Orange Blossom Trail

O. B. T. is a major highway that runs north-south through the Orlando, Florida area.

The northern terminus occurs at the Orange/Lake County line near Mt. Dora, Florida, though the road continues to the North as US 441. Orange Blossom Trail is designated US 441 between Mount Dora and Kissimmee. Orange Blossom Trail is signed as both US 17 and 92 from the Polk / Osceola County line north to SR 50/Colonial Drive, with a short break in the downtown Kissimmee area. SR 50 is also the dividing line between "North O.B.T." and "South O.B.T".

The low-income portions of Orange Blossom Trail are particularly well known in the Orlando area. Parts of the aforementioned "South O.B.T" are locally synonymous with prostitution and adult entertainment. However, Orange Blossom Trail covers a wide variety of economic groups over its length and not all areas live up to this seedy reputation.

In the 70s and 80s Orange Blossom Trail lived up to its name. The highway was encompassed by Orange Trees. As the years went on, trees were replaced by stores and development. In the 80s 4 star hotels popped up along the highway with world class restaurants and shopping malls. In the 90s other areas of Orlando developed and took over as the tourism hotspot areas. In the current economy, the area is ripe for redevelopment.

ee also

* US 17/92