In March of 1918, Mrs. Claude Harper showed off her hospitality at her home on Clyde Ave in Kissimmee.  "Spacious rooms were attractive with cut flowers and ferns arranged in a color scheme of green and white as a reminder of St. Patrick's Day."  Mrs. Claude Harper was married to the son of Henry Harper, an early resident at 21 N Clyde Ave.  Christi and Tom, the innkeepers at Kapp and Kappy B&B now enjoy treating people to good food and genuine company, in the very same spacious rooms.  

A lot of things have sped up since 1918, but you can still enjoy the same relaxing pace in Historic Downtown Kissimmee by walking around.   

Stroll on the sidewalks in the South Beaumont Historic District, look at the brick Oak-lined streets, and see many  homes that were built at the turn of the last century.  No two homes are alike.  Or take a bike ride on the Shingle Creek Regional Trail,  enjoy the butterflies at our B&B, go fishing in Lake Toho, or just relax in Lakefront park.   Learn more about area activities here 

Kissimmee has shopping and art galleries to browse, and an international restaurant row.  All businesses are 100% home grown by Kissimmee entrepreneurs.  Dine at Better U Dining (Jamaican), Kissimmee Diner (comfort food), Enchanted Cafe' (coffee and danish), Rockin' John's BBQ, Candyland Designs (Cupcakes), Susan's Courtside Cafe (casual comfort food), Diane's Tea Room (tea and more comfort food), Buchito (cuban coffee and sandwiches), Willie's Weiners (Chicago Dogs),  Made in Italy (Italian Food), Nadia's Cafe' (Mediterranean Food), Nati's Southern Seafood Boil, Savion's Place (New American dishes with an island flair), Main Street Pizza, and more.  

Kapp and Kappy is centrally located for your tourism enjoyment. We are only 30 minutes from Walt Disney World or Universal Studios, 12 minutes from Gatorland, 30 minutes from Forever Florida, and many other attractions and beaches are also a nice day trip. 

We hope to host your Kissimmee staycation soon!  Book your stay online with promo code BOOKDIRECT to get a surprise discount.   All rooms have en-suite bathrooms with shower, flat screen TV's, free wifi, Keurigs, mini fridge, sitting area, and of course breakfast with Tom's famous hash is included. 

Christi & Tom Kapp, Innkeepers
Kapp and Kappy B&B
21 N Clyde Ave
Kissimmee, FL 34741  
(407) 205-9992

P.S. For the history buffs, you can read more about Kissimmee in the March 22, 1918 Kissimmee Valley Gazette located here 

1/2/2025 - Online Review - 10/10

Einfach Klasse
Ein sehr angenehmes B&B. Gemutliches schones Zimmer. Freundliche Gastgeber, großer Freizeitbereich, alle Getränke inkludiert. Sehr zu empfehlen

(Translation)

Simply great
A very pleasant B&B. Cozy nice room. Friendly Host, large leisure area, all drinks included. Very too recommend.

1/28/2025 - Online Review - 5/5

Awesome place to stay near the Florida Trail - excellent breakfast included as well as light snacks and drinks.

2/1/2025 - Handwritten Note

I have hiked @ 1,150 miles on the Florida Trail and, by far, this is the finest place I have stayed!! Awesome set up (especially for hikes). Thank you for an amazing stay.

2/2/2025 - Handwritten Note

Thank you for a wonderful stay, such a quiet and friendly place to stay. Will be recommending to all. I hope to be back some time to taste your beer!

Reviews and Images

We have had plenty of other reviews and we would like to show our hand written notes! Take a look!

We always appreciate your reviews and comments so thank you all very much!

If you are interested in booking with us at Kapp and Kappy B&B check out our website HERE.

Violet’s Garage is an event destination where people gather, create and innovate.  The businesses that are located here offer a blend of STEAM related activities such as art events, robotics festivals, and technology events. Violet’s Venom Brewery, an on-site nano-brewery, showcases the power of practical chemistry. This combination yields a unique blend of “edutainment” that is attractive to the new Osceola residents moving into the NeoCity area, to technology professionals along the SunRail tech corridor, as well as corporate customers for events.

This 21,300 square foot mixed-use project includes:

• Violet’s Venom Brewery & Floridillo Cafe'

• The Studio at Violet’s Garage

• Art In Motion LLC Custom Motorcycles

• Retail Space & food kiosks are coming soon.

This .49 acre property was purchased in January 2020 from Prather Properties, LLC who had owned the property for 100+ years.  The site originally housed a portion of Kissimmee's Coca-Cola Bottling plant where the trucks were loaded with Coca-Cola products.   George Holmes Prather, moved to Kissimmee from Clinton, S.C. in 1902. Among several other business ventures he founded, he opened the Kissimmee Coca-Cola Bottling Company in 1909.  The Prather family  sold their Coca-Cola franchise in 1969 but continued to bottle Dr Pepper and Grapette until 1972 at this site.

Prior to that, In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s while Kissimmee was one of the fastest growing port towns in the US, the site featured the Broadway House, a cobbler, a stable, and a lumberyard. Many old coins were found from this era during the exterior site work.

The interior of the existing 5800 sq ft building was renovated from warehouse space into three different retail, office/studio and restaurant/brewery/bar spaces. The outdoor 4500 foot expansion added retail/food vendor space. The design reflects inspiration from buildings found in Historic Downtown Kissimmee from the late 1800’s to early 1900’s. Both interior and exterior will include Coca-Cola inspiration as well.

You can visit the Violet’s Garage website by clicking HERE.

If you decide to visit Violet’s Garage consider booking with us at Kapp and Kappy by visiting our site HERE.

Convenient Transportation

Due to our central location, it is very easy to access the area’s facilities. The best part is that the City of Kissimmee offers free transportation directly from our B&B to both Florida Hospital and Osceola Regional Medical Center . This also provides free transportation to other locations within the service area. This service is thanks to the Freebie app. This app will provide free rides within the area making travel accessible and affordable.

For more information about Freebie click HERE.

Thriving Medical Community

The medical arts district is a growing hub for medical professionals and buisnesses. This is partly thanks to Grow Kissimmee. Grow Kissimmee offers a variety of incentive grants designed for the creation of new medical facilities within the Kissimmee area. If you are a medical professional looking to start or grow your business, then the Kissimmee medical arts district is perfect for you.

For more information about Grow Kissimmee click HERE.

The next time you are taking a look at the Kissimmee medical arts district, come book with us by visiting our website HERE.

Christmas at Gaylord Palms

The Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention center is known for their annual Christmas activities and this year is no different. From November 15th to January 4th, Gaylord Palms completely transforms into a Christmas wonderland. What’s better, is that you don’t need to stay at their resort to enjoy what they have in store! Lets take a look at some of the activities they have this year:

• ICE! Featuring Elf: This is a walk through even where you will enjoy the spectacle of real ice sculptures made from 6,700 blocks. Every year is a different theme and this year is based on the 2003 Elf movie.

• Ice Tubing: Get ready to hop on a tube and speed down an icy slide with Ice Tubing. This 6 lane slide is made so you can race your friends and family to the bottom at high speeds!

• Cirque Spirit of Christmas: This Cirque-styled Christmas show features dazzling acrobatics, feats of flexibility, and high-flying stunts. This Broadway-style spectacle centers around Noel, a child dismayed and distressed by the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

Learn more on their website by clicking here.

Kissimmee Festival of Lights Parade

Get ready for some local fun at the Kissimmee Festival of Lights Parade at Downtown Kissimmee. this event brings together friends, family, and businesses to enjoy the parade. Watch as floats, lights, and holiday spirit light up downtown Kissimmee.

Learn more by clicking here.

Kissimmee Flea Holiday Edition!:

Get ready to shop at Kissimmee Flea! On December 21, Historic Downtown Kissimmee will be filled with vendors that have unique finds, holiday treasures, and seasonal delights.

Learn more by clicking here.

Christmas at the Farm:

Get ready for a day full of fun with Christmas at the Farm. With several food options, live music, kids crafts, a camp fire, and even Santa Claus himself! There will also be a 23’ movie screen playing at dusk. All for only 10$ at the gate.

Learn more by clicking here.

Holidays at Give Kids the World

Give Kids the World is ready for Christmas with their fundraising events. They have several things to choose from. The options include:

• Festive Favorites: An Evening of Movies and Music

• Holiday VIP Tours

• Holiday Party With A Purpose

• Ice Cream For Breakfast With Santa

• The Village History And Holidays Tour

• Festive Favorites: Holiday Concert Edition

All proceeds will help fund weeklong, cost-free vacations to Central Florida for children with critical illnesses and their families.

Learn more by clicking here.

If you are thinking of attending any of these events, book a stay with us at Kapp & Kappy B&B by visiting our site HERE.

In the mood to go hiking, but don’t want to go far to do it? Well when you stay with us at Kapp & Kappy, you can! Only a 12 minute walk (2 minute drive) from where we are located, you can experience the Kissimmee Lakefront Park Loop. You can even visit the Violet’s Garage Labyrinth once you finish.

Lakefront Park Loop

The Kissimmee Lakefront Park Loop is only 1.1 miles long, making it perfect for a quick hike. This type of hike is in the loop category meaning if you follow the trail, you’ll end up at the same place you started. On average it takes about 20 - 30 minutes to complete. The trail is available all year long so feel free to visit when you book with us!

The trail is family, dog, and wheelchair friendly making it perfect for everyone! The trail follows the open area park as well as its amazing view of lake Tohopekaliga. If you ever need a break during the trail, you can rest assured that there are several benches along the path. If you're feeling adventurous, you can deviate from the path a little and visit the lighthouse and fishing spots.

There is even a historic site to see while you are on the Lakefront Park Loop: the Monument of States. The Monument of States includes a rock from every state and became a symbol of unity after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Its popularity grew even further after its construction to the point to where it even has 21 foreign countries included on it. It’s definitely something cool to visit along the trail.

We even have guests that have told us they enjoy the hike. Take a look!

The Labyrinth

After you complete the Kissimmee Lakefront Park Loop, you can make your way towards The Labyrinth at Violet’s Garage. From the beginning of the Lakefront Park loop, Violet’s Garage is only a 16 minute walk (4 minute drive).

The Labyrinth was designed to help you relax and focus yourself towards any future goals. It doesn’t have any specific path to follow, so feel free to wonder and clear your mind. Those that find it hard to meditate sitting down will especially love The Labyrinth.

Here is a simple guide on how to do it:

1. Prepare Yourself: Before you enter, take a moment to set an intention or a question you want to ponder during your walk. You might also want to take a few deep breaths to center yourself.

2. Enter the Labyrinth: Start at the entrance. You can stand at the threshold for a moment, allowing yourself to let go of distractions and focus on your intention.

3. Walk Slowly: As you walk, keep a slow and steady pace. The labyrinth is designed for contemplation, so take your time. You can choose to walk in silence, or you might want to focus on your breath.

4. Stay Present: Pay attention to your surroundings—the textures, colors, and sounds. If your mind wanders, gently bring your focus back to the experience.

5. Follow the Path: The path will wind back and forth. Trust that you will reach the center; there’s no need to rush. Each turn can symbolize different life experiences or decisions.

6. Reach the Center: When you arrive at the center, take time to reflect. You might sit, meditate, or simply enjoy the stillness. This is often seen as a place of connection and insight.

7. Return: When you feel ready, start your walk back out. You can continue to reflect or remain in a meditative state on your way back, considering what you experienced during the walk.

8. Reflect: After exiting, take a moment to reflect on the experience. You might want to journal your thoughts or share them with someone if that feels right.

Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to walk a labyrinth. It’s a personal journey, so allow your experience to unfold naturally.

Now that you know more about the Lakefront Loop and The Labyrinth, come book a visit with us and check out our site HERE!

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]]>Hiking & The LabyrinthJustis ThomasSun, 10 Nov 2024 13:27:05 +0000https://www.kappandkappy.com/blog/2024/11/2/monarch-butterflies5717a18df699bb09e7883d0a:58710981bebafb08e69b5758:67262b93e303984b01790bb5One of the many things we offer here at Kapp & Kappy is our beautiful Butterfly Tour. In this post we’ll tell you a little bit about how we manage to gather all these butterflies. It all starts with food!

Larval Host Plants

The main thing we do to gather butterflies for our tour is have larval host plants. A larval host plant is a plant that insects lays eggs on with the idea that the larvae will hatch and survive. Larvae are an essential part of insect growth and if there are no larvae there will be no next generation of that insect. That’s why it’s essential, they find a safe place for their eggs. Knowing this we plant larval host plants so they can thrive and we can observe. We also be careful with the insecticides and other poisons that might hurt their growth cycles. It’s a win for everyone!

We have a couple of larval host plants at the B&B and at Violet’s Garage including:

• Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.)

• Butterfly Weed (Asclepias Tuberosa)

• White Twinevine (Asclepias Clausa / Sarcostemma Clausum / Cynachum Clausum)

• Tropical Milkweed

Enjoy a mini-gallery of some butterflies we’ve seen in the back:

Come book a visit with us HERE and enjoy our butterfly tour!

History of Corned Beef Hash

The exact date of the creation of hash is unknown but there were several early accounts of it. Hash was originally a clever way to use leftovers. In the 14th century there was a recipe for “hache” or “hachy” and in the 17th century an English Diarist wrote about a rabbit hash. In the U.S, the earliest version of Hash that we know of is seen when out of home eating expanding in the mid to late 19th century. A cheap restaurant was referred to as a hash house or hashery. Corned Beef Hash arrived later in the late 19th century when preserving meat through salt-curing (A method that draws the water out of food with salt to prevent the growth of bacteria) became popular. Corned Beef Hash was brought to the U.S by Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants (Christi’s distant relatives). By 1898 corned beef hash became popular enough to become a canned good.

Types of Hash

There are multiple different ways hash can be made, here are some examples of them:

• Corned Beef Hash - A dish made up of potatoes, chopped meats, and whatever else you wish to add.

• Halloumi Hash - A dish that uses potatoes, spring onions, eggs, chili sauce, and halloumi.

• Scrambled Egg and Feta Hash - This dish uses cherry tomatoes, spring onions, feta, chives, eggs, and spinach.

• Austrian Hash - This dish uses smoked bacon, onion, potatoes, caraway seed, hot sweet paprika, parsley, and corn.

Tom’s Famous Hash

Now it’s time for what you all have been waiting for, the recipe for Tom’s corned beef has. The first thing you’re going to need are these ingredients:

• 1 canned corn beef hash

• 1 package of potatoes O’Brien

• Garlic

• Chili spices (chipotle or hatch chili)

• Olive Oil

Now that you have everything you need, lets get into the steps to making it.

1. Prepare a pan with olive oil in it

2. Cook the corned beef together with the garlic

3. Add the spices

4. Add the potatoes O’Brien

5. Let this simmer for a while … the longer the better

6. Serve

That’s it, Tom’s corned beef hash is a very quick and easy meal to make. On top of that it’s very versatile with what you eat it with. It can be made for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

• Some Possible Serving Options

  • Next to eggs / with eggs on top (recommended)

  • Baked into a egg puff (recommended)

  • Next to Bacon (recommended)

  • Next to toast or bagels

  • Next to a fruit salad

  • Next to a salad

  • With kale or roasted tomatoes

Now you know how to make Tom’s Famous Hash! Click HERE to book a stay with us and taste it for yourself.

The Osceola News-Gazette Readers choice awards is an event that is held every year where thousands of people in and out of Osceola County will vote for local businesses. This year, they had over 140 different categories! The thing that makes this a truly special awards is that, it was given by the community. The people came together to vote for us, and for that we want to thank you. To Celebrate this award, in this blog post we will be giving an overview about what we offer here at Kapp and Kappy B&B.

Accommodations

Here at Kapp and Kappy B&B we have 3 different rooms to choose from! (All rooms are located on the second floor)

The Verona Room

• The Verona Room has an ornate metal queen bed, high ceilings, soothing light gold walls, makeing this a restful place to stay. The Verona room overlooks brick-paved Verona Street.

• The Verona room features a comfortable queen bed, mini-fridge, TV, Keurig Coffee Maker, free wi-fi, en-suite bathroom with shower, and a small sitting area. 

The Steel Horse Room

• The Steel Horse room includes a king bed, a sitting area, and is decorated with chrome, denim blue, and basic biker black. Through the window you can see the garden path and wildflower meadow. 

• This room has an en-suite bathroom with shower, sitting area, free wi-fi, refrigerator, Keurig coffee-maker and water. 

The Dancing Horse Room

• The Dancing Horse Room in Kapp and Kappy B&B features a view of a 1910 cottage and an Oak tree planted in the late 1920's. The Dancing Horse Room includes an e-suite bathroom with shower, ceiling fan, refrigerator, Keurig Coffee Maker, Flat Screen TV, free wifi, sitting area, and a King-sized bed with dual adjust-a-rest features. 

• For an extra fee, this room has a second lock-off sleeping area.   This lock-off area is booked separately,  sleeps 1-2 additional guests, and includes a separate television and a twin, trundle bed. 

Breakfast

Breakfast is included at Kapp and Kappy B&B. Please tell us what you would like to eat, and what foods you are allergic to prior to your visit. We have accommodated Vegetarian, Vegan, Meat Lovers, Dairy Free, Nut Free, Gluten Free, and More.

Some of our personal favorites are the Avocado Eggs with Rosemary Potatoes, Tom’s Famous Hash, and the Corned Beef Egg Puff!

Activities

There are plenty of things to do once you have booked with Kapp and Kappy B&B. For example, onsite we offer a butterfly tour where you can learn why you should plant native species and how you can do this in your urban garden as well.

We are also located close to several attractions if you are willing to take a drive. For example:

• Universal Studios (30 minutes away)

• Disney General Area (30 minutes away)

• Gatorland (15 minutes away)

• Bob Carr Theater (30 minutes away)

• Fun Spot Kissimmee (20 minutes away)

Fortunately, we are located in the middle of Historic Downtown Kissimmee which is known for being the largest independently owned restaurant row in Osceola county. You can also take a leisurely stroll through homes built between 1880 and 1940 in Kissimmee’s Beaumont Historic District. Visit the newly renovated Kissimmee Lakefront, or enjoy the boutique shopping and dining experiences within walking distance.

Don’t be afraid to give us a visit! Check out our website here for bookings. Thank you again Osceola News Gazette Readers for awarding us the “Best of Osceola” in the Bed and Breakfast Category!

To make Avocado Bread you only need these items:

• Avocado: With a Florida avocado you just need one of these since they are the size of large grapefruit. For regular sized avocados, use two.

• Egg: Use three eggs for a Florida Avocado, otherwise one per regular avocado. The egg is used to keep the ingredients together.

• Cheese: We like to use goat cheese (chevre), but cottage cheese, pepper jack, habanero or shredded cheddar work just as well.

• Optional: Spice it up with onion flakes, garlic or everything bagel seasoning

Now that you have what you need to make the avocado bread, lets get into the steps to create it:

1. The first thing you’re going to want to do is, grab your avocado (either straight off a tree or from your local store) and open it up. Grab all of insides (not the seed) and put it in a bowl.

2. Grab your eggs, crack them open, and put them in the bowl as well.

3. Next, use your choice of cheese and optional seasonings and put them in the bowl as well.

4. Now that everything is sitting nice in your bowl, go ahead and mix all the different ingredients together.

5. Once you have your mix, locate a sheet pan with parchment paper and lay the mix into multiple circles. The size and amount is dependent on how much mix you have. You can use a spoon to create the circle shape.

6. Preheat the oven to 400*F and bake for 20 minutes or until golden crust shows up

7. Lastly, enjoy your Avocado Bread!
   

With the completed bread, feel free to use it however you like. Avocado Bread is a perfect Breakfast option or quick snack. One of our favorite options is to create a bacon sandwich as seen below:

Here's what awaits you:

Friday

• Friend Fest: After a 3pm check-in, you’ll head over to The Studio @Violet’s Garage for a 5:00 wine glass painting session. Then take a stroll to your choice of Historic Downtown Kissimmee restaurants. Staff will bring your wine glass creations back to the B&B where they will be cured for your use.

Saturday

• Breakfast from 8:30 am - 9:30. Enjoy a hot American breakfast with friends. This includes traditional breakfast, like bacon, eggs, sausage and corned beef hash. We can also accommodate other breakfast preferences including gluten free, vegetarian, pancakes, with notice.

• Mandala Morning: Unleash your creativity with hands-on art sessions tailored for all skill levels. You can spend the morning making mandala’s or coloring.

Lunchtime: Preview a fresh new recipe that may be served in the future at Floridillo @ Violet’s Garage. Tex Mex Asian Fusion style.

• Artful Awakening: Create a vision board to help you set goals for body, mind, spirit and soul.

• Delicious Dinner: Walk to a downtown restaurant for BBQ, Mexican food, burgers and more! (not included in price of the weekend)

Sunday

• After another hot breakfast, take a self-guided tour of the South Beaumont Historic District, walk to Kissimmee lakefront, or just relax and enjoy our front porch or butterfly garden

• Check out for this weeken is at noon on Sunday

Imagine coming back from this getaway feeling:

• Rejuvenated and inspired with fresh ideas and a renewed sense of purpose.

• Bonded with your friends through shared experiences and creative adventures.

• Ready to tackle challenges with a newfound openness and problem-solving mindset.

• This is more than just a vacation – it's an investment in yourself and your friendships.

What’s Included?

2 night stay in Verona Room (Queen), Steel Horse Room (King) + Crash Pad, and Dancing Horse Room (King) plus a twin bed.

• Friday Night Wine Painting

• Saturday Morning Mandala Coloring

• Saturday Lunch

• Saturday Afternoon Visioning

• Sunday morning - self guided tour instructions

Limited spots available! Book your creative escape today at www.KappAndKappy.com for $1044 + tax total. For 5 friends, this works out to $208.80 per person.

Dates Available:

Book online at https://resnexus.com/resnexus/reservations/book/91ED7A19-312D-4157-B19B-C49BFBDC16B5 Select the first night in the weekend below as check-in date and the Sunday date as check-out date. Also let us know how many people will be joining for the weekend (up to 6 people)

• July 12th - 14th

• July 26th - 28th

• August 23rd - 24th

Additional dates including weekdays can be requested by calling (407) 205-9992. If you are a solo traveler, call to be added to a list to be matched with other new friends. $350/room for the two night event - single or double occupancy.

PiMag Alkaline Water Gravity Filter

Our customers love having alkaline water available in the guest dining room. This type of water keeps you hydrated and helps your body rid itself of toxins. Learn more about this PiMag Alkaline Water Gravity Filter Here

Fresh Fruit Selection

Snacks

We usually have a variety of chips, cookies, tuna, yogurt and more on hand for your late night snacking needs

Beverages Included

Christmas Events

Gaylord Palms Ice - See a wonderland of carved ice - it takes the Gaylord Palms team several weeks to create this fun (and cold) experience! There’s usually an ice slide, and lots to see. This years theme is Grinch

Universal Studios - Experience Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and more!

Walt Disney World - Magic Kingdom - Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party , Epcot - Decor and Cuisine from Around the World, and more!

Gatorland - Ho Ho Ho Down (several dates through Dec 19th)

SeaWorld Christmas Celebration - more than three million lights!

Festival of Trees at Orlando Museum of Art -

Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens - Over a million lights will immerse you into the wonder of the holidays.

MORE TO COME AS ORGANIZATIONS ANNOUNCE !

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]]>Christmas in KissimmeeTravel TipsChristi KappThu, 02 Jun 2022 12:36:23 +0000https://www.kappandkappy.com/blog/2022/5/18/we-welcome-solo-travelers5717a18df699bb09e7883d0a:58710981bebafb08e69b5758:62850f633f4e507a2bb6727e

Those who love and care about us worry about our safety on the road when we announce plans to travel alone.

Travelling alone, especially in an unknown place, makes us worry about our safety even more. We shouldn't have to carry these anxieties when we travel, whether it is for business or pleasure.

8 Safety Tips for Solo Travelers:

• Keep your valuables hidden.

• Avoid travelling at night.

• Stay alert & keep looking confident.

• Familiarize yourself with the locals.

• Transit safely.

• Stay connected.

• Trust your gut.

• Enjoy your travels.

Guests of Kapp and Kappy's B&B feel relaxed and at ease, as it is our top priority to make sure they are comfortable.  Kapp and Kappy, is a licensed Florida Bed & Breakfast Inn. Unlike most AirBnB properties, we are staffed with professional innkeepers who reside onsite overnight in private quarters and can provide you with personalized information on where to go eat, or enjoy an attraction.

Each of our three guest rooms is accessible only after entering a locked front door and locked room door are fully equipped with private bathroom with shower, sitting area, flat screen cable TV, free wifi, mini-fridge, and Keurig coffee makers.

We hope you enjoy a solo stay at Kapp and Kappy B&B !

Following is a running list of resources and tips for you

General Resources

• https://www.findagrave.com

Genealogy Resources in Florida

• Florida Memory Project - https://www.floridamemory.com/

  • Automobile registrations

  • Photos

  • Military Registrations

  • The Florida Historical Society - https://myfloridahistory.org/

County Clerks

• Clerk of Courts for marriage and divorce records

• Clerk of County for official records (property) – older records might be on paper in the courthouse itself

Google Scholar

This is an interesting resource because it has a lot of old digitized publications such as books on the Civil War, business publications, old trade journals and more

• https://scholar.google.com

Books

• Touched by the Sun, But Stuart B McIver - 2008

Newspapers and other things to look at

• Florida News Online - https://guides.ucf.edu/c.php?g=78313&p=516309

• http://www.Newspapers.com

• Kissimmee Valley Gazette - https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00091504/00002/allvolumes

• Old Tampa papers seems to have been a place that news from across the state was published

• University of Florida Digital Collection https://ufdc.ufl.edu/text - text search - https://ufdc.ufl.edu/text   

• Florida Historical Society Publications - https://www.jstor.org/publisher/florhistsoc

Historical Societies local to an area ·     

• https://www.citruscountyhistoricalsociety.org/

Facebook Memory Pages for a town

• Kissimmee – Do You Remember When? https://www.facebook.com/groups/KissFla

• Homosassa Memories https://www.facebook.com/Homosassa-Memories-1552080881716307/?__tn__=-UC*F

 Tips for searching

• Late 1800’s early 1900’s – use initials such as “J A Barclay” or “J. A. Barclay”

• Name Variations (e.g. “James A Barclay”, “J Allan Barclay” along with a hobby, or something about the person that you know) 

• Deciphering addresses in old phone books, “What address does "ss Broadway, 2d s of Darlington ave, r Verona, se cor Clyde ave?”

  • It means South side of Broadway 2 doors south of Darlington Avenue, Residence Verona Southeast corner of Clyde avenue

Show us your ID or honorable discharge and receive 10% off between April and December and most dates in January - March. This discount applies to any available room and can be booked by calling us at (407) 205-9992

NOTE: No discount applies during Mecum Auto Auction (January of each year) or Country Thunder (October of each year)

Booking and Check-In

We provide the same contact less self check-in as we did prior to Covid-19. Your door code is the last four digits of the phone used to book your room.

Sanitizer is located at the front door, so you can disinfect your hands prior to using the door lock.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

We perform disinfecting procedures on frequently touched surfaces throughout your stay using a surface disinfectant.

The Guest dining room includes a hand washing sink for your use, and individually wrapped sanitizer is located in common areas throughout the inn.

In between guests, we use a sterilization technique called UV-C sterilization to sanitize all surfaces in the room.

We also open the windows to cycle fresh air into the room and perform cleaning and disinfecting procedures.

TV remotes and other room controls are individually sanitized as well.

Common Area

Should we have multiple parties in-house, then masks are required in all common areas. We have disposable masks available for your use. If you are the only party staying in the B&B, then you are free to use the common area without a mask if you so desire.

We ask that you follow CDC social distancing guidelines in common areas.

A hand-wash sink is located in the guest dining room for your use

Breakfast

Our breakfast table accommodates two parties at proper social distances. Breakfast is served restaurant style. We also have outdoor seating on the front porch.

Kapp and Kappy B&B - Hosting Wedding Parties

Have an quiet and intimate experience prior to your special day. At Kapp and Kappy B&B, the wraparound porch and rocking chairs provide an inviting addition on your event agenda. Guests can enjoy the native plant infused landscape and spot hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Blended with the landscape are sculptures, and vine-towers that create ecosystems for hummingbirds, cardinals, monarch butterflies and more. We are located a short walk or drive from all historic downtown Kissimmee event venues.

Wedding Party Accommodations

Free from the event hustle & bustle, the B&B provides an intimate experience that supports a special wedding or event day. There is a minimum two night rental for wedding accommodation rentals

• $750/night reserves all three guest rooms and the downstairs common area.

  • All rooms have en-suite bathroom with shower, Keurig coffee maker, mini-refrigerator, flat-screen cable TV and a sitting area.

  • Free wi-fi and hot breakfast are included.

• 3 event "support guests” are permitted to work in designated areas

  • Hair & Makeup artists

  • Photographer

  • Event Planner

• Up to 6 guests can stay overnight (two per room)

Kissimmee Lakefront Wedding Lawn

The wedding lawn is a beautiful outdoor area with a ceremony arch perfect for photos. Sporting 5000 square feet, the lawn also provides electricity

Address: Outside of 300 E Monument Ave - See Berlinsky House

Phone: (407) 518-2503

Learn more here

Berlinsky Community House Rental

Close to the Kissimmee Lakefront, the Berlinsky Community House is an ideal location for receptions, graduations, showers and other social events. This historic landmark will give character and charm to any event.

• Address: 300 E Monument Ave, Kissimmee, FL 34741

• Phone: (407) 935-1412

Link

Chandeliers Ballroom and Event Center

Located at 19A Broadway, Kissimmee, FL 34741 in Historic Downtown Kissimmee. This venue Timeless Elegance. Allow Chandeliers to help create lifetime memories. Partner with their Matador Taco & Tapas Bar for a unique catering experience.

• Address: 19 Broadway Avenue, Kissimmee, FL 34741

• Phone: (407) 963-7710

Link

Illusion Party & Banquet Salon

Illusions is a well known banquet hall that has two venues for parties, weddings, quinces

• Illusions I: 412 Emmett St, Kissimmee, FL 34741

• Illusions II: 10 W Monument Ave, Kissimmee, FL 34741

• Phone: (407) 301-1118

Link

Osceola County Courthouse Weddings

Looking for something simple? Try the Osceola County Courthouse

Link

Call (407) 205-9992 for more information on reserving your stay. Booking requires a $500 nonrefundable deposit, and full payment one month prior to the event.

On the garden tour,, you will learn about the host plants that attract each type of butterfly, some things about their life-cycle, and also and the type of things you need to plant and do to keep a butterfly population going in an urban area. We will inspect the plants in the yard for caterpillars, eggs, and chrysalis and you can take photos. Activity is greatest in warmer months of the year in Florida (May - November). You may also see chrysalis in the wild, eggs, or a variety of caterpillars. This is an open-air butterfly garden, not an enclosed garden, so every butterfly you see was born in the wild. NOTE Some times you just won’t find anything in the garden, but you will still learn things!

What Butterflies will you See? Well - we never really know what will show up the day you come to visit. There are many factors - temperature, time of year, wind speed, etc. However, butterflies that we have seen on site in our garden include the following. We also have a lot of native bees, bumble bees, hummingbirds and songbirds :

• Monarch

• Gulf Fritillary

• Cloudless Sulfur

• Skippers

• Hummingbird Moth (Dusk)

• Zebra Swallowtails

• White Peacock

• Zebra Longwing

• Giant Swallowtail

• Polydamas Swallowtail (Golden Rim)

• Queen

• Painted Lady

Christi Genet Kapp practices the polymathic way. She creates and connects combinations of people, processes and things.  She does this in a variety of ways including sculpting, leather work, writing, starting/growing/selling businesses, or working as an information technology leader and consultant.  Her artistic experience includes motorcycle concept design, metal work, leather work, and graphic design for Art In Motion, LLC.  Mediums she uses most often include metal, leather art, pencils and fiber.

At the core of each art piece that Christi creates you will find concepts of “BE-ing”, achieving , innovating and triumph.  Her art is practice for innovation.  If she can imagine it, she can do it, and through her art she wants to teach everyone else to think and succeed the same way. See her portfolio online and learn more about each sculpture at http://www.ChristiKapp.com

2/2/19 - (UK Way of doing date works today!)

Thank you for a great stay in a real American home. We enjoyed our room and our time with such considerate hosts. We will recommend Kapp and Kappy to our friends in England — D & S from Wargrave, Berkshire

1/29/19 Thank you for the stay. It was great. And breakfast! 10/10. - J. S.

1/27/19 Thank you for the wonderful stay! We enjoyed very much! Cheers - K & A from Minnesota

27/1-19 Thank you so much for the stay, we loved it here. It was very special. We would love to come back. A & B from Trondheim/Norway

1/20/19

What a lovely experience we had this weekend. We were in town for a flag football tournament and used this relaxing environment to recharge. Highlights for us were the patio, art, breakfast and generous amenities. Thanks so much Christi & Tom! - J & A

Alkaline water is a guest favorite.  The Nikken filter takes bad chemicals out of the water and puts in good minerals.  This water filter can be found online in the water section at http://nikken.com/integrate.   There is also a portable sport bottle there, as well as other products for a healthy home. 

Friday: After you step off Sunrail on a Friday afternoon, you can order a bottle of wine at Vintage Vino on Dakin Ave.  While you're enjoying that - you can bring in food from either Savion's Place or 3 Sisters Speakeasy and feast at your table.  Or grab a hot dog from Willie's Weiners across the street. 

When you're full - just walk to Kapp and Kappy Bed & Breakfast at 21 N Clyde, Kissimmee, FL 34741 for a late check-in. 

Tip: Use Discount code SUNRAIL, pay for Friday & Saturday and stay Sunday at no charge  - call (407) 205-9992 or visit www.KappAndKappy.com to reserve your room and arrange a check-in time. Note: Discount is reflected on your reservation as 33% off each day of your stay. 

Saturday morning -  enjoy breakfast at the B&B !  See our wild collection of free-range butterflies (July/August peak).  Then walk through Kissimmee's historic downtown and browse the antique shops, boutiques, spas and of course our 20+ independent restaurants and then Cool off with Ice Cream at Abracadabra! 

Then Sunday there is more to do at the lakefront - get a guided fishing tour at Toho Marina, Uber over to Shingle Creek and go kayaking, but come back downtown for more food! 

 Monday Morning you  walk back to SunRail and stop at Kissimmee Diner or Big John's BBQ for a good breakfast if you are hungry. 

Hope to see you in Historic Downtown Kissimmee soon!  

Kapp and Kappy phase 2 design intent is to build a second structure containing five additional guest rooms.  The original inspiration is to be the  original Kissimmee Land Company building.  Locating  photos is something like a treasure hunt - with surprises along the way.   The Kissimmee Land Company was one of the early real estate companies selling parcels in Florida.  Other agents working out of this office included Harvard graduate Merrick Whitcomb, who also was an agent of the Lake Butler Villa Company and others. 

The first photo we located came from a book called "The Florida Railway and Navigation Company: The Key Line", reprint by Forgotten books.   The building is depicted as a one-story house with peaked roof and wraparound porch. 

Later etchings and photos of this building show it as a two story building. The building was raised - with the first floor becoming the second, and a decorative skirt added. 

This is a later engraving of the  the Kissimmee Land Company building.  In addition to housing the original realty office of William Cannon - a writer named Will Wallace Harney, known for his newspaper called the "Bittersweet" had a second-story office above the Kissimmee Land Company.  "From his second-story office above the Kissimmee Land Company, he wrote voraciously - his favorite subject being the potential of utiliing the Kissimmee River as a connector to Lake Okeechobee and thence to the sea" (A Pine Castle Anthology: The Collected Writings of Will Wallace Harney, by William S Morgan) 

The Kissimmee Land Company Building 

Hanging on the wall in the Kissimmee Chamber of Commerce is a photo of the building with William Cannon, Hamilton Disston's business partner standing with his daughter on the porch in 1884. 

This building is standing at the corner of Broadway & Monument.  An 1887 Kissimmee directory lists William Canon as a real estate agent working on Broadway at the SW Corner of Possiel.  Perhaps Possiel was the alley behind the current building. 

Located here at this location in the Rivers building today is a coffee shop named Buchito on the ground floor.  Now herein comes the surprise - we found a reference to the building being moved on the original geocities Kissimmee walking tour.  We then learned it was repurposed as Dr T M Rivers' Private Hospital.  

Dr. Rivers' Private Hospital, Kissimmee, FL

In July of 1914, Kissimmee gained a new private hospital courtesy of Dr. T M Rivers.  The hospital was located at the corner of Dakin Ave and Aultman Street (204 W Dakin Ave).   The building was originally built as the Kissimmee Land Company Building in 1885 which was located at the corner of Monument and Broadway.  Dr T M Rivers moved it to create the hospital in late 1913 or early 1914.  He then constructed the current day masonry Rivers Building in 1915.  You can see the original newspaper article about the hospital opening in the July 17, 1914 version of the Kissimmee Valley Gazette

The Kapp and Kappy Adaptation 

We will need to adapt the design to maximize space inside, but we have decided to see if we can add the full wraparound porch.    Stay tuned for the progress as Tom does the building design. 

At Kapp and Kappy B&B we have a small flock of chimney swifts that returns each year from its migration.  Ours are usually in the second big flock that returns.  The first flock goes farther East towards Dakin Ave.  About a week later, ours appear again.   One or two pairs nest in our chimney and sometimes are successful at producing young.   The typical habitat for these birds are hollowed out large trees which are hard to find, so chimneys or other structures with openings at the top are used as a proxy.   Unfortunately in Historic Downtown Kissimmee, many homeowners have capped their chimneys to "keep the birds out".  We encourage people to open their chimneys up and learn to coexist with the swifts.   There is an article link below with tips on how to help them.   We might end up with less need for mosquito spraying and drywood termite tenting if more people create habitat for the swifts. 

To learn more about Chimney swifts and how to help improve their habitat, you can visit one of the following sites: 

• Audubon Society Field Guide -  https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/chimney-swift 
• Chimney Swift Conservation Association - http://www.chimneyswifts.org/ - This group has a design for a tower that you can build yourself to help create more habitat for these birds 
• Humane Society -http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/swifts/tips/solving_problems_with_chimney.html 
• Birds of North America - https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/chiswi/introduction

Attracting monarch butterflies to a garden is fun. It proves how interconnected everything is on this earth.   Just like most other species, adult butterflies need to eat nectar, and their caterpillars need plants to eat.  Each type of butterfly lays its eggs on specific leaves.  For the monarch - this food source is any variety of milkweed (Asclepias spp.).   You will want to pick the type of milkweed native to your local area - and your native plant society or agriculture extension office can help you select the right kind. 

We have included several milkweed varieties in the Kapp and Kappy garden including Giant milkweed, and Scarlet milkweed to keep our monarch caterpillar population happy.  Most of it came from Biosphere Nursery. Since we are located in Florida, our butterflies visit most months of the year. We also have some planted native red salvia, blue salvia, mexican flame vine and other nectar plants for the butterflies.  We also try to keep some moist spots in the ground where the butterflies can drink water.  

Learn more about the monarch butterflies and their host plants here: 

• Biosphere Nursery:http://www.biospherenursery.com/
• Florida Native Plant Society: http://www.fnps.org/
• Monarchs and Milkweed: http://monarchjointventure.org/news-events/news/qa-about-research-related-to-tropical-milkweed-and-monarch-parasites 
• Save Our Monarchs - http://www.saveourmonarchs.org - consider giving milkweed seeds at weddings! 

One thing to remember when you plant this is that milkweed is a FOOD source - it will get eaten! And it will look like it.   If you want your garden to remain pretty even while the milkweed is chewed down to the stems, then you will want to plant the milkweed in between other plants whose leaves are not a food source.  At Kapp & Kappy, we inter plant giant red pentas or red salvia with milkweed and other pollinator attracting flowers.