Orlando's $6-Million Underwater Landmark

On one of the busiest stretches of road in Orlando, across the street from a lake and not far from a SunRail stop, sits a hundred-year-old building appraised at roughly $6 million. It's survived a power-outage era, a full renovation, and a second life as a stage for ballet and opera. It has a broker, a rebrand, and a long line of interested buyers. And for more than a decade, it hasn't had a single tenant. This episode traces the Ivanhoe Building's full arc: from 1897, when Judge John M. Cheney built Orlando's first water and power operation right on the shore of Lake Ivanhoe, through its 1923 rebuild by the newly formed Orlando Utilities Commission, its 35 years as a working power plant, its second act as a temporary home for the Orlando Ballet, and the mold scare that emptied it out for good in 2013. Then we get into why nobody's closed a deal since. Not neglect. Not money. A problem that was baked into this spot before Orlando ever built here at all. If you've driven past this building on Orange Avenue in Ivanhoe Village and wondered what's actually going on inside, this one's for you.🌎 Keep Gallivanting With Me If you liked this story, you’ll love what’s waiting on my YouTube channel: youtube.com/@ChadGallivanter See more photos, behind-the-scenes, and upcoming trips on Instagram: instagram.com/ChadGallivanter More travel stories, history deep-dives, and extras live at: ChadGallivanter.com📬 Questions, ideas, or media requests? Email me at [email protected]