County offers incentives, hopes someone will buy eyesore hotel on U.S. 192

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Over the last few years, Osceola County officials have worked to clean up a stretch of U.S. 192 that leads to Disney World, but there is one prime piece of real estate that continues to be a major eyesore.

Channel 9's Jamie Holmes learned Tuesday that officials are hoping some new incentives will encourage someone to purchase the property and clean it up.

In its heyday, the Orlando Sun Resort t was described as "77 tropically landscaped acres," but it has turned into a full-fledged jungle over the years.

Photos: Eyesore hotel in great location for sale in Osceola County

The resort houses 919 rooms, which continue to sit empty with televisions and beds still locked inside. It's about a half-mile down the road from Disney near where U.S. 192 and Interstate 4 meet.

The resort even has its own convention center, but the property remains abandoned with a $75 million price tag.

The county is hoping with a new incentive package that would include tax rebates, demolition and fast-track permitting, they'll get a buyer to bite.

The exact rebate package would be tailor-made depending on the buyer, officials said.

If the site becomes a new hotel, for instance, and brings in more tax dollars, the county would pony up steeper rebates to make the property more enticing.

Until then, however, the property will remain an eyesore to the community.

WFTV