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Cypress Gardens theme park in FL closes doors
Cypress Gardens theme park in Fla. closes doors
1 hr 42 mins ago
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Cypress Gardens, which reigned as Florida's grandest theme park in the days before Disney, has shut down while its owners try to sell the attraction.
The 73-year-old park, known for water-skiing shows, lush flower gardens and Southern belles in hoop dresses, was shuttered Wednesday after years of sagging attendance and ownership changes.
The current owner, Land South Adventures, said the park was no longer financially viable. The company said in a statement it "has explored numerous management frameworks and exhausted every possible approach to keep the park running in its traditional form."
The company said it was negotiating with several potential buyers.
Cypress Gardens, once a must-see for Florida visitors, was opened in 1936 by Dick and Julie Pope, and the family sold it in 1985. The property has been bought and sold several times since.
It was closed in 2003, then changed hands under a complicated deal that involved help from state and local government and a nonprofit conservation group. In 2004, it was hit by three hurricanes, and the owners were unable to reach a settlement with an insurance company to cover damages. The current owners bought it in October 2007 for $16.8 million.
The park, in the small town of Winter Haven southwest of Orlando, was closed again in November 2008 for renovations and opened in March, featuring its traditional botanical gardens, water park, water ski shows and concerts, but without the animal attractions and rides.
Cypress Gardens had about 100 employees when it closed Wednesday, down from 700 to 800 in its heyday.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20...gardens_closed
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09-24-2009 10:36 AM
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That really is sad.....as a child our family went there several times. We loved it....
Mrs Pepperpot is a lady who always copes with the tricky situations that she finds herself in....
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We went there in May and they weren't very busy. The garden part was open but there were no ski shows at the time. We were told that they were going to have them a couple of Saturdays a month but we didn't go back again so I don't know if they had them or not. The other day when we drove by I told Kevin that I don't know how that place stays open and less than a week later they are closed. lol Here is a picture of Lucy with one of the southern belles......
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mabby89 (09-24-2009), nightrider127 (09-24-2009), SLance68 (09-24-2009), speedygirl (09-24-2009)
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Wow, how sad. We used to take a trip to Florida every few years in the 70's when I was growing up (back when Magic Kingdom WAS Disney World!). We always spent a day at Cypress Gardens, and I have such fond memories of the beautiful landscaping, the southern belles, and the great water-skiing shows.
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