Cypress Gardens
Encyclopedia
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
near Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County...
, that operated from 1936 to 2009.
History
Billed as Florida's first commercial tourist theme park, Cypress Gardens opened on January 2, 1936 as a botanical gardenBotanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
planted by Dick Pope Sr. and his wife Julie. Over the years, it became one of the biggest attractions in Florida, known for its water ski shows, lush gardens, and Southern Belle
Southern belle
A southern belle is an archetype for a young woman of the American Old South's upper class....
s.
It became known as the "Water Ski Capital of the World" because many of the sport's landmark firsts and the over 50 world records broken there. Numerous movies were filmed at the park, including portions of This is Cinerama
This is Cinerama
This is Cinerama is a 1952 full-length film designed to introduce the then-new widescreen process Cinerama, which broadens the aspect ratio so the viewer's peripheral vision is involved...
, the first feature filmed in the wide-screen format, and a string of Esther Williams
Esther Williams
Esther Jane Williams is a retired American competitive swimmer and MGM movie star.Williams set multiple national and regional swimming records in her late teens as part of the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team...
films and TV specials in the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1950s a quaint attraction, young women dressed in the crinolines reminiscent of the Antebellum South. During the American Civil War Centennial
American Civil War Centennial
The American Civil War Centennial was the official United States commemoration of the American Civil War, also known as the War Between the States...
young men dressed in Confederate uniforms would be photographed with the Southern Belles. With their addition of a custom photography boat named Miss Cover Girl in the early 1960s, the park became a popular site for the filming of television commercials.
Many celebrities and dignitaries have skied and visited at the park, including Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
's former King Hussein and his son and successor, King Abdullah II. It was also the site of a Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
special.
Competitions and changes of ownership
Competition for guests increased after Walt Disney World ResortWalt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort , is the world's most-visited entertaimental resort. Located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida ; approximately southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States, the resort covers an area of and includes four theme parks, two water parks, 23 on-site themed resort hotels Walt...
opened nearby in 1971. In the early 1980s, the Popes retired and transferred the park to their son, Dick Pope, Jr.
In the 1980s, book publisher Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich
Harcourt Trade Publishers
Harcourt was a United States publishing firm with a long history of publishing fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. The company was based in San Diego, California, with an Editorial / Sales / Marketing / Rights offices in New York City and Orlando, Florida.In 2007, the U.S...
purchased the park along with SeaWorld
SeaWorld
SeaWorld is a United States chain of marine mammal parks, oceanariums, and animal theme parks owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. The parks feature captive orca, sea lion, and dolphin shows and zoological displays featuring various other marine animals. There are operations in Orlando,...
, Circus World (later rebuilt as Boardwalk & Baseball
Boardwalk and Baseball
Boardwalk and Baseball was a theme park built near Haines City, Florida, United States, on the east corner of the intersection of US 27 and Interstate 4. It replaced Circus World at the same location, and was owned by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich...
) and Stars Hall of Fame, but sold most of the businesses to Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. , is an American brewing company. The company operates 12 breweries in the United States and 18 in other countries. It was, until December 2009, also one of America's largest theme park operators; operating ten theme parks across the United States through the...
in 1989. Busch continued to operate Cypress Gardens until April 1, 1995, when a group of the park's managers led by Bill Reynolds bought the property.
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
. 529 people were put out of work with three days' notice. Immediately the Friends of Cypress Gardens, founded and led by Burma Davis Posey, was incorporated. They enlisted members in all 50 of the United States and in 27 countries. Within three and a half months, the grass-roots effort raised USD 13,500,000 and saved the park.
Cypress Gardens Adventure Park
On February 22, 2004, Adventure Parks GroupAdventure Parks Group
Adventure Parks Group is a company that used to run and operate two theme parks in the U.S. states of Florida and Georgia. They are Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Georgia and Cypress Gardens Adventure Park in Winter Haven, Florida. It also owned a radio station in South Georgia called Wild Adventures...
, owned by Kent Buescher, purchased the property and renamed it Cypress Gardens Adventure Park. The purchase of the amusement park portion of the Cypress Gardens property was part of a larger conservation transaction. In that transaction, the entire 150 acres (60.7 ha) site was purchased from its previous owner, First Gardens, L.C., by The Trust for Public Land
The Trust for Public Land
The Trust for Public Land is a land conservation nonprofit founded in 1972 by Huey Johnson and based in San Francisco, California in the United States. TPL works throughout the United States to conserve land for people as parks, gardens, and other natural places.- TPL Conservation Initiatives :TPL...
, a national conservation organization. TPL then sold a conservation easement
Conservation easement
In the United States, a conservation easement is an encumbrance — sometimes including a transfer of usage rights — which creates a legally enforceable land preservation agreement between a landowner and a government agency or a qualified land...
over the entire property to the state of Florida, while Polk County
Polk County, Florida
Polk County is located in central Florida between the Tampa Bay and Greater Orlando metropolitan areas. The county was established by the state government in 1861 on the eve of the American Civil War and named after former United States president James K. Polk. The county seat is Bartow and its...
, purchased the 30 acres (12.1 ha) gardens portion of the property, less the development rights conveyed in the state easement. Adventure Parks Group purchased the balance of the property, also subject to the conservation easement.
In September 2006, Adventure Parks Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection at the Florida site following approximately $30 million in damages sustained by the 2004 hurricanes.
Land South Adventures, a subsidiary of Mulberry, Florida
Mulberry, Florida
Mulberry is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,230 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 3,228 . Mulberry is home to Badcock Home Furniture. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical...
-based Land South Holdings, purchased Cypress Gardens at a bankruptcy auction on October 16, 2007, for $16.9 million, leaving Buescher as interim manager until Baker Leisure Group of Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, took over park operations in January 2008.
On Monday, November 10, 2008, Land South Holdings announced the temporary closure of the park, which was shut down November 17 of that year. It reopened on March 28, 2009, with an expanded water park named Splash Island. The animals, however, were gone, and the rides did not operate or had already been removed. Cypress Gardens and Splash Island began separate ticketing, with dual-park season passes also available; parking was free.
Based on a visual confirmation in September 2009, all of the roller coasters except for Fiesta Express were still at Cypress Gardens but not operating. An employee working there stated that the remaining roller coasters and rides left at the park were to be sold.
On September 23, 2009, owner Land South Holdings LLC announced that the park was closing immediately, saying that all avenues to keep the park open had been explored but that they were unable to find a way to "keep the park running in its traditional form."
From Cypress Gardens to Legoland
On January 15, 2010, the world's second largest theme park and attraction operator Merlin EntertainmentsMerlin Entertainments
Merlin Entertainments Group Ltd is a British operator of amusement parks and other attractions. It is the largest such company in Europe, and globally the second largest after Walt Disney Parks and Resorts....
bought Cypress Gardens with intent to use the site for the fifth Legoland
Legoland
Legoland is a chain of Lego-themed theme parks. They are not fully owned by Lego Group itself; rather they are owned and operated by the British theme park company Merlin Entertainment.The chain currently consists of:* Legoland Billund...
. On January 21, 2010, Merlin Entertainments
Merlin Entertainments
Merlin Entertainments Group Ltd is a British operator of amusement parks and other attractions. It is the largest such company in Europe, and globally the second largest after Walt Disney Parks and Resorts....
announced that the park would be turned into Legoland Florida
Legoland Florida
Legoland Florida is a theme park in Winter Haven, Florida. It opened on Saturday, October 15, 2011. Merlin Entertainments Group operates the park which encompasses of the former Cypress Gardens amusement park, making Legoland Florida the world's largest Legoland park.-Announcement:A press release...
. On October 21, 2010, an October 2011 opening date was announced. While no specific date was given at the press conference, work on retheming the park has already begun. Opening day was October 15th, 2011 at 10am EST.
Roller coasters
| Ride | Year Opened | Year Closed | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiesta Express | 2004 | 2008 | A Zamperla Zamperla Zamperla is a designing and manufacturing company in Vicenza, Italy. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The company also makes smaller coin operated rides commonly found inside shopping malls.... kiddie coaster with small hairpin turns. It was relocated at Gillian's Funland in Sea Isle City, NJ in 2009. |
| Okeechobee Rampage | 2004 | 2008 | A Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... junior roller coaster. It will reopen in the new Legoland Florida Legoland Florida Legoland Florida is a theme park in Winter Haven, Florida. It opened on Saturday, October 15, 2011. Merlin Entertainments Group operates the park which encompasses of the former Cypress Gardens amusement park, making Legoland Florida the world's largest Legoland park.-Announcement:A press release... as Dragon. |
| Swamp Thing Swamp Thing (Cypress Gardens) Flying School is a steel roller coaster located at Legoland Florida in Winter Haven, Florida, United States. It opened at Cypress Gardens in 2004 mainly as an introduction coaster for kids under the name Swamp Thing. Flying School is a standard Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster with airplane themed... |
2004 | 2008 | A Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... Suspended Family Coaster. It will reopen in the new Legoland Florida as Flight School. |
| Triple Hurricane | 2004 | 2008 | A Martin & Vleminckx Group junior wooden coaster. It was named for the three hurricanes (Charley Hurricane Charley Hurricane Charley was the third named storm, the second hurricane, and the second major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. Charley lasted from August 9 to August 15, and at its peak intensity it attained 150 mph winds, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane on the... , Frances Hurricane Frances Hurricane Frances was the sixth named storm, the fourth hurricane, and the third major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. The system crossing the open Atlantic during mid to late August, moving to the north of the Lesser Antilles while strengthening. Its outer bands affected Puerto... , and Jeanne Hurricane Jeanne Hurricane Jeanne was the deadliest hurricane in the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the tenth named storm, the seventh hurricane, and the fifth major hurricane of the season, as well as the third hurricane and fourth named storm of the season to make landfall in Florida... ) that struck the park in 2004. It is an ACE American Coaster Enthusiasts The American Coaster Enthusiasts is an organization dedicated to the enjoyment and preservation of roller coasters. Membership is open to anyone with payment of yearly dues, and membership benefits may include discounted admission to certain amusement parks... Coaster Classic. It will reopen in the new Legoland Florida Legoland Florida Legoland Florida is a theme park in Winter Haven, Florida. It opened on Saturday, October 15, 2011. Merlin Entertainments Group operates the park which encompasses of the former Cypress Gardens amusement park, making Legoland Florida the world's largest Legoland park.-Announcement:A press release... , under the name Coastersaurus. |
| Galaxy Spin | 2005 | 2008 | A Zamperla Spinning Wild Mouse coaster, similar to Primeval Whirl Primeval Whirl Primeval Whirl is an attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort. The ride is an "off the shelf" spinning roller coaster purchased from Reverchon Industries. The ride is part of Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama, which is itself part of Dinoland USA. It is a roller coaster in... at Disney's Animal Kingdom Disney's Animal Kingdom Disney's Animal Kingdom is an animal theme park located at the Walt Disney World Resort. The fourth park built at the resort, it opened on April 22, 1998, and it is the largest single Disney theme park in the world, covering more than . It is also the first Disney theme park to be themed entirely... . It was relocated to Fun Spot USA in Kissimmee, FL and reopened in July 2011 under the name Power Trip. |
| Starliner | 2007 | 2008 | A classic Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters designed wooden coaster. It originally operated at Miracle Strip Amusement Park Miracle Strip Amusement Park Miracle Strip Amusement Park was a popular local theme park built in 1963 in Panama City Beach, Florida, across the street from the beach. It featured several rides that were uniquely spectacular by placing them within enclosed spaces and adding pounding music and lighting effects, in addition to... in Panama City Beach, Florida Panama City Beach, Florida Panama City Beach is a city in Bay County, Florida, United States, on the Gulf of Mexico coast. The city is often referred to under the umbrella term of "Panama City", despite being a distinct municipality from the older and larger inland Panama City to the east, making Panama City and Panama City... . It will reopen in Panama City's new version of Miracle Strip Miracle Strip at Pier Park Miracle Strip at Pier Park is an amusement park in Panama City Beach, Florida owned by Simon Properties. The original Miracle Strip closed in 2004 after 41 years of operation, but a new amusement park using the same name was resurrected and began with moving the carousel from its original location... by mid 2012. |
Thrill rides
| Ride | Year Opened | Year Closed | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Kite Flyers | 2004 | 2008 | Zamperla Kite Flyer flat ride, riders are spun around while in a flying position. |
| Disk'O | 2004 | 2008 | Zamperla Disk-O Disk-O The Disk'O is a type of flat ride manufactured by Zamperla of Italy. The ride is a larger version of a Rockin' Tug, also manufactured by Zamperla.-Versions:-Ride:... flat ride, riders spin around on a frisbee traversing a track. |
| Pharaoh's Fury | 2004 | 2008 | Chance Rides Swinging Ship flat ride. |
| Power Surge | 2004 | 2008 | Zamperla Power Surge flat ride, a large spinning and flipping flat ride. |
| Thunderbolt | 2004 | 2008 | An ARM tower ride, similar to Power Tower Power Tower Power Tower are two similar vertical ascending and descending thrill rides operating at two Cedar Fair-owned amusement parks.The attractions are powered by air in large cylinders in which an aircraft steel cable, connected to the internal piston, travels and is also connected to the external rider... at Cedar Point Cedar Point Cedar Point is a 364 acre amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, United States on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. Cedar Point is the only amusement park with four roller coasters that are taller than... . |
| Yo-Yo | 2004 | 2008 | Chance Rides "Yo-Yo" flat ride, a circular "wave swinger" type flat ride. |