The New Cypress Gardens

[dukedogsmom]

They're not quite finished with building. The hurricanes really put them behind. I think they're supposed to open before Christmas, though. They had a job fair about a week ago. For those of you that don't know, Cypress Gardens, at one time, was a major attraction. It was known for all the beautiful flowers, ski shows, and the southern bells in their pretty, hoop skirted dresses. Later on, I think around 6 years ago, maybe less, they started adding things like ice skating shows, a butterfly sanctuary, this huge thing that rotated high in the sky for you to see the surrounding area and a petting zoo. They had also had boat rides through canals there so you could see the pretty cypress trees. It hadn't been doing well for a while and it closed last year. The mansion of the original owner was on the property also. I don't think they were able to save it because I heard they didn't maintain it and it was about to fall apart, which is really sad. My favorite part, before they closed, was at Christmas. They decorated it with thousands of lights and displays. It was so pretty. I hope they're going to continue to do that. I guy that owns theme parks, I think in Alabama, bought it and is trying to bring Cypress Gardens back. It's called new because it's quite different and I think will do a lot better. We were all upset with it's closing. There's a lot of land there that the owners(4 I think) were thinking of selling for development. That made a lot of people very unhappy. I know I've rambled a bit but was just trying to give you a little history before I started with the pics.
Here's one of their new advertisement banners.
http://www.boomspeed.com/dukedogsmom/110104_5.jpg
I don't know what kind of ride this is going to be. They've got a big fence around it all and it's hard to get good pics.
http://www.boomspeed.com/dukedogsmom/110104_3.jpg
Here's another thing that's going to be some sort of ride.
http://www.boomspeed.com/dukedogsmom/110104_4.jpg
more in next

[dukedogsmom]

Here's a huge wooden roller coaster. You can't really grasp the size until you see it in person.
http://www.boomspeed.com/dukedogsmom/110104_6.jpg
I had a few more but they weren't that good. I had to take some from the car as there was no where to park.
These next couple of pics are from a road that was just recently opened. As you can see, there's still plenty of hurricane water. I feel so bad because this is the road where my doggie day care was located. I'm afraid they were flooded out because there are no more signs up at their entrance. The woman that owns the place is very nice and she was the one that let me keep Chance there for two months at half board. I'm hoping they've just moved to a different location. It's really too bad because they had a wonderful place there.
http://www.boomspeed.com/dukedogsmom/110104_1.jpg
http://www.boomspeed.com/dukedogsmom/110104_2.jpg

[Logan]

Valerie, I'm so glad to get this update on Cypress Gardens! I have only been there once, when I was a little girl, but I remember watching those skiers and how fascinated I was that they could do what they did. Wonder if they will still have those water shows? It looks like they plan to do lots of rides too, and I don't think they had those 100 years ago when I was there.

Is there still a Silver Springs in Ocala? I remember those glass bottomed boats and the HUGE catfish you could see on the bottom. It was fun for a kid like me! :)

Logan

[Fox-Gal]

I've spent a lot of days at Cypress Gardens over the years, I really enjoyed it. It's nice to hear they are going to re-open it. I use to get the best strawberry daiquiris there. :D

I hope they don't change to much of the park, like the flowers, skiers, and the souther bells, of course. I had my wedding dress made from that style dress, sense as a child I always loved those dresses.

Some new and better rides would be nice though, it should bring in more people that way.

[chocolatepuppy]

I've been to Cypress Gardens years ago when I lived in Winter Haven. Actually I worked at the hotel that was right in front of it.It was sure a beautiful place then! :)