After 21 spring camps in Astrotown at Cocoa, Fla., the Astros decided to try something new in 1985. They cleared ground near U.S. 192 and started from scratch, building the state-of-the-art Osceola County Stadium complex in Kissimmee, Fla.
When it opened, the complex was hailed as the best of its kind in Florida, and its unique "cloverleaf" design has served as a blueprint for many teams as they built new spring facilities - Kansas City, Cincinnati, Minnesota. The stadium and complex has been more than the Astros spring training home for the past 20 seasons. It has played host to many local civic events. The playing field at Osceola County Stadium was also recognized by Sports Turf Magazine and the Beam Clay Company as its Baseball Field of the Year for 1990-91.
The Astros opened Osceola County Stadium on March 3, 1985, when a record crowd of 6,742 saw Houston defeat the New York Yankees 9-6. Last year, the stadium re-opened its doors once again against the Yankees, but with a whole new look. It underwent an $18.4 million renovation, featuring a new facade, new seating, expanded clubhouses and training facilities, a picnic area and a re-designed press box and concession areas. A recent lease agreement will keep the Astros in the upgraded Kissimmee facility through 2016. The team is currently riding on the sixth-longest tenure in the Majors at a Florida spring home.
Houston first conducted spring training in Apache Junction, Ariz., in 1962 and 1963 before moving to Cocoa in 1964.
| STADIUM ADDRESS |
| Osceola County Stadium |
| 1000 Bill Beck Boulevard |
| Kissimmee, Florida 34744 |
| (321) 697-3200 | |
| STADIUM DIMENSIONS |
| Foul Lines 330 feet |
| Power Alleys 390 feet |
| Center Field 410 feet |
| Height of Outfield Walls 8 feet |
|
DIRECTIONS TO OSCEOLA COUNTY STADIUM
FROM: Ft. Lauderdale, Pompano, Vero Beach, West Palm Beach
Florida Turnpike North, get off Exit 242 and turn left (northwest) on US 192, drive three miles to Bill Beck Blvd. (Tourist Infromation Center on corner) turn right, take Bill Beck Blvd. for 7/10 mile, turn left into parking lot (parking for buses is to the left front, near complex).
FROM: Bradenton, Clearwater, Dunedin, Lakeland, Sarasota, Tampa, St. Petersburg
Interstate 4 East to Exit 64 (US 192 East), take US 192 East approximately 15 miles to Bill Beck Blvd.. Turn left on Bill Beck Blvd., 7/10 mile turn left into parking lot.
FROM: Orlando, Daytona Beach
Turnpike south to Exit 244, turn right on US 192, drive 1 mile to Bill Beck Blvd., turn right, take Bill Beck Blvd. for 7/10 mile, turn left into parking lot.
FROM: Winter Haven
Take 17-92 to Kissimmee, turn right on US 192 going East approximately three miles to Bill Beck Blvd. Turn left onto Bill Beck Blvd., go 7/10 mile and turn left into parking lot.
FROM: Orlando Airport
Take the South exit (to Kissimmee) out of the airport. Merge onto Boggy Creek Road, pass under the #417 - Greenway and continue on Boggy Creek to the next stop light (Circle K store on corner) turn right, this is still Boggy Creek Rd., after you pass the Lakeside Subdivision stay in the right hand lane and go right at the next light (still Boggy Creek), go over the bridge, turn left at the light (Bill Beck Blvd.). Stadium parking lot will be on the right approximately 1/2 mile ahead.
FROM: East Orlando, Oviedo, UCF Area
Take the #417 - Greenway south to Boggy Creek Rd., make a left on Boggy Creek, go to the first stop light and turn right, this is still Boggy Creek Rd., after you pass the Lakeside Subdivision stay in the right hand lane and go right at the next light (still Boggy Creek), go over the bridge, turn left at the light (Bill Beck Blvd.). Stadium parking lot will be on the right approximately 1/2 mile ahead.
FROM: International Drive
Take Sand Lake Blvd. east to John Young Parkway, turn right (south), follow John Young Parkway until you reach US 192 in Kissimmee, turn left, take US 192 east to Bill Beck Blvd., turn left, parking lot is 7/10 mile on the left.
Spring Training lodging information
ALL STAR Vacation Homes
7822 W. Irlo Bronson Highway
Kissimmee, FL 34747
407-997-0733 or TOLL FREE 888-249-1779, 100 Rooms/Homes
Best Inn Maingate
7571 West Irlo Bronson Hwy., Kissimmee
407-396-7500, 281 Rooms
Bright Star Vacation Homes
4533 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee
407-396-8037, 70 Rooms
Clarion Hotel Maingate
7675 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy., Kissimmee
407-396-4000, 198 Rooms
Clarion Suites Resort World
2800 North Poinciana Blvd., Kissimmee
407-997-5000, 311 Suites
Days Inn Kissimmee East
2095 E. Irlo Bronson Hwy., Kissimmee
407-846-7136, 122 Rooms
Econo Lodge Inn Kissimmee
4669 W Irlo Bronson Hwy., Kissimmee
407-396-1890, 117 Rooms
Econolodge Maingate East
4311 W. Irlo Bronson Hwy., Kissimmee
407-396-7100, 173 Rooms
Eden Vacation Homes Inc.
4702 Windwood Drive, Kissimmee
407-390-0247, 5 Rooms
Enterprise Motel
4121 West Vine Street, Kissimmee
407-933-1383, 49 Rooms
Feel Like Home
714 North John Young Parkway, Kissimmee
407-438-1613, 25 Rooms
Four Points Hotel Lakeside
7769 West Irlo Bronson Highway, Kissimmee
407-396-2222, 651 Rooms
Four Points Sheraton
4018 West Irlo Bronson Highway, Kissimmee
407-870-2000, 221 Rooms
Holiday Inn Express Kissimmee East
2145 E. Irlo Bronson Hwy., Kissimmee
407-846-4646, 146 Rooms
Holiday Inn Kissimmee Downtown
2009 W. Vine Street, Kissimmee
407-846-2713, 200 Rooms, 8 Suites
Holiday Villas
2928 Vineland Road, Kissimmee
407-397-0700
Homewood Suites
3100 Parkway Blvd., Kissimmee
407-396-2229, 156 Suites
Howard Johnson Express Inn
4643 W Irlo Bronson Highway, Kissimmee
407-396-1340, 93 Suites
Howard Johnson Express Inn & Suites
4836 W Irlo Bronson Highway, Kissimmee
407-396-4762, 131 Rooms, 90 Suites
Howard Johnson Inn
2323 E. Irlo Bronson Highway, Kissimmee
407-846-4900, 186 Rooms
Hyatt Orlando
6375 West Irlo Bronson Highway, Kissimmee
407-396-1234, 922 Rooms, 19 Suites
Knights Inn - Kissimmee
4131 West Vine Street, Kissimmee
407-847-4707, 54 Rooms
Lion's Luxury Villas
1539 Oak Hill Trail, Kissimmee
407-397-1644, 11 Rooms
Masters Inns
5367 W. Irlo Bronson Hwy., Kissimmee
407-396-4020, 196 Rooms
Motel 6 Orlando East
5731 W. Irlo Bronson Hwy., Kissimmee
407-396-6333, 351 Rooms
Orlando Sun Village
4403 Sun Village Boulevard, Kissimmee
407-390-4000, 60 Rooms
Orlando's Key Vacation Homes Disney Area
7962 Magnolia Bend Court, Kissimmee
407-933-7789, 20 Rooms
Orlando's Key Vacation Maingate
7953 Golden Pond Court, Kissimmee
407-933-7789, 29 Rooms
Quality Inn & Conference Center
2050 East Irlo Bronson Highway, Kissimmee
407-846-4545, 152 Rooms, 2 Suites
Quality Inn Lake Cecile
4944 W. Irlo Bronson Hwy., Kissimmee
407-396-4455, 222 Rooms
Ramada Inn Resort Eastgate
5150 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy., Kissimmee
800-327-9179, 402 rooms
Red Roof Inns
4970 Kyngs Heath Road, Kissimmee
407-396-0065, 102 Rooms
Stadium Inn & Suites
2039 E Irlo Bronson Hwy., Kissimmee
407-846-7814, 113 Rooms, 94 Suites
Star Island Resort & Club
5000 Avenue of the Stars, Kissimmee
407-997-8000, 258 Suites
Sun Motel
5020 W. Irlo Bronson Hwy., Kissimmee
407-396-2673, 106 Rooms
Sunray Vacations, Inc.
4805 Jamaica Lane, Kissimmee
407-396-6613, 72 Rooms
Travelodge Hotel Main Gate East
5711 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy., Kissimmee
800-327-1128, 446 rooms
Travelodge Hotel - Airport South
201 Simpson Road, Kissimmee
407-846-1530, 198 Rooms, 1 Suite
Spring Training dining information
American
Fridays
5034 W. Irlo Bronson Hwy., Kissimmee
407-397-2200, Inexpensive
Greenhouse Restaurant
7769 W. Irlo Bronson Hwy., Kissimmee
407-396-2222
International House of Pancakes
1815 West Vine Street, Kissimmee
407-846-2311, Inexpensive
Morrisons Cafeterias
Osceola Square Mall, Kissimmee
407-846-6011, Inexpensive
Omelet House
7618 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee
407-396-6957, Inexpensive
Perkins Family Restaurants
3419 West Vine St, Kissimmee
407-847-3577, Inexpensive
Perkins Family Restaurants
3419 West Vine St, Kissimmee
407-239-7575, Inexpensive
Summerhouse
6375 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee
407-396-1234, Moderate
Ally Gator's Restaurant
9200 West US Highway 192, Kissimmee
407-870-2434, Inexpensive
Bennigan's
5877 West Highway 192, Kissimmee
407-390-0687, Inexpensive
Flagglers
7675 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee
407-396-4000, Inexpensive
Asian, Chinese, Japanese
Chengs
2511 Boggy Creek Rd, Kissimmee
407-348-6833
China Express
3831 West Vine Street, Kissimmee
407-933-7807
China Pearl
2959 Vineland Rd, Kissimmee
407-397-4448
Emperors Wok
1166 E Vine St, Kissimmee
407-847-0667
Golden City
1315 N Bermuda Ave, Kissimmee
407-933-4788
Hunan Chinese
2648 N Orange Blossom Trl, Kissimmee
407-847-8868, Inexpensive
Osaka Japanese Steak House
3155 West Vine St, Kissimmee
407-847-8822, Moderate
Pagoda Garden Chinese Restaurant
5737 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee
407-396-0669, Inexpensive
Regent Chinese & American Restaurant
2250 E Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee
407-931-0888, Inexpensive
Szechuan Chinese Restaurants
5489 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee
407-396-1885
Twin Dragons Restaurant
4002 West Vine Street, Kissimmee
407-846-6161
Yoji Japanese Steakhouse
4592 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee
407-396-6858, Moderate
Italian
Fio Fio Italian Restaurant
6375 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee
407-396-1234
Francesco Italiano Restaurant
4924 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee
407-396-0889
Giannis Restaurant
610 E Vine St, Kissimmee
407-846-4331, Moderate
Giuseppes Italian Restaurant
3624 W Vine St, Kissimmee
407-847-9938
La-Forchetta Ristorante Italiano
321 S Bermuda Ave, Kissimmee
407-933-4215, Moderate
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
5021 West Space Coast Hwy, Kissimmee
407-396-1680, Inexpensive
Pacinos Italian Ristorante
5795 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee
407-239-4141
Pauls Italian Deli And Restaurant
812 E Vine St, Kissimmee
407-933-0766, Inexpensive
Tarantinos Italian Restaurant
917 N Bermuda Ave, Kissimmee
407-870-2622
Steak, Barbeque & Seafood
Atlantic Bay Seafood Grill
2901 Parkway Boulevard, Kissimmee
407-396-7736, Moderate
Calico Jacks Oyster Bar & Seafood House
3501 West Vine Street, Kissimmee
407-847-7278
Captain Nemo's Seafood & Steak House
5469 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee
407-239-7729, Moderate
Cattlemans Steak House
2948 Vineland Road, Kissimmee
407-238-2333, Moderate
Charley's Steak House
2901 Parkway Boulevard, Kissimmee
407-239-1270, Moderate
Outback Steakhouse
3109 West Vine St, Kissimmee
407-931-0033, Moderate
Perkins Cake & Steak
7451 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee
407-396-0845, Moderate
Perkins Cake & Steak
5170 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee
407-396-8960, Moderate
Ponderosa Steak House
5771 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee
407-397-2100, Moderate
Ponderosa Steak House
4024 West Vine Street, Kissimmee
407-846-3339, Moderate
Ponderosa Steak House
7598 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee
407-396-7721, Moderate
Punjab
3404 W Vine St, Kissimmee
407-931-2449, Moderate
Red Lobster
5690 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee
407-396-6997, Inexpensive
Red Lobster
4010 W Vine St, Kissimmee
407-846-3513, Inexpensive
Stinebaugh BBQ
1150 E Donegan Ave, Kissimmee
407-846-2366
Ballpark