Plantation Paradise | Abandoned
400Exploring the once infamous Plantation Paradise, now closed since 2004. In 1952, Harold “Jake” Emminger, the “Pineapple King” purchased just under 34 acres of land in Florida and began harvesting pineapples in 15 of those acres. He founded Plantation Paradise where he sold frosty pineapple juice, candies, wine and souvenirs for 50 plus years. In the mid-80s, a cold spell killed his crop which prompted him to begin preparing 9 variations of homemade preserves from the pineapples he had left. He then started importing pineapples from Mexico to keep his store operating for the 200 visitors that stopped by here daily. After the toll highway was built from Orlando to Miami, tourist traffic along the original US 27 had reduced to a trickle causing the business to die a slow death. Harold retired at age 85 at which time he sold off the land to an investor. The store and buildings have sat abandoned since. The land has been for sale since 2004.