>>COMING UP ON CENTRAL FLORIDA ROADTRIP, WE'LL BE EXPLORING THE HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY.

WE'LL SEE HOW NEHRLING GARDENS HAS BLOOMED SINCE THE EARLY 1900S.

THEN WE'LL BRING MUSIC TO YOUR EARS WITH THE BACH FESTIVAL SOCIETY, AND WE'LL GET BEHIND THE SCENES AND LOOK AT ORLANDO CITY HALL AND HOW IT MADE IT TO THE SILVER SCREEN, ALL THIS AND MORE ON THIS EDITION OF CENTRAL FLORIDA ROADTRIP.

♪ THEME MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO EVERYONE.

I'M DR. PHIL HOFFMAN.

WELCOME TO THIS EDITION OF CENTRAL FLORIDA ROADTRIP.

THIS WEEK WE'RE NOT PUTTING QUITE AS MANY MILES ON THE OLD MIATA AS WE LOOK TO UNCOVER THE MANY INTERESTING AND UNUSUAL STORIES ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORS RIGHT HERE IN ORANGE COUNTY.

>>THE COUNTY WAS ORIGINALLY PART OF WHAT WAS THEN CALLED MOSQUITO COUNTY AND ENTERPRISE WAS THE COUNTY SEAT.

WELL, IT DIDN'T TAKE A MARKETING GENIUS TO FIGURE OUT THAT NAME PROBABLY NEEDED TO BE CHANGED.

IT WAS RENAMED TO ORANGE COUNTY IN 1845 WHEN FLORIDA BECAME A STATE AND ORLANDO BECAME THE COUNTY SEAT.

ORANGE COUNTY WAS A FITTING NEW NAME.

AS CITRUS BECAME A LEADING INDUSTRY AT ITS PEAK IN THE 1970S, SOME 80,000 ACRES OF CITRUS GROVES WERE PLANTED IN ORANGE COUNTY.

>>WHEN YOU MENTIONED PEOPLE HAVE IMPACT IN ORANGE COUNTY, THE NAME PHILLIP PHILLIPS RISES TO THE TOP.

NOW YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE HIM BETTER BY THE MONIKER DR. PHILLIPS.

HE MADE A FORTUNATE ORANGE JUICE AND HAD A PASSION FOR HELPING PEOPLE THAT CONTINUES TO SHAPE CENTRAL FLORIDA TO THIS VERY DAY.

>>IF YOU'VE LIVED IN THE ORLANDO AREA FOR EVEN A LITTLE WHILE, YOU'VE SURELY HEARD OF DR. PHILLIPS, BUT YOU MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN THAT IN THE YEARS BEFORE WORLD WAR TWO, IT WAS DOC PHILLIPS WHO MADE FLORIDA SYNONYMOUS WITH ORANGE JUICE.

>>DR.PHILLIPS CAME TO CENTRAL FLORIDA HERE IN 1902 TO GET IN THE CATTLE AND THE CITRUS BUSINESS, AND ULTIMATELY BECAME THE LARGEST CITRUS GROWER IN THE WORLD HAD 18 COUNTIES THAT HE WAS A CITRUS GROWER IN PREDOMINANTLY IN A DR. PHILLIPS COMMUNITY THOUGH WHERE THE LARGEST TANGERINE GROVES IN THE WORLD WERE.

YOU HAVE THREE PACKING HOUSES OPERATING IN 18 DIFFERENT COUNTIES.

>>PHILLIPS CAME UP WITH A PROCESS CALLED FLASH PASTEURIZATION IN THE 1930S.

AND THAT LATER PAVED THE WAY FOR CONCENTRATED AND PACKAGED CHILLED ORANGE JUICE.

>>DR.

PHILLIPS WAS A TRUE INNOVATOR AND IT WASN'T JUST FOR HIS OWN SELF-SERVING PURPOSES.

HE WAS THE FIRST TO START AERIAL CROP SPRAYING.

HE WAS THE VERY FIRST TO CREATE FLASH PASTEURIZATION, WHERE HE HAD SCIENTISTS THAT CAME UP WITH A METHOD TO PUT CITRUS INTO CANS WITHOUT HAVING THAT METAL TASTE TO IT.

AND AGAIN, SHARED IT WITH THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY, FEELING THAT IF EVERYBODY DID WELL THEN HIS BUSINESS WOULD DO WELL.

>>THE PHILLIPS CANNERY WAS ABLE TO PRODUCE 24,000 CANS OF JUICE EVERY DAY.

>>DR.

PHILLIPS SET THE STANDARD AND CARING FOR HIS EMPLOYEES AND CARING FOR HIS COMMUNITY.

MOST OF HIS EMPLOYEES WERE WOMEN IN THE PACKING HOUSES AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS OUT IN THE FIELD.

AND EVEN DURING THAT TIME, HE PROVIDED HEALTH INSURANCE TO HIS EMPLOYEES.

IT NEVER WAS SUSSED ABOUT DR. PHILLIPS.

IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT HIS EMPLOYEES.

IT WAS ABOUT THE INDUSTRY AND TRULY ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S HARD TO TELL WHAT DROVE DR. PHILLIPS TO BE SUCH A GIVER IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT HE CERTAINLY DID A SPECTACULAR JOB AT IT.

>>IT'S IMPRESSIVE HOW DR. PHILLIPS OPENED HIS HOME TO MANY GATHERINGS AND SOCIAL EVENTS.

AND THE HOME IS PRESERVED TODAY TO CONTINUE TO HOST WEDDINGS AND SPECIAL EVENTS.

DR. PHILLIPS WAS A GENEROUS MAN THAT LOVED PEOPLE AND WANTED TO CONTINUE A LEGACY OF HELPING.

>>WHEN I THINK ABOUT DR. PHILLIPS, THERE'S REALLY THREE KEY PHASES THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN DR. PHILLIPS.

WE SAW DR. PHILLIPS CREATE ALL THE WEALTH.

YOU WATCH HOWARD PHILLIPS LEAD US INTO THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SIDE OF OUR BUSINESS.

THEN WHEN HOWARD PHILLIPS PASSED AWAY, WE'RE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE A GENTLEMAN NAMED JIM HENSON AT THE LEAD OF THE ORGANIZATION.

AND JIM SAW THE CONVERSION OF DR. PHILLIPS SINK FROM THE FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS TO THE NON-FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS.

HE ALSO MADE SURE THAT WE LIVE TO THE STANDARDS OF THE PHILLIPS FAMILY AND KEPT DONOR INTENT IN MIND.

AND HE MADE SURE THAT WE RAN IT LIKE A BUSINESS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO TODAY.

WE'RE HERE AT 7:30 EVERY SINGLE MORNING RUNNING THIS BUSINESS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY.

>>WE STARTED WITH THE CORPUS OF $80 MILLION.

AND TODAY WE SIT AT $400 MILLION.

BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING IS DURING THAT TIMEFRAME, WE'VE GIFTED AWAY $200 MILLION, A COUPLE OF VERY KEY THINGS.

ONE IS THAT THE MONEY STAY LOCAL.

SO ALL OF OUR GIVING STAYS HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA AND ORANGE AND OSCEOLA COUNTY.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT IT'D BE ESTABLISHED INTO PERPETUITY.

IT'S OUR INTENTION THAT KEEP GROWING THE ORGANIZATION AND TO BE GIVING MORE MONEY AWAY TOMORROW AND MORE MONEY AWAY NEXT YEAR.

AND IN 50 YEARS FROM NOW.

>>ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS, THE ICONIC THINGS ABOUT THE CITY BEAUTIFUL IS OF COURSE THE BEAUTIFUL LAKE EOLA.

AND IF YOU'VE EVER WALKED AROUND LAKE EOLA AND YOU'VE SEEN THE PAGODA THAT'S HERE, YOU MIGHT SAY TO YOURSELF, 'WHAT IS THAT?'

WELL, I HAVE THE RIGHT PERSON TO ASK.

DR. NELSON YANG IS HERE WITH US TODAY.

WELCOME.

>>THANK YOU.

[CROSSTALK] PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>>SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CITY BEAUTIFUL IS SOMETHING THAT ORLANDO REFERS TO ITSELF AS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS NOW, BUT THERE'S A CITY BEAUTIFUL SISTER CITY IN CHINA, RIGHT?

>>YES INDEED.

IT STARTED BECAUSE... [INAUDIBLE] AND I RAN INTO EACH OTHER AMERICAN PAVILION IN 1982 AND A BILL FREDERICK ONE WINNER.

THE NEXT YEAR MAYOR BILL HOSTED A DINNER.

AND AFTER A LOT OF DRINKS, HE SAID:'YOU KNOW, NELSON, I HAVE A SISTER CITY IN TAIWAN, AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ONE IN CHINA.

AND IT TOOK ME ALMOST A SPLIT SECOND.

I SAID, WHAT A GREAT IDEA.

IF I GET A SISTER CITY FROM TAIWAN HERE WHICH WE HAD ALREADY, IF I GET ONE FROM CHINA TO BE HERE, MAYBE THEY COULD UNOFFICIALLY TALK TO EACH OTHER AND START TO CREATE PEACE.

I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE.

IT WAS 1985 BEFORE WE HAD A FIRST MISSION FROM ORLANDO, FLORIDA, GOODWILL MISSION.

SO WE GOT A SISTER CITY, THE CITY BEAUTIFUL CALLED [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] IN CHINA.

SO ONE AFTERNOON AFTER VERY GOOD LUNCH, WE WERE DRIVING BACK IN THE MERCEDES.

I WAS HALF ASLEEP.

AND MAYOR BILL SAID: 'HEY, NELSON, YOU SEE THAT?

CAN YOU GIVE ME ONE OF THAT?'

HE DID NOT MENTION A PAGODA.

I WAS OPEN ONE AND GOT ONE FOR YOU.

THAT WAS 1985.

I SAY YES.

TOOK ME, THREE MORE YEARS, 1988.

WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG?

BECAUSE NUMBER ONE, I HAVE TO HAVE IT MADE IN SHANGHAI, TAKEN APART, SHIPPED HERE.

AND THEN WE WAITED.

WE WAITED FOR WHAT?

FOR CRAFTSMEN TO GET APPROVAL, TO COME TO UNITED STATES TO REASSEMBLE IT.

I WAS SO HAPPY.

WE FINALLY DID IT.

MAYOR BILL CREATE A DAY MADE THAT DAY, DR. NELSON YANG DAY IN THE CITY OF ORLANDO.

HE MADE MY DAY.

SO TO SPEAK.

>>YOU MENTIONED IT'S CALLED TING TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

WHAT DOES IT SYMBOLIZE AND WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE REALLY THERE FOR?

>>SO IN MANY WAYS IT IS A SYMBOL OF FRIENDSHIP.

IT'S A SYMBOL OF SERENITY.

IT'S A SYMBOL OF TRANQUILITY, A PLACE TO GET A REST, BUT MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN WE CAN PICK A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION HERE IN THE CITY BEAUTIFUL ON A SHORE OF LAKE EOLA.

>>NEXT TIME THAT YOU AND A FRIEND ARE WALKING AROUND LAKE EOLA, AS YOU WALKED BY THE TING, REMEMBER TO SAY, THAT'S DR. YANG'S TING.

NOW, YOU KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT OUR BELOVED LAKE EOLA.

>>WHAT NORMALLY HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A TREE THAT DIES?

WELL, NOT IN LAKE NONA, INSTEAD OF CUTTING IT DOWN, THEY TURN IT INTO A PIECE OF ART.

THE TRANSFORMATION WAS DONE BY SAMANTHA SCENT, WHO HAS BEEN DOING GRAPHIC DESIGN FOR ALMOST 15 YEARS, ORIGINALLY FROM VENEZUELA, ENGLISH AS HER SECOND LANGUAGE.

SO HER HUSBAND, JESUS WILL TRANSLATE.

>>[SPEAKING IN SPANISH] >>WE GOT INVOLVED WITH MAKING THIS DEAD TREE TO ART BECAUSE THEY COMMISSIONED US TO BRING THIS TREE BACK TO LIFE.

ALONG WITH THEM, WE CHOSE THESE HOT PINK BECAUSE IT'S VERY FRIENDLY, BRIGHT COLOR THAT IT WAS INVITING TO THE TOWN.

THE PROCESS TOOK ABOUT A WEEK TO DO IT FROM BEGINNING TO END, WE HAVE TO CLEAN THE TREE.

WE HAVE TO PRIME IT, THEN PAINTED AND THEN SEAL IT THE TREES ABOUT 40 FEET HIGH TO IT'S TOP.

SO WE HAVE TO USE A CRANE TO REACH THE VERY TOP OF A TREE.

>>IN ADDITION TO THE TREE, SHE AND HER TEAM HAVE ALSO DONE SEVERAL IMPRESSIVE LARGE MURALS ON BUILDINGS, INCLUDING THE PIXON BUILDING, A MASSIVE SEVEN STORY STRUCTURE IN DOWNTOWN LAKE NONA.

A LOT OF WORK THAT CREATES A LOT OF PRIDE.

>>[SPEAKING IN SPANISH] >>WE WERE VERY HAPPY.

WE WERE NOT ONLY COMMISSIONED TO WORK HERE.

WE LIVE HERE.

WE LIVE IN LAKE NONA.

WE ARE LAKE NONA RESIDENTS.

SO IT FILLS UP WITH PRIDE AND JOY.

EVERY TIME WE GO BY AND THAT MAKE US PROUD AND MAKE US HAPPY.

>>HERE ARE THE TOP THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY.

ARNOLD PALMER DISCOVERED BAY HILL BY ACCIDENT.

BACK WHEN SAND LAKE WAS A TWO LANE ROAD, SURROUNDED BY ORANGE GROVES, THE QUIET CORNER OF ORLANDO APPEALED TO THE POPULAR GOLFER AND THE KING EXPANDED ON BAY HILL AND BEYOND IN ORLANDO.

TANGELO PARK WAS NAMED AFTER THE TANGELO, WHICH IS SORT OF A HYBRID OF CITRUS THAT MIXED TANGERINES WITH POMELO, THE WEST ORANGE TRAIL IS A 22 MILE LONG MULTI-USE PAVED RAIL TRAIL.

IT'S LOVED BY BICYCLISTS, ROLLER SKATERS AND PEDESTRIANS ALIKE.

IT PASSES THROUGH OAKLAND, WINTER GARDEN AND APOPKA.

AND MOST OF IT STRETCHES BUILT ALONG OLD RAILROAD TRACKS.

>>MANY PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF HARRY P LEU GARDENS IN ORLANDO, BUT NOT AS MANY FOLKS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE HENRY NEHRLINGS PALM COTTAGE GARDENS, AN INSTITUTION SINCE 1885.

>>NEHRLING GARDENS IS A REALLY UNIQUE AND SPECIAL PLACE.

IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1885.

WHEN DR. HENRY NEHRLING HEARD ABOUT THIS LITTLE GERMAN SETTLEMENT CALLED GOPHER, HE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY SIGHT UNSEEN AND BEGAN ASSEMBLING WONDERFUL VARIETY OF PLANTS ON THIS PROPERTY.

DR. NEHRLING WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT HE DID BY THE EARLY 1900S.

THIS HAD BECOME AN EARLY TESTING SITE FOR THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, WHERE THE GOVERNMENT WAS ASKING NEHRLING TO EXPERIMENT WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLANTS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS HE'S HE'S PARTICULARLY WELL-KNOWN FOR A CALADIUMS.

HE WAS ACTUALLY GROWING ON THIS PROPERTY, 1700 NAMED VARIETIES OF CALADIUMS, BUT HE WAS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THEM AND HE LOVED TO SHARE HIS KNOWLEDGE.

I THINK THAT'S WHY HE'S REMEMBERED AS THE FATHER OF FLORIDA HORTICULTURE.

HE NOT ONLY DID EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIMENTING, BUT HE WANTED TO SHARE HIS LOVE AND KNOWLEDGE WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

HE TALKED ABOUT THE BEAUTY OF FLORIDA, ITS NATURAL BEAUTY AND HOW WE MUST PROTECT IT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

>>ONE OF THE THINGS WE LOVE TO DO WHEN PEOPLE COME TO THE GARDENS IS TO LET THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE IN THE EARLY 1900S WHEN DR. NEHRLING WAS LIVING HERE, BUT ALSO THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO MOVING FORWARD.

AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE THAT SENSE.

THIS IS WHAT MATTERED TO HIM.

THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TEACHING.

THE OLD HOUSE THAT WE'RE SITTING IN HERE.

HE MOVED OVER SO THAT WHEN HIS FAMILY MOVED DOWN, HE DECIDED TO MOVE THEM DOWN IN 1901 AND LIVE HERE PERMANENTLY.

SO AT THAT POINT HE NEEDED A REAL HOUSE TO PUT THEM IN.

AND THIS ONE HAD BEEN ABANDONED A MILE AWAY.

THEY CUT IT IN FOUR SECTIONS, ROLLED THAT HE WAS OXCARTS AND REBUILT IT INTO THIS GRACIOUS HOME THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

>>I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT NEHRLING GARDENS IS THAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY, THE REAL PLACE WHERE SOMEONE EXTRAORDINARY LIVED AND WORKED THIS PASSION THAT HE HAD, WE CAN TEACH THAT AND PASS THAT ON NATURE.

THE GROWING WORLD ARE THINGS WE SHOULD TREASURE AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND, AND THAT'S THE LEGACY HE GAVE US.

AND THAT HERE WE HAVE THE REAL PLACE THAT WE CAN REMEMBER THAT AND CONTINUE THIS LEGACY OF HIS, FOR THE GENERATIONS AHEAD OF US.

>>LONG BEFORE DISNEY, UNIVERSAL AND SEAWORLD MOVED INTO CENTRAL FLORIDA, ONE OF THE EARLIEST ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS WAS AND STILL IS ON SOUTH HIGHWAY 441.

IT'S THE ALLIGATOR CAPITAL OF THE WORLD GATORLAND.

>>HERE IN GATORLAND.

WE'RE KNOWN AS THE ALLIGATOR CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

AND WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN TO YOU IS THAT WE HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF ALLIGATORS AND CROCODILES.

IN FACT, WE HAVE CLOSE TO 3000 ALLIGATORS AND CROCODILES IN OUR INVENTORY.

GATORLAND HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1949 AS 22 YEARS BD BEFORE DISNEY.

SO WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

ONE OF FLORIDA'S ORIGINAL ATTRACTIONS RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, A GENTLEMAN NAMED OWEN GODWIN BOUGHT THE PROPERTY HERE.

16 ACRES IS WHAT WE ORIGINALLY SAT ON.

WHEN WE STARTED BACK IN 1949, WE WEREN'T CALLED GATORLAND.

AT THE TIME WE WERE ACTUALLY CALLED FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE INSTITUTE.

WHILE THAT KIND OF SOUNDED LIKE A WEIRD NAME.

SO THEY CHANGED THE NAME TO SNAKE VILLAGE.

WHAT OWEN AND HIS WIFE PEARL FOUND WAS THAT TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF SNAKES.

SO WHAT HAPPENED?

YOU GOT A BUNCH OF LAND.

YOU GOT A BUNCH OF GATORS.

LET'S CALL IT GATORLAND.

AND HIS WIFE, PEARL IS ACTUALLY THE ONE THAT CAME UP WITH THE NAME GATORLAND.

>>GATOR LAND'S ICONIC ALLIGATOR OPEN JAW ENTRANCE WAS CONCEPTUALIZED AND BUILT IN 1962.

THE ENTRANCE IS 15 FEET WIDE, 21 FEET LONG AND 14 FEET HIGH AND IS BUILT USING STEEL BEAMS, CUSTOMIZED REBAR AND CONCRETE.

>>BACK IN THE DAY.

PEOPLE USED TO THINK YOU'D JUST COME THROUGH AND JUST SEE A BUNCH OF ALLIGATORS AND THAT'D BE IT.

WELL AS TIME HAS GONE ON, WE PROGRESS AND GROW WITH THE TIMES.

TODAY WE'VE GROWN TO BE ABOUT 110 ACRES OF PROPERTY AND STILL GROWING AND STILL HAVE SOME ROOM FOR GROWTH.

WE REALLY SAW A NEED FOR SOME MORE ADVENTURE STUFF.

SO WE INSTALLED A ZIP LINE, OUR SCREAMING GATOR ZIP LINE, WHERE YOU ZIP LINE OVER ALLIGATORS AND CROCODILES.

2017, WE INSTILLED A BIG SWAMP BUGGY RIDE, LIKE KIND OF MONSTER TRUCK THAT GOES THROUGH MUD, AND A POND FULL ALLIGATORS.

AND WE STILL HAVE A BUNCH OF ANIMALS, NOT JUST ALLIGATORS.

WE HAVE CROCODILES, SNAKES, BUGS, BIRDS, LIZARDS, ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN MEET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL AND LEARN ABOUT.

THIS IS BUDDY RIGHT HERE.

HE'S OUR LARGEST ALLIGATOR IN THE PARK, 13 FEET, EIGHT INCHES, AND ABOUT 1200 POUNDS.

AND HE'S THE KING OF THE SWAMP.

>>DESPITE BEING THE SIZEABLE UNDERDOG TO DISNEY, UNIVERSAL AND SEAWORLD GATORLAND HAS CONTINUED TO NOT ONLY COMPETE WITH THE BIGGER PARKS, BUT ALSO TO PROSPER.

>>GATORLAND HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1949.

THAT'S 72 YEARS NOW.

AND IF YOU WANT THE REAL FLORIDA EXPERIENCE, HOW TO EXPERIENCE REAL FLORIDA, YOU COME TO GATORLAND CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU BECAUSE YOU COME TO FLORIDA, YOU THINK ABOUT ALLIGATORS AND THAT'S WHAT WE GOT GOING ON RIGHT HERE.

THE BIG PARKS ARE AROUND US AND WE ARE THE SMALL GUYS OF THE LITTLE PARKS, BUT WE COMPETE JUST WITH THEM AND KEEP UP WITH THEM.

EVERYBODY LOVES COMING TO VISIT GATORLAND, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S REAL FLORIDA.

AND ONE OF OUR MOTTOES IS THAT WE WANT TO GIVE OUR GUESTS FUN, SMILES AND SPECIAL MEMORIES.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING SINCE 1949.

>>ORANGE COUNTY IS HOME TO A WIDE VARIETY OF ETHNIC CULTURES.

AND THAT MEANS A WIDE VARIETY OF ETHNIC CUISINE, FOOD BLOGGER RICKY LY JOINS US NOW TO INTRODUCE THE ANH HONG RESTAURANT IN ORLANDO'S LITTLE VIETNAM.

>>WE'RE HERE AT ANH HONG RESTAURANT IN THE HEART OF MILLS 50 DISTRICT ON THE CORNER OF COLONIAL AND MILLS AVENUE.

WE'RE HERE TODAY WITH MS. CINDY.

PHAN WHOSE THE OWNER OF ANH HONG RESTAURANT.

HOW DID YOU COME TO AMERICA?

>>WE CAME HERE IN 1984.

MY FATHER HE'S A US ARMY AND VIETNAMESE ARMY.

HE LEFT THE COUNTRY IN 1975 AND HE CAME TO UNITED STATES AND HE SPONSOR FOR US AFTER 10 YEARS HE SPONSOR FOR TO CAME TO AMERICA.

>>WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GO INTO COOKING IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS?

>>BECAUSE I...

WHEN I WAS LITTLE, MY MOM SHE LOVE COOKING EVERYDAY.

SHE IN THE KITCHEN WITH THE VERY WARM, YES, AND THEN SHE COOK, AND THEN THAT MAKE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH COOKING.

AND I FEEL VERY HAPPY TO SHOW PEOPLE HOW TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIETNAMESE, TRADITIONAL KNOW HOW I'M COOKING.

>>EVERY YEAR DURING THE VIETNAMESE NEW YEAR.

THERE'S LOTS OF CELEBRATIONS GOING ON IN THIS COMMUNITY IN MILLS 50 WHERE ARE SOME OF THE CELEBRATIONS THAT HAPPEN?

>>EVERY YEAR.

WE ALWAYS INVITE THE LION WALK IN HERE AND DANCING >>NOT REAL LIONS, BUT THEY COME THROUGH.

>>YES, YES.

EVERY YEAR OUR CULTURE SAY THAT IF THE LION COME IN HERE AND DANCING AND BRING IN ALL THE LUCK IN FOR THE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE NEW YEAR, LOTS OF FIREWORKS, LOTS OF FIREWORKS.

>>GET AWAY.

ALL THE BAD, BAD MOJO.

>>EXACTLY.

>>GOOD, GOOD VIBES.

>>RIGHT, RIGHT.

GOOD VIBES.

OLD YEARS AND BRING THE NEW YEAR INTO THE LIFE.

>>SO HERE AT ANH HONG WHAT ARE THE MOST SPECIAL DISHES THAT YOU HAVE HERE?

>>I HAVE FOUR APPETIZER.

I LIKE THE [SPEAKING VIETNAMESE] IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

EVERYBODY FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, THEY COME HERE JUST FOR THIS.

>>WOW.

>>YOU LIKE TO TRY THIS?

LET'S BRING IT OVER.

THANK YOU.

>>SO COLORFUL, WHAT'S IT MADE OF?

>>WE MAKE IT FROM RICE FLOUR AND CREAM AND SHALLOT EAT WITH [INAUDIBLE] LIKE A FISH SAUCE.

>>I CAN'T WAIT TO TRY IT.

SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LOOKING FOR AUTHENTIC, VERY GOOD DELICIOUS VIETNAMESE CUISINE, COME DOWN TO ANH HONG HERE IN THE HEART OF MILLS 50 DISTRICT IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA, AND TRY SOME REALLY GREAT DISHES LIKE THE SPECIAL BIENVILLE.

IN FACT, I'M GOING TO TRY SOME MORE RIGHT NOW.

SO WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

>>ORANGE COUNTY IS HOME TO ONE OF THE GRANDEST MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS ANYWHERE.

THE BACH FESTIVAL SOCIETY HAS BEEN MAKING MUSIC HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA FOR MORE THAN 85 YEARS.

>>THE BACH FESTIVAL SOCIETY BEGAN IN 1935 IN THIS VERY SPACE.

IT WAS TO COMMEMORATE THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTHDAY OF JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH OUR NAMESAKE.

AND IT WAS NURTURED BY ROLLINS PROFESSORS AND ADMINISTRATORS ALL THESE YEARS.

AND ALTHOUGH IT'S ITS OWN ORGANIZATION, IT STILL CALLS THIS CAMPUS HOME.

AS THE SIXTH ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, I PROUDLY STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF MY PREDECESSORS.

OUR REPERTOIRE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS HAS BEEN VARIED AND EXTENSIVE, BUT WE NEVER FORGET WHO WE ARE WITH A GREAT CHORAL MASTERWORKS.

>>THE CHOIR IS QUITE AMAZING.

THE DEDICATION THEY HAVE TO NOT ONLY MAKE THE TRAVEL AND THE TRIP TO REHEARSALS AND THE MULTIPLE HOURS AND HOURS IT TAKES EVERY YEAR TO BE A MEMBER OF THIS IS QUITE AMAZING.

OUR CHOIR IS A MULTI-GENERATIONAL ORGANIZATION FROM ALL WALKS AND STATIONS OF LIFE.

AND WHAT I FIND WONDERFUL ABOUT A CHOIR IS THEY BRING ALL THESE MULTITUDE OF LIFE EXPERIENCES AND YEARS FROM PLACES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND COME TOGETHER FOR ONE CYNICAL PURPOSE.

IT'S A VERY POWERFUL EXPERIENCE.

THERE'S NOTHING HARDLY MORE POWERFUL THAN PEOPLE SINGING TOGETHER.

AND THE BACH FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA IS COMPRISED OF THE FINEST OF THE LOCAL MUSICIANS.

>>IT IS THE MOST AMAZING GROUP OF MUSICIANS, OF PLAYERS AND SINGERS YOU CAN FIND ANYWHERE BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE WE COMMITTED TO THE MUSIC, THERE IS AN AMAZING COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER BECAUSE WE ENJOY THIS.

WE ENJOY MAKING MUSIC.

WE ENJOY LISTENING TO EACH OTHER.

IT IS AN AMAZING KIND OF EXPERIENCE.

>>BACH FESTIVAL SOCIETY IS A CENTRAL FLORIDA TREASURE TO CULTURAL TREASURE.

I BELIEVE THAT WHEN YOU HAVE AN INSTITUTION LIKE THE BACH FESTIVAL SOCIETY THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR AS LONG AS IT'S BEEN AROUND AND MAINTAIN THE PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE THAT IT'S MAINTAINED, IT CAN'T HELP, BUT INFLUENCE THE YOUNGER GENERATION INTO WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE FOR A LONG TIME, BEEN KIND OF GROUND ZERO FOR CHORAL MUSIC IN THIS AREA, WE ARE REALLY BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO INFLUENCE OTHERS IN THIS GREAT ART FORM.

>>WE KNOW THAT WE'VE REALLY DONE SOMETHING SPECIAL.

AS WE SAY, BY WATCHING JOHN, WHEN JOHN GESTURES BY TAPPING HIS HEART, WE KNOW THAT WE'VE REACHED JOHN AND WE'VE REACHED EVERYONE IN THE ROOM.

HE DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO SMILE.

HE JUST HAS TO SHOW THAT THAT WE'VE REACHED HIS HEART.

>>YOU MIGHT ALREADY KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY OF CHRISTMAS IS NEARBY IN EAST ORANGE COUNTY.

BUT WHAT YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE OF IS THAT THE HISTORY OF THIS COMMUNITY IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN JUST THE HOLIDAY.

>>A LOT OF PEOPLE BELIEVE THE AREA OF CHRISTMAS GOT ITS NAME FROM THE HOLIDAY THAT IT ACTUALLY CAME FROM BEFORE STARTING THE CONSTRUCTION CHRISTMAS DAY, 1837.

THIS NAME, THE FORT CHRISTMAS.

AND SO FORT CHRISTMAS BUILT ON CHRISTMAS CREEK WAS ESSENTIALLY JUST A STOREHOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS WAS ACTUALLY USED ONLY FOR A FEW MONTHS SINCE IT WAS BUILT IN DECEMBER AND ABANDONED.

BY, THE 1ST OF MARCH.

>>THE REPLICA FORT THAT YOU CAN VISIT TODAY WAS BUILT BY ORANGE COUNTY AS PART OF A BICENTENNIAL PROJECT.

BACK IN 1976, THE REPLICA TOOK A YEAR AND A HALF TO COMPLETE.

THE ORIGINAL FORT WAS BUILT IN THREE DAYS.

THE FORT CHRISTMAS COMMUNITY WAS RENAMED TO JUST CHRISTMAS IN 1892.

THE COMMUNITY HAS CERTAINLY EMBRACED ITS NAME AFTER ALL.

IT'S A PLACE WHERE IT IS CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR LONG.

AND OF COURSE AROUND THE HOLIDAYS, THE POST OFFICE IS A BUSY, BUSY SPOT.

>>WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT COME FROM ALL OVER TO MAIL THEIR CHRISTMAS CARDS HERE, WE HAVE A SPECIAL POSTMARK FOR CHRISTMAS.

IT'S GOT FIVE CHRISTMAS TREES ACROSS AND IT SAYS GREETINGS FROM CHRISTMAS, FLORIDA.

SO WHO WOULDN'T WANT THEIR CARDS, POSTMARK CHRISTMAS.

AND WE ALSO HAVE SOME RUBBER STAMPS THAT PEOPLE LIKE TO DECORATE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT MAIL CARDS TO US TO DO A REMAIL BECAUSE THEY WANT OUR POSTMARK.

IT'S CHRISTMAS ALL THE TIME IN CHRISTMAS, FLORIDA.

>>BACK IN THE EARLY 1990S, ORLANDO WENT HOLLYWOOD, NOTHING LIKE TAKING CENTER STAGE.

AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST MOVIES OF THE TIME.

BACK IN 1991, THE CITY OF ORLANDO LITERALLY EXPLODED ONTO THE BIG SCREEN AS HOLLYWOOD CAME CALLING.

>>WE HAD DECIDED TO BUILD A NEW CITY HALL AND WE ACTUALLY COMPLETED THE BUILDING AND IT WAS SURROUNDING THE OLD CITY HALL.

AND WE HAD TO TAKE THAT DOWN.

AND THE WAY THEY DECIDED WAS TO BLOW IT UP.

SO WE ENDED UP SELLING IT TO THE PEOPLE THAT WERE FILMING LETHAL WEAPON.

AND WE HAD MEL GIBSON AND DANNY GLOVER AND OTHER, A TON OF PEOPLE THAT SURROUND THOSE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES.

BUT THEY WERE JUST REALLY NICE PEOPLE, VERY FRIENDLY, VERY ACCOMMODATING.

AND THE NIGHT THAT WE ACTUALLY BLEW UP THE BUILDING, DANNY AND MEL WERE ACTUALLY, DID THE STUNT.

THEY CAME RUNNING OUT THE FRONT STEPS, JUST AS THE GAS AND ALL OF THAT STUFF.

THAT, THAT WASN'T ACTUALLY THE BUILDING GOING DOWN.

BUT THE SIMULATION OF IT, THEY, THEY MADE IT LOOK LIKE THAT.

THEY CAME RUNNING OUT THE FRONT, JUMPED OVER A CAR THAT WAS PARKED.

>>WE CAME DOWN AT A TRUCK.

THERE WERE SEVERAL OF US.

I WAS DRESSED UP AS CAPTAIN OF THE BOMB SQUAD WHO HAD BEEN CALLED.

AND I HAD MY ONE SPEAKING WORD IN A MOVIE, AND IT WAS BRAVO.

I'VE SEEN THINGS BLOWN UP BEFORE, AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK QUITE LIKE YOU WANT, IT HAD TO COME STRAIGHT DOWN AND COLLAPSED, WHICH IT DID, BUT HAD IT GONE OVER AND DAMAGED THE NEW BUILDING.

I THINK I WOULD HAVE BEEN THE GOAT OF THAT.

SO I WAS RELIEVED.

IT WAS A FUN EPISODE THAT YOU DON'T GET MANY OF THOSE, BUT IT WAS THE ONE THAT WE LOOKED BACK WITH FOND REMEMBRANCE.

>>THINK YOU MIGHT KNOW A BIT ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA HISTORY THAT WE MISSED?

WELL THEN HEAD ON OVER TO FACEBOOK.COM/WUCFTV AND LET US KNOW.

AND FOR MORE ADVENTURES AROUND OUR AREA, CHECK OUT THE OTHER EPISODES OF CENTRAL FLORIDA ROADTRIP AT WUCF.ORG/ROADTRIP.

>>WELL, THAT WRAPS UP THIS ORANGE COUNTY EDITION OF CENTRAL FLORIDA ROADTRIP.

I'M DR. PHIL HOFFMAN.

JOIN US AGAIN NEXT TIME AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THE RICH HISTORY THAT SURROUNDS US ALL EVERY DAY, RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.