Parliament House (hotel) explained

Parliament House
Building Type:Gay resort
Address:410 Orange Blossom TRL
Location City:Orlando, Florida
Location Country:United States
Coordinates:28.5481°N -81.3974°W
Opened Date:1975
Closing Date:2020
Destruction Date:-->
Grounds Area:10,000 square feet
Rooms:112

Parliament House was a gay resort on the Orange Blossom Trail in Florida, United States, that included several bars and hosted performances such as drag shows.[1] There were 112 rooms in the complex, which encompassed ten thousand square feet, including an outdoor stage, a swimming pool, and a dance floor.[2] The resort was established in 1975,[3] and eventually became the most well-known gay resort in Orlando.[4] In 2006, the resort expanded to include a timeshare.[5] In 2010, Parliament House was in danger of foreclosure.[6] In 2012, Kenneth Creuzer, a 48-year-old HIV-positive man, was arrested on charges relating to his having allegedly raped a man at Parliament House.[7] Alison Arngrim, who portrayed Nellie Oleson on the television series Little House on the Prairie, performed a one-person show called "Confessions of a Prairie Bitch" at Parliament House in 2013.[8] On July 25, 2014, the resort filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with $12.4 million in debts and nearly $4 million in assets.[9] In February 2015, a fourteen-million-dollar debt relief plan was approved by the relevant parties.[10] In 2019, NewNowNext declared Parliament House the most popular gay bar in the United States.[11]

Parliament House Resort was the only remaining motor inn from the Parliament House Motor Inn chain. It closed on November 2, 2020, and demolition began on the complex on January 4, 2021.

Decline and closure

Parliament House saw a decline in condition, service and patronage in its final years. As of March 2019, the property was listed for sale at $16.5 million. On October 28, 2020, Parliament House's owners announced that they had been unable to secure financing to renovate the existing venue and that it would close on November 2. They further stated: "In the coming weeks, we'll reveal our plans for the immediate future.... This is by no means goodbye. We promise to keep you updated about our grand re-opening."[12]

Notable performers

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Taylor (2003), p. 82.
  2. News: News 13. Claiming $15.5 Million Debt, Parliament House Files for Bankruptcy. July 26, 2014. Allen, Jeff. April 11, 2015.
  3. News: EDGE. Orlando Police Accuse HIV+ Man of Rape at Parliament House. St. Amand, Jason. August 10, 2012. April 11, 2015.
  4. News: Orlando Sentinel. Theater Review: 'The Temperamentals' from Wanzie Presents. Palm, Matthew J.. November 13, 2012. April 11, 2015.
  5. News: Orlando Sentinel. Parliament House Seeks Bankruptcy Cure with Plan to Shed Debt. Brinkmann, Paul. November 25, 2014. April 11, 2015.
  6. News: Orlando Sentinel. Lots to Do this Labor Day Weekend. September 3, 2010. Fitzpatrick, Kelly. April 11, 2015.
  7. News: Orlando Sentinel. Police: HIV-Positive Man Raped Stranger at Parliament House. Jacobson, Susan. August 6, 2012. January 1, 2015.
  8. News: The New York Times. From 'I Hate Her' to Icon. Barnes, Brooks. June 14, 2013. April 11, 2015.
  9. News: Orlando Business Journal. Year in Review: 10 Businesses that Filed for Bankruptcy this Year. December 15, 2014. Lundine, Susan. April 11, 2015.
  10. News: Orlando Sentinel. Parliament House Emerges from Bankruptcy. Brinkmann, Paul. February 24, 2015. April 11, 2015.
  11. Web site: The 50 Most Popular Gay Bars in the United States NewNowNext. van Gorder. Bryan. January 15, 2019. www.newnownext.com. 2019-01-30.
  12. News: Orlando's Parliament House resort announces closure set for Nov. 2 . October 28, 2020 . October 29, 2020 . FOX 35 News Staff . . fox35orlando.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20201029020441/https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/orlandos-parliament-house-resort-announces-closure . October 29, 2020 . dead .