This SuperSUCKS! Cypress Gardens closing its doors this sunday - General Tiki

F fatuhiva Member Melbourne Beach, FL Joined: Mar 25, 2002 Posts: 638	F fatuhiva Posted posted on Sun, Feb 1, 2004 9:37 PM yes, folks it looks like Cypress Gardens escaped the wrecking ball and will be coming back in full effect.. I'm pretty excited about it, as I really wanted my new boy to be able to go there and uncover the tiki and see the Water-Ski Shows. It was purchased by a Georgia theme park owner, who is going to put about $35mill into renovations- he's going to add some roller coasters, more rides, etc which some people arent happy about- but I'll say this much: the last time I was there, just prior to its closing, it was looking sad. The animal areas were like a PETA nightmare- it seemed they hadnt been updated since the 60's. Now thats good for things like botanical garden design (read: tikiness) but I'm not one for 60's era animal enclosure nostalgia. The gardens are on one end of the park- the "theme" stuff on the other, with the ski-lake in between. So I could TOTALLY see the theme side having major improvements whilst retaining every bit of charm of the gardens. I, for one, am STOKED. ==================================== Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004 State signs off on plan to save Cypress Gardens TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Gov. Jeb Bush and the Cabinet voted today to contribute $11 million toward a deal that will let a Georgia theme park owner take over Cypress Gardens, one of Florida’s oldest tourist attractions. Under the arrangement, the Trust for Public Land will exercise its option to buy the 150 acres that make up Cypress Gardens, located just outside Winter Haven. The park, which is known for its botanical gardens, water ski shows and Southern belles in hoop skirts and parasols, closed last April after 67 years in operation. Kent Buescher, who owns Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Ga., will then buy 130 acres for $7 million and Polk County will buy the historic 30-acre core of the park for $2.5 million. The deal, which the trust brokered, required an $11 million conservation easement from the state. “Only in Florida would this be a cultural resource perhaps,” Bush said before the unanimous vote. “But that’s what distinguishes us. We live in paradise and everybody else doesn’t. So I don’t feel bad about that at all.” The park could reopen as soon as Memorial Day weekend, said Sara Sumner, a spokeswoman for Wild Adventures. The new owner plans to invest $35 million over the next 18 months to refurbish the gardens, buildings and construct a new entrance. Buescher also plans to add some roller coasters, bring back the ski shows and schedule concerts.

yes, folks

it looks like Cypress Gardens escaped the wrecking ball and will be coming back in full effect.. I'm pretty excited about it, as I really wanted my new boy to be able to go there and uncover the tiki and see the Water-Ski Shows.

It was purchased by a Georgia theme park owner, who is going to put about $35mill into renovations- he's going to add some roller coasters, more rides, etc which some people arent happy about- but I'll say this much: the last time I was there, just prior to its closing, it was looking sad. The animal areas were like a PETA nightmare- it seemed they hadnt been updated since the 60's. Now thats good for things like botanical garden design (read: tikiness) but I'm not one for 60's era animal enclosure nostalgia.

The gardens are on one end of the park- the "theme" stuff on the other, with the ski-lake in between. So I could TOTALLY see the theme side having major improvements whilst retaining every bit of charm of the gardens.

I, for one, am STOKED.

====================================

Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004

State signs off on plan to save Cypress Gardens

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Gov. Jeb Bush and the Cabinet voted today to contribute $11 million toward a deal that will let a Georgia theme park owner take over Cypress Gardens, one of Florida’s oldest tourist attractions.

Under the arrangement, the Trust for Public Land will exercise its option to buy the 150 acres that make up Cypress Gardens, located just outside Winter Haven. The park, which is known for its botanical gardens, water ski shows and Southern belles in hoop skirts and parasols, closed last April after 67 years in operation.

Kent Buescher, who owns Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Ga., will then buy 130 acres for $7 million and Polk County will buy the historic 30-acre core of the park for $2.5 million.

The deal, which the trust brokered, required an $11 million conservation easement from the state.

“Only in Florida would this be a cultural resource perhaps,” Bush said before the unanimous vote. “But that’s what distinguishes us. We live in paradise and everybody else doesn’t. So I don’t feel bad about that at all.”

The park could reopen as soon as Memorial Day weekend, said Sara Sumner, a spokeswoman for Wild Adventures.

The new owner plans to invest $35 million over the next 18 months to refurbish the gardens, buildings and construct a new entrance. Buescher also plans to add some roller coasters, bring back the ski shows and schedule concerts.

Post #73959 by fatuhiva on Sun, Feb 1, 2004 9:37 PM