Eli's Orange World

You can see its giant rounded top, like a bright, ripe Florida orange emerging from a lot along U.S. Route 192, where drivers may wonder what it holds.

Stop by and you'll see how Eli's Orange World, a family-owned, roadside gift shop has developed a reputation for selling fresh, juicy oranges, and even orange trees, along with Florida-themed gifts and goods.

The quirky fiberglass structure dates back to the 1970s, when Eli Sfassie decided to capitalize on the opening of nearby Walt Disney World by selling souvenirs from the service bay of his gas station. A decade or so later, he converted the building to resemble a giant orange—it's about 60 feet tall—and referred to it as the world's largest orange. 

The big orange dome was immortalized on film in 2007's "The Florida Project," a critically acclaimed film from director Sean Baker. Eli's Orange World appears near the fictional motel where the movie is set, giving a cartoon-like vibe that accentuates the film's colorful yet emotionally wrenching world.

Eli's Orange World is just a couple minutes west of Jungle Falls Gift Shop, a building from which a giant wizard head and giant hands  emerge. This proximity may be handy for souvenir hunters, but was unfortunate when it came to Hurricane Charley in 2004. According to local lore, winds blew the giant crystal ball out of the wizard's possession and into the roof of Orange World, leaving a big dent. In 2023, the shop suffered fire and smoke damage, but has since re-opened, serving customers who are looking to bring a little of that Florida orange-tinged magic back home with them.