Bin Laden Mansion Minutes From Walt Disney World
Mitch 
Khalil bin Laden, brother of Osama bin Laden, purchased this mansion in 1980 as a wedding present to his wife. Yep, and it's a few short miles north of Magic Kingdom.
;)
The home was built in 1928, boasts 5 bedrooms and is located on 17 acres of land on the shores of Johns Lake. You may be familiar with the area if you've driven through Winter Gardens along Highway 50. Crazy thing as I put together this map... I realize a house I lived in for 2+ years is on this map and down the street, literally, from the Bin Laden mansion. Who knew?? I didn't. I do remember seeing the property on the way to Target every week, but I sure didn't know its spooky story.
;)
The brother of (now dead) terrorist Osama bin Laden was escorted out of the United States shortly after 9/11 along with other relatives. They reportedly left on a chartered flight accompanied by bodyguards and associates.
AbandonedFL reports:
"Since then, house laid vacant, attracting many vandals who caused damages including a safe thrown down a stairway and bullet holes in the walls. In February 2006, the property was sold to PYC Development IV for $4,043,800. It would only be a little after a year later, when the property would be sold off again to John S Lake Investment Group for only $1,725,800.
The property has been on the open market for years now for a mere $2 million. Why so little you ask? Potential buyers are scared off by the bin Laden connection and it is thought that Osama Bin Laden himself stayed here at some point to visit his brother."
;)
Bin Laden Florida Mansion address: 17920 W Colonial Drive, Oakland, FL
;)
So the question we are all asking... Did the Bin Laden family have annual passes to Walt Disney World?? Or were they Universal Studios people? ------ Or Holy Land??
Photos by Nomeus from www.flurbex.com. Also, thanks to ABANDONEDFL.
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ABANDONED DISNEY: River Country [Part 1]
ABANDONED DISNEY: Country Bear- Max
ABANDONED DISNEY: MK Fantasyland Skyway Tower
ABANDONED DISNEY Series
Reader Comments (25)
This place certainly needs some cleaning up, but is a gorgeous residence. There must be other reasons why this is not selling; living there would not bother me one bit. It was his brother's place, not actually Osama's.
Such a pretty place even with the damage that has occurred. Such a shame that its not being loved by a family. I would live there in a heartbeat.
Isn't that a mind blower? When I found out about that last year I could not believe it.
OBL had 52 brothers and sisters... most of which who would have nothing to do with him or his philosophies. Brother by blood doesn't really mean as much for him. He was disowned by his country and family.
Universal Studios. Disney World would have been too American for him. hahahahah
Shoot, if I had the 2 million to buy it, and perhaps another 2 million to fix it up and furnish it, I would love to! But, I'm sure most people who have 4 million extra dollars don't want to spend it on fixer uppers. Not when they can build the house of their dreams to the exact dimensions that they want for probably a lot less.
Freaky walls, I guess they were going for that cave look. :)
Haha. A cave look.
Interesting how all family was escorted out of the country right after 9/11. Makes sense.
How long were you sitting on this story? It's definitely an interesting connection - bravo for the research.
" I realize a house I lived in for 2+ years is on this map and down the street, literally, from the Bin Laden mansion. Who knew?? I didn't. " They didn't even know Osama was living right across the street from one of their military bases, so you're forgiven. Great article.
Fascinating! Of all the Disney blog posts I've read today, this takes the prize as the most unique and unusual!
Everybody knows that Osama Bin Laden HATED "Horizons" at Epcot Center. He was heard many times complaining about the attraction and said "Even infidel could design a better show".
He's dead now.
Hahahaha. Yeah he would hate an optimistic masterpiece like Horizons. I bet he loved American Adventure tho...
Great comments everyone.
You lived here and you don't know that it's WINTER GARDEN, not WINTER GARDENS? Hmmmm...
I’m not quite sure how to take this, it is a rather bizarre fact. This is the first time I’m hearing about this. The place does looks pretty amazing but I can understand the scepticism putting downward pressure on the actual house valuation.
Officially creeped out now. And morbidly fascinated. Universal should lease this place for Halloween Horror Nights.
I've known about this house for a while now and never made the trip to explore it. But for those that don't know, someone lives there now. Actually the dude that lives there is an online poker player who raises horses haha
They had two sheriffs helicopters land in the field in the front of his property before the second plane crashed into the wtc they were picked up and dropped off at the airport in the Apopa area were a private jet took them off with fighter jets that were sent from Patricks air force base in cocoa to provide safe transport for them in the few days after they left in the middle of the night a moving crew took all the items from the house and where escourted by Fhp I know all of this because my parents owned the house right outside of the compound walls
I don't really see this as "creepy",I guess some might.
FYI it was sold in 3/2014 for the $2Mil.
Hey guys, I really miss my house! Glad to see someone is living in it now. allah snackbar!
I would've loved to have had the loot to buy this property! Who the hell cares who lived there before!
I lived there when I was a little girl. Not actually in the mansion but in the cottage. My parents were caretakers of the house and the property before the Bin Laden's owned it. It was owned by the McCarthy's. When the McCarthy's sold it there was one stipulation that my parents stayed on as the caretakers. The Bin Ladens wanted someone there on the property at all times so we moved into the cottage. I have very fond and happy memories of that place and just because his brother was who he was HE (the one who owned it) was very nice and caring towards me and my family.
I searched the address and Zillow lists it as for sale at $3.4M. Looks like whoever purchased it last year cleaned it up a bit.
People named Pratt were the original owners. My Grandfather was their chauffer and his family including my mother would travel to Florida for the winter from Rochester NY with the owners. My Grand parents, mom and her brother lived in the carriage house. My Grandfather died in 1931 as the result of a cut and subsequent infection he received on his ear while working on one of Mr. Pratts boats at their summer home in Union Springs Ny. My mother had fond memories of this place and I finally visited here in 2013. The more recent history taints the legacy but as others have stated this holds more comforting memories as well.
That home was first built in 1928 for the owners of tupperware i would buy it and renovate it to what its supposed to look like
Hi, I see a few of you commenting that have had some history with the house. My family currently lives here and I'd appreciate it if anyone could share some old pictures or stories that you have of/about the place. You can reach me at travisenglish94@gmail.com. Thanks, Travis E.