The Orange Show

I must've came here like when I was five or eight years old I can't remember. That was a long time ago. My uncle brought us here for some sort of show. I want to say it was some sort of doll show or art show I can't remember. It was years ago. Probably 35 years ago if I had to be exact.

We're here we are again. On a cold winter day me and my girlfriend decided to to come check out the orange show. I'm glad we did. It's a very unique place. Lots of cool looking art. One of a kind. You gotta love Houston for stuff like this. Kind of gives you just that nostalgia feeling. I can't remember how long ago this was made but it's pretty old.

I believe this is some sort of historical home now. Or a free exhibit for the community I can't remember actually but if you never been here before I highly recommend you come by and stop by and see it. Houston history.

If you are like me and love weird folk art installations by eccentric locals, you might enjoy this place. It was built by a Houston postman who had a robust appreciation for oranges. It doesn't seem to have a point (other than glorifying oranges) and leaves you with more questions than answers. However, I suppose that's the beauty of it.

VISITING:
-Open Saturday & Sunday, 10am-2pm
-Tickets are about 5 bucks
-Advanced reservations are required -- you can purchase tickets on the website (the demand isn't massive, we bought ours the night before)
-When you buy the tickets, it tells you that you're signing up for a guided tour. However, when we arrived, we were told the tour is self-guided since they don't have enough docents. A bit disappointing but I get it -- getting people to give tours for free isn't easy. The self-guided tour didn't include any sort of audio or pamphlet or online link. The girls working the counter were nice enough to provide a brief background on the space/creator. So if you don't know much about the site, either do your own research or ask them for an intro.
-Bathrooms on site. However, they aren't the best facilities (to be expected). They don't have doors (just curtains) and there isn't enough room for a person to sit on the toilet without pushing out the curtain, haha. Also, paper towels were out. Needless to say, try not to go #2 here.
-Finding the place was a little tricky as my GPS got confused and kept sending us in circles. If this happens, just refer to the map. It's a right on Munger, off the Gulf Freeway. Located right next to Smither Park. Once you're on Munger, you can't miss it.
-Make sure you stop at Smither Park next door. Small but really cool park with lots of mosaic sculptures.

Overall, a cool piece of folk art history in the Houston area. Not going to complain about the lack of docents or amenities as I doubt they have much of a budget. They are managed by the same folks that manage the Beer Can House, Smither Park, and the Art Car Parade. Thankful that there are people working to preserve/create art in the Houston area.

What rhymes with Orange?!
Nothing. Just like nothing compares with the Orange Show. Ever wonder what would happen if you built a giant shrine to oranges and living well? This guy seems like he had a bit too much time and tractors and building supplies on his hands, and built an entirely whimsical and imaginative creation in the south of Houston. This place is really cool- it's a shrine to what's possible if you just want to express yourself. I guess back in the 70's or so when this place was built, they didn't have building codes and inspectors. Houston's still a bit of the Wild West when it comes to building codes. Hence, this wildly weird place - where you can see an entire attraction based on oranges. I totally have an Orange Crush on this place.
Parking is easy, and be sure to check the website to see when it's open and buy tickets. This place is run by an art collective that also runs Smither Park, down the street (totally worth seeing!) and the Art Car Parade, and the Beer Can House- all of which I highly recommend.
I picked up the book from this place that tells you how to live to 100 years old. I googled the author (and builder of the Orange Show)- spoiler alert- he didn't make it.

The Orange Show was created by Jeff McKissack, a US Postman who decided to create this attraction, based on his favorite fruit (the orange). Mr. McKissack believed that the secret to a healthy and long life was to work hard and eat oranges. You will find slogans or stories that talk about staying positive in your life, which seem a bit hopey and sappy for me. You will also find signs that also encourages eating oranges regularly.

Mr. McKissack began working on The Orange Show in 1956. He created it because he wanted to be known for his art, which was different from Mr. John Milkovisch, whom just wanted to to build his home for himself. The Orange Show is built from a mix of bricks, tiles, plates, fencing, etc. This made up of walkways, an arena and balconies. Mr. McKissack worked on this until he died in 1980. It is interesting to know that one person set out to build something to try to leave his mark in the world and achieved just that.

The Orange Show Center For Visionary Art (a non profit organization) now looks after this attraction (the same folks that also take care of the Beer Can House and Smither Park).

The Orange Show is only open on Saturdays and Sundays, 11:30 am- 5 pm and admission is $5 per person.

To be honest, my husband and I just thought this attraction was okay and liked the Beer Can House much more. If there was a guided tour, I think we would have appreciated the attraction more (as we had a guided tour at the Beer Can House).

I don't feel that this place is worth the visit, but if you are looking for something outside of the box to do while you are in Houston, and also want to check out Smither Park (free and just a few houses down), then maybe you can consider coming.

Parking is street parking only (but free). This place is not wheel chair friendly.

When I lived in Houston, I tried several times to tour the Orange Show, and it never quite worked out! (I was definitely frustrated more than once by it not being open during the hours it was meant to be according to the website.) But that ended this weekend when I visited Houston with a friend. I can now say that I have toured the weird structure that is the Orange Show!

So what is the Orange Show? It's a sort of folk art monument/structure/creation of a Houston postal worker named Jefferson Davis McKissack. From 1956 to 1979, he worked on this structure. It's 3,000 square feet that's part maze, part museum, part stage; it was a wishing well and decks, and a gift shop... It's really hard to explain! Basically, McKissack was a little obsessed with oranges. He thought that by eating oranges and avoiding a few other things (stress/cigarettes), we could all live to be 100. The Orange Show is his monument to the orange.

For $5, you can enter the Orange Show and explore on your own or take a guided tour. We opted for the guided tour, and I'm glad we did - the Orange Show is all over the place, and the guided tour helped us understand more about McKissack's inspiration for the structure!

The Orange Show is unique and strange and kind of wonderful. It's worth exploring for sure. But check their hours and make sure it'll be open when you're planning on heading over! What a weird Houston attraction!

This is another interesting and uniquely Houston opportunity. It is only a $5 entry fee (cash or credit) to explore into the mind of the late Houstonian Jeff McKissack. Though definitely very eccentric, we had a fun time exploring this space.

The Orange Show is built on the plot of a traditional house in the middle of a neighborhood, and is surrounded by other houses and a park nearby. Essentially this man believed that oranges were just the perfect fruit and wanted to share that information with everyone. He also developed a life-code of sorts that included being stress-free and no drugs or alcohol, and believed that you could live to be 100 years old if you abided by these guideposts. He even wrote a small book about it, which can be purchased at their merchandise booth inside. Anyway, he built this structure, which in his mind would compare to the Astrodome or Disneyworld to become the 9th Wonder of the World, as a sort of homage to all things orange. Everything within this odd collection can be explained back to oranges.

The interior is set up as an arena of sorts. Imagine if you told a high schooler to create a stage with seating out of whatever they could salvage...and you will have a pretty good idea of the interior. You can tell that he put a lot of thought and care into how he assembled this space. It took him over the 20 years that it took him to put it together single-handedly.

Overall very interesting, though some parts have become very worn down over the years (and have warnings not to go beyond certain points). If you're looking for something different to do, this is it.

Hands down the best thing in Houston. It is an absolute must see. I AM NOT JOKING AND I AM YELLING!
Seriously. Go here and be glad that a retired postal worker named Jeff McCissack built this sculptural homage to the Orange BY HAND! HIMSELF!
He thought that Million people would visit in the first year. Sadly his projections fell short but you should still go.
Then visit the wonderful Smither Park next door because it was built by volunteers who love the Orange Show.

A day trip inside the city. Jeff McKissack, a mail carrier in Houston built this on a small lot near his wood frame house in the east end into The Orange Show in homage to his favourite fruit. It also serves as a conduit for the arts most notably the art car parade, but also the beer can house, and numerous outreach and education.
A must see an explosion of folk art.. this is a must see and a cheap one at that tickets are 5$ tours must be arranged in advance at https://www.orangeshow.org/tours a precaution for COVID -19

Booked a private tour for my daughter's last day as a 12 year old. Booked it online per instructions & received confirmation.
Upon arrival my daughter said "it looks like tetanus the exhibit"
No one was there, & after calling, I eventually got a curt voicemail that didn't take much responsibility or offer much apology. Just blaming their own website & saying they were "gonna refund me".
It's actually a Houston legacy & a shame they aren't being better stewards/ambassadors.

The Orange Show is really cool in a eerie sort of way. A man devoted so much time in trying to create something so spectacular that it would rival the Astrodome, however the reality is far from it. Nonetheless, his creativity and efforts are still greatly appreciated by Houston and the art community (probably not his neighbors though haha). His works (among many other local art landmarks) have been preserved carefully by the orange show team and volunteers.

Entry is free and donations are appreciated. The entire complex can be take just 15-30 minutes to easily peruse through, however everyone varies. During certain schedules, events and miniature concerts are shown here but I have yet to come to one of these.

I hope the team continues to do a great job in preserving these local treasures for many years to come!