Cypress Gardens

[Angellore]

I've just looked at the website www.cypressgardens.com and it seems that this has re-opened now. Has anyone been there since they re-opened it? Is it worth the drive from Orlando or Tampa?

[Hops]

Haven't been since they reopened, but recent newspaper reports have indicated that attendance has been exceeding expectations.

Cypress Gardens Readies For Active Summer

By Merissa Green
The Ledger

WINTER HAVEN -- After five months of better than expected attendance, Cypress Gardens Adventure Park officials are bracing for an active summer.

A new water park, a fifth roller coaster and an expanded concert series are all factors that will draw crowds, said the park's owner, Kent Buescher.

"We've been very pleased from the support we've received from our guests," said Buescher, who also owns Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Ga.

A year ago, Buescher said it would take 1 million visitors annually to keep the park operational. The estimate was later revised to a more conservative 750,000 guests.

But then in the first 21/2 months after the park's Dec. 9 opening, 225,000 guests visited the Winter Haven attraction. The surge in visitors occurred during Christmas, New Year's Eve and spring break, said Allyson Gernert, park spokeswoman.

"We had to re-project our year," she said. "That gives us hope of what the summer will look like."

Now Buescher predicts 1.3 million to 1.5 million people will visit the park by the end of the year. As of Monday, the park had 800,000 visitors. Attendance is calculated each time someone enters the turnstiles, Buescher said.

Being family-friendly has helped create a niche for attendance, Buescher said.

"Fifty percent of our attendance has been families with children," he said. "That's where we've seen the growth."

Since mid-March, 15 to 20 school groups have visited the park, making Wednesdays and Thursdays the busiest times during the week, Gernert said.

In June, the park will open the Galaxy Spin, a spinning roller coaster ride that promises to be thrilling, Buescher said.

The concert series also has kept visitors coming. Country singer Loretta Lynn's performance at the park Feb. 19 drew 20,000 visitors.

"That was just the people who came to enjoy the show," Gernert said. "We had more people at the park that day, too."

Another lure expected to keep attendance numbers steady is Splash Island, a nine-acre water park on the north side of Cypress Gardens.

Splash Island is expected to open in late June or early July. The water park has an island atmosphere with a Polynesian theme featuring a variety of water rides and a wading pool.

Buescher purchased Cypress Gardens in April 2004. The park, whose majority owner was developer Larry Maxwell, had closed in 2003, the result of declining attendance.

Buescher paid $7 million to the Trust for Public Land, which had intervened in late 2003 to save the property from development. The state of Florida paid the Trust $11 million for the conservation rights on all 150 acres. Polk County paid $2.5 million for 30 acres of the original botanical gardens. Buescher owns the remaining 120 acres and maintains Polk County's portion of the property.

Buescher has invested more than $40 million in the attraction. He changed the name from Cypress Gardens to Cypress Gardens Adventure Park

[lesleyanne]

went there twice in may this year.
it is a good day out but no thrill rides. more like funfair rides.
i know it says thrill rides on their site but honestly dont go there expecting thrills.
also when you buy a day you can go back free within 6 days.
but still a good day out..

[Harveymoon]

It is nice, a far cry from the other theme parks, but good if you fancy a chilled day out! We went in Dec 04, as we have a disabled 11 year old, it is perfect to push the weelchair with ease, and not have to worry about crowds, don't expect thrills a minute:D but it is worth a visit for the lovely gardens, and if you are a rollacoaster woos like me:D :D

[StevieWeevie]

Excellent day out, went there yesterday. Many of the shows exceeded that of those of Disney / Universal, which I found very surprising (Water Ski & Cypress Gardens on Ice).

Some of the 'Fairground' rides are very extreme, the droppy-down thing is a billion times more scary than the Tower of Terror.

The Botannical Gardens are amazing - the Banyan Tree is a ton better than the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse!

A bargain too as the tickets were a lot cheaper than Disney/Universal.

[lesleyanne]

Some of the 'Fairground' rides are very extreme, the droppy-down thing is a billion times more scary than the Tower of Terror.

you must be joking!!!!

[StevieWeevie]

Originally posted by lesleyanne
Some of the 'Fairground' rides are very extreme, the droppy-down thing is a billion times more scary than the Tower of Terror.

you must be joking!!!!

No, I am not joking, have you been on these rides?

The Inverter is really bad (didn't go on this, as it looked really bad), Disco almost brought my lunch up (from the day before) and Thunderbolt was something I'll never go near again.

[lesleyanne]

yes i have been on these rides.and also the inverter.
perhaps you were not feeling very well.:grin:
but as i said i enjoyed this park.

[CruellaDeVilla]

We went in April and it was a nice day out.

[kkempton]

Is it further than busch gardens from orlando?

[lesleyanne]

no only 30-40 minutes.

[StevieWeevie]

Originally posted by lesleyanne
no only 30-40 minutes.

And easy to find as long as your SatNav does'nt take you to the Caravan Park ...

[Angellore]

After asking this question I got chatting to a girl i'm on Jury Service with yesterday and she got married in Cypress Gardens last year! From everything you guys have said and what she told me, I think we'll pay it a visit.

Thanks!

[Alvin]

Cypress Gardens is a beautiful place and a fab place to tie the knot. I speak from experience as Kim and I were married on the lovely Gazebo there a few years back. It was great. If you are just visiting then you may find that half a day is enough though I believe the new owners are working hard to increase the visitor attractions. We have been twice and it was virtually deserted both times.

Alvin