Cypress Gardens Winter Haven, FL

: Cypress Gardens, located along Lake Eloise in Winter Haven, FL opened in 1936 as a botanical garden planted by Dick Pope Sr. & his wife Julie.

: It became a showplace for thousands of varieties of flowers, trees, & many species of birds as well as other wildlife. The Southern Belles, Water Ski Show, Concerts, Ice Show & Butterfly Conservatory all were highlights added as the years passed.

: Southern Belles strolling through the gardens became a Cypress Gardens tradition & were contrived by Pope’s wife to detract visitor’s eyes one winter from a freeze ravaged garden. They became a big hit & a permanent attraction for little girls who dressed up like them.

: The ski shows evolved much the same way. Photos appeared in a local newspaper showing skiers being pulled by boat at Cypress Gardens. None existed until Julie Pope rounded up her children & their friends to stage the first ski show.

: Seeing the water ski show whenever we visited was always a highlight of our day.

: It also became known a the “Water Ski Capital of the World” because many of the sport’s landmark firsts and over 50 world records broken there.

: Mime performing at Cypress Gardens

: Mime performing

: Topiaries of different animals were seen as you walked along the Topiary Trail.

: As the seasons changed, so did the topiaries.

: Topiaries

: Topiary

: Topiary

: With Disney & much bigger theme parks opening after 1971, the Gardens had trouble competing for tourists.

: After changing owners a few times, in October 2004 it was purchased by the owner of Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Georgia & became Cypress Gardens Adventure Park

: Children’s rides & a water park area were added. After devastating hurricanes in 2004, Beuescher was forced to sell both Cypress Gardens & his other park

: At times it looked like historic gardens turned adventure park was going to make it after all. However the park closed permanently September 2009.

: A few months later, the park was sold again and this time became Legoland, Florida & I’m happy to say seems to be thriving!!

: One of the lands of LEGOLAND Florida has a familiar name. It’s called “Cypress Gardens Land”, & encompasses most of the historic botanical garden.

: These pictures of the Botanical Gardens were all taken at Cypress Gardens in 2004 before the devastating hurricanes

: The Gazebo located in the lush Gardens area

: The famous Banyan tree of Cypress Lakes. Banyan trees are native to India & known for its many trunks

: Orchids growing in the Banyan Tree

: The tree was planted by Dick Pope Sr.

: Orchids in Cypress Gardens

: A Tricolor Dragon Tree

: Great Blue Heron flying

: Flowers & lush greenery of Cypress Gardens

: Great Blue Herons “conversing” in a Cypress Tree

: Cypress Gardens had much to offer & we will miss it – thank you to LegoLand for making the “Cypress Gardens Land”

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