As the work on constructing a giant observation wheel at the International Drive is going on in full swing, the tourist corridor of Orlando has a lot of things to look forward to. The word was, that the overall project, that the observation wheel is a part of, is to be named the Orlando Eye 360 by its developers. The news was, however, brushed off by developers as they prepare to make an official announcement soon.
Other Than Orlando Eye 360 What is in the pipeline of Merlin Entertainments?
Merlin Entertainments Ltd. is working on a couple of attractions for the state and come 2015, the second-largest operator of visitor attractions in the world will unveil three attractions – the Orlando chapter of Madame Tussaud’s wax museum, the Orlando Eye and the Sea Life Orlando Aquarium.
The three attractions are part of a massive Orlando real estate project – the construction of a towering complex for shopping, dining and entertainment, that is being developed by NY-based Circle Entertainment Inc. and Orlando’s own Unicorp National Developments Inc. The multimillion-dollar Orlando Eye project on the International Drive (projected to cost over $200 million) is planned to be completed in phases – work in certain phases is already over.
For instance, the real estate agents in Orlando reveal that the International Drive will see Orlando’s first Yard House open for business on April 24. The popular restaurant adds to I-Drive’s impressive line of new and upcoming restaurants including Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant, BJ’s Brewhouse and the Red Robin. Local real estate agents believe that the Yard House alone would bring around 200 jobs to the I-Drive area in the form of servers, hosts, hostesses, line cooks and bar tenders to name a few. Not to mention, new and better dining options for the area’s tourist corridor.
The project was developed with Orlando’s tourism industry in mind. International Drive’s convention area will get some much-needed entertainment, wining-dining and leisure options after the project ends. It will boost the tourism industry of the area that is currently valued at about $50 billion. The entire project will also boost employment in the area as it is expected to brings thousands of new jobs.
Merlin Entertainments is planning for a press event, to be hosted later this month, during which developer Unicorp plans to unveil the new name of the project. While speculations were high in the Orlando real estate scene that the project would be named the “Icon Park”, Chuck Whittall, the President of Unicorp denied, saying the firm would announce a different name.
The name has become a special area of interest, particularly because of the frequent changes made to it. Previously it had names like the I-Drive Live and I-Walk Orlando associated with it. Only Unicorp can tell what new moniker the project will adopt.
