The bad news announcement came suddenly... and in less than a week, the doors of what was billed as Florida's first commercial tourist theme park closed its doors on April 13, 2003. Then good news followed when it reopened in December 2004, better than ever as Cypress Gardens Adventure Park. So the good news, bad news continued until the park permanently closed on September 23, 2009.
History: A Successful Past
On January 2, 1936, the gates opened to what would become a showplace for 8,000 varieties of flowers from over 90 different countries. Many had made fun of Dick Pope when he had announced his plan for his dream garden. No one makes fun of the transformed marsh land now. Two years after its opening, electric boats began gliding tourists through the tropical canals.The gracious Southern Belles that have become a Cypress Gardens tradition were born out of necessity -- contrived by Pope's wife to detract visitor's eyes one winter from a freeze ravaged garden. The ski shows evolved much the same way. Photos appeared in a local newspaper showing skiers being pulled by boat at Cypress Gardens. Servicemen showed up wanting to see the show. None existed until that day when Pope's wife rounded up her children and their friends to stage the first ski show. The next weekend 800 servicemen showed up for the ski show... and the rest, as they say, is history.
Celebrities and Hollywood movie producers discovered Cypress Gardens in the late 40s, 50s and 60s. Elvis Presley, Esther Williams and Johnny Carson helped build the tremendous recognition of the gardens. Not bad for a 16-acre piece of marsh land that earned its creator the title "Father of Florida Tourism."
In 1983 it added the Rotating Island in the Sky ride, and a couple of years after that it added an ice skating show. Then in the late 1990s another addition of an authentic paddle wheel boat for sightseeing tours and romantic brunch and dinner cruises.
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, which owned SeaWorld at the time, purchased the land and attraction from the Popes and when Anheuser Busch acquired SeaWorld in 1989, it ended up with Cypress Gardens as part of the deal. In 1995, Anheuser Busch sold the park to some of the park's managers. Through the efforts of first the Pope's and then corporate owners and their deep pockets, the park kept getting better over the years. In the end, none of it was enough to keep pace with the big attractions and their state-of-the-art rides. Unlike the water skiers that rode the waves over the years the park couldn't stay afloat.
History: An Uncertain Future
The closing was a tragedy and everyone stood to lose. Generations of visitors to Cypress Gardens would lose the backdrop to years of memories that include beautiful blooms and belles in hoop skirts – a bygone era where tourists could experience a different type of attraction – one without miles of concrete and long lines. Florida would lose a piece of its history, and the community would suffer over 400 lost jobs with the trickle-down effect that has on its economy.Of course, rumors flew about what might happen to this great park, but in the end a white knight was ready to ride in on his horse and save the day... err, the attraction. A Georgia amusement park owner bought the attraction and had plans to reopen it by October, 2004. Kent Buescher, who owned Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Georgia promised to pump millions of dollars into the park. Buescher's plans for the attraction included preserving the gardens and ski show, but also adding rides that would draw younger visitors and hopefully improve attendance.
Mr. Buescher kept his promise. It is reported that he invested some $50-million into the park's re-opening effort. However, because of the three hurricanes — Charley, Frances and Jeanne — that blew through the area causing damage and construction delays, the October 2004 re-opening was pushed back to November and again to December.
The park did open and Mr. Buescher added a waterpark and things seemed to be going well with attendance reported over projections, but an apparent hurricane-related insurance dispute caused him to declare bankruptcy. In a very sad turn of events, he was forced to sell both Cypress Gardens and his Georgia park.
While it looked like the historic gardens turned adventure park was going to make it after all, it was not to be and the park permanently closed on September 23, 2009. In a few months the property was sold again — this time to Merlin Entertainments Group — and plans were announced for LEGOLAND® Florida.
Beautiful Retreat
Once Cypress Gardens was a backdrop for movies starring Ester Williams. Until last year, Cypress Gardens was where Eye on Gardening television show, hosted by Tim Alan was filmed. The show, featuring lawn and garden tips and advice by Alan, is seen coast-to-coast on the iLife cable network and worldwide in Europe on Inspiration Network International.Alan has dubbed Cypress Gardens "the most beautiful place on earth." I couldn't agree more. I look forward to strolling the winding paths again through hundreds of trees that provide a canopy over colorful landscape and blooms. The sparkling waterfall along Topiary Trail provides a scenic photo opportunity. Snively Plantation is home to four more traditional gardens, including herb, vegetable, rose and butterfly gardens. In the long-time tradition of Cypress Gardens, I am hoping that someone decides that Southern Belles will once again stroll the lawns welcoming guests to the new park.
The Shows
Cypress Gardens, the birthplace of performance waterskiing, was a showcase for the sport and known as "The Water Ski Capital of the World." The daily shows entertained and amazed as skiers performed daring lifts and jumps and the world-famous water ski pyramid.
LEGOLAND Florida will take over the waterski show area along Lake Eloise with swashbuckling pirates performing their own live-action water stunt show.
