtown thousands of tourist, clubbers, etc will hop these trains to and from there destinations. It was pretty crazy during our first investigation here watching so many sexy dressed women hopping a train with there high heels and skirts on. So being a paranormal investigator does have its benefits lol. 

Now over the years since roughly 2001 their have been alot of talks of this station and its surrounding buildings being haunted. I was not aiming to find paranormal evidence on this investigation. It has been investigated by other groups and of course its haunted based on the many stories that been told over the years. But nonetheless I wanted to bring  you a story about this place so others could enjoy its history. Maybe in a year or two we will be called in on a second investigation of the inside we shall see. 

Now lets talk a little bit about the ghost that are seen and heard here. One time some tenants seen a ghostly bartender and woman have a conversation then disappear. Then we have the famous piano playing ghost which is seen at the pub here. Then based on other groups investigating the site have said to have heard crying babies above Lilli Marlene's that once housed a bordello.  Then another famous ghost of a man in a top hat has been seen walking in a hallway near the Improv Comedy Club & Restaurant which has wood inside from a 200 year old New Orleans Cathedral.  The man in the top hat has been seen playing the piano and in the mirror leading to the bordello room. Many feel the key to the Hauntings going on here has to do with this man and the piano. Many people here feel cold spots and notice little unusual things happening. 

I am totally fascinated with the train, station, and the connecting buildings. I learned about this area being haunted when I read about a lawsuit in the newspaper on how some restaurant owners broke their lease early because they found out it was haunted and had some experiences with ghost. Out of fear they tried to split and eventually ghost groups were called in to verify this.

It really is an amazing place and unlike many places we keep private for respect this is a public place and anybody can visit the station on 55 Church Street in downtown Orlando. This probably is one of the most haunted locations in all of Orlando something every one of our fans who visits here should recognize.

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Rick-LordOfThyNight