Scott Fais, Florida On A Tankful
Just off Florida's famed State Road 50 rests a diner of another kind.
"We have brought grommet food to the general public," said Julie Terry, one of the owners.
Yet the food comes from a kitchen that you wouldn't expect – inside a school bus.
Welcome to the Old School Coffee Stop just outside of Christmas, Florida. Things here are a little different.
"Call it dinner and a show," said Julie.
Make that a lot different.
Just next door to Jungle Adventures where peacocks roam the outdoor dining room, you'll find a new way to do dinner that's old school Florida.
"I said to my husband, 'What do you think about converting a school bus?'" said Julie.
Julie and her husband Lonnie are the owners of this patio cafe.Once you get over the kitchen is inside a miniature school bus and the dirt floor, you'll dine on hearty fare with a view of real, live gators.
"Just about everybody gets to see them come out," said Julie.
Meantime, the reviews are in.
"The food was excellent; outstanding food here," said Ricky Bigham, a diner.
Save room for adventure on Friday nights. After dinner, Jungle Jim Greene fires up his electric boat for a warm cruise across a sweaty lagoon.
“I want them to take with them an appreciation for Florida's natural environment,” said Greene. “They are developing Florida at the rate of 20 acres and hour. All of those animals, all of those birds are being forced to live in smaller and smaller areas."
It's dinner on the road in unspoiled Florida.
"I'll be back,” said Bigham. “They'll get tired of seeing me."
For more travel adventures with Scott Fais, go to Central Florida On Demand, Digital Cable Channel 300. Select Entertainment/Travel and then scroll over to Florida on a Tankful.
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Old School Coffee Stop & Jungle Adventures
What:
Dine alongside giant alligators on gourmet grub served out of a school bus. Then let dinner settle while you take a moonlit cruise across a gator lagoon!
Where:
Just west of Christmas
Orange County
Hours:
Dinner & Moonlit Cruise: Friday's only. Arrive no later than 6:30 p.m.
Old School Coffee Shop: Friday, Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Evening cruises not offered on Saturday & Sunday.
Jungle Adventure Nature Park: Open year-round 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Day cruises available.
Cost:
$35 per diner
Phone:
(407) 568-2885
Toll Free: 1-877-4-A-GATOR
Address:
26205 State Road 50
Christmas, FL 32709
(17 miles east of Orlando, 8 miles west of Interstate 95)
Longitude & Latitude:
(28.536856, -81.00818)
Parking:
Free at Jungle Adventures
Web site:
http://www.jungleadventures.com
E-mail:
jungleadv@aol.com
Central Florida Directions:
Expect about a 30 minute drive when using downtown Orlando as a reference point.
Merge onto East-West Expressway/State Road 408 East via the ramp on the left to Titusville. Be ready, these are Orlando's famed toll roads. Construction delays headed out of Orlando are common at night. Leave extra time and pack patience along with your toll money. Travel for 11.8 miles.
Take exit 22 and at the bottom of the ramp, merge right. Turn onto East Colonial Drive, which is also known as State Road 50.
Continue to follow S.R. 50 for 12 miles. Keep an eye out for the giant gator on the left side of the car.