The Pulse Nightclub, an infamous site of one of the most devastating tragedies in recent U.S. history, will open its doors one final time for survivors and victims' families before it's demolished later this year. According to Telemundo 31, the City of Orlando has announced that from June 12 to 14, 2025, private visits inside the club will be held.
These visits aim to provide an intimate setting for the families of the 49 deceased and survivors to reflect, grieve, and heal. This will be the last chance to enter the venue before its demolition. To ensure privacy and safety, visits will be conducted in small groups, giving scheduling priority to the families of the victims. Each group will have approximately 30 minutes inside the building.
Additionally, each complete session will last about two hours, including a preliminary orientation, transportation to the site, the visit, and an optional debriefing session with emotional and spiritual support. Participants may include a mental health professional or spiritual advisor in their group, with specialized support available throughout the experience.
Families and survivors are asked to confirm their attendance by May 8, 2025, via a form available on pulseorlando.org/sitevisit. Requests will be reviewed using records from the One Orlando Fund and in collaboration with authorities.
Pulse Nightclub was the scene of a mass shooting on June 12, 2016, during a Latin night, resulting in the deaths of 49 people and injuring 53 others. This horrific event became one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history.
The massacre was carried out by Omar Mateen, an American of Afghan descent, who was shot and killed by law enforcement that same night. Mateen instilled terror among attendees when he stormed the nightclub armed with an assault rifle and a handgun, opening fire on the hosts and participants of a Latin party.
For about three hours, Mateen remained inside the club with around 30 hostages, telling police negotiators over the phone that he was acting on behalf of ISIS, a terrorist group to which he had pledged allegiance.
In 2018, then-Florida Governor Rick Scott declared June 12 as "Pulse Remembrance Day," dedicated to honoring the 49 victims of the massacre. Following the building's demolition, the City of Orlando plans to erect a permanent memorial on the site to honor the victims and survivors of the tragedy.
The Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee, comprised of victims' families, survivors, and other stakeholders, has been working on the conceptual design of the memorial. The final design is expected to be unveiled to the public soon.
For more information on the visits and the commemoration process, please visit the official website: pulseorlando.org.
FAQs About Pulse Nightclub Commemoration and Demolition
When will the Pulse Nightclub be open for visits?
The Pulse Nightclub will be open for visits from June 12 to 14, 2025, for survivors and families of the victims.
How can families and survivors confirm their attendance for the visit?
Families and survivors can confirm their attendance by May 8, 2025, through a form available at pulseorlando.org/sitevisit.
What will happen to the Pulse Nightclub site after its demolition?
After the demolition, the City of Orlando plans to construct a permanent memorial on the site to honor the victims and survivors of the tragedy.