Cypress Gardens Winter Haven, FL
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Seeing the water ski show whenever we visited was always a highlight of our day.
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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.
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Mime performing at Cypress Gardens
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Mime performing
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Topiaries of different animals were seen as you walked along the Topiary Trail.
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As the seasons changed, so did the topiaries.
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Topiaries
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Topiary
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Topiary
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With Disney & much bigger theme parks opening after 1971, the Gardens had trouble competing for tourists.
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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
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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
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At times it looked like historic gardens turned adventure park was going to make it after all. However the park closed permanently September 2009.
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A few months later, the park was sold again and this time became Legoland, Florida & I’m happy to say seems to be thriving!!
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One of the lands of LEGOLAND Florida has a familiar name. It’s called “Cypress Gardens Land”, & encompasses most of the historic botanical garden.
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These pictures of the Botanical Gardens were all taken at Cypress Gardens in 2004 before the devastating hurricanes
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The Gazebo located in the lush Gardens area
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The famous Banyan tree of Cypress Lakes. Banyan trees are native to India & known for its many trunks
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Orchids growing in the Banyan Tree
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The tree was planted by Dick Pope Sr.
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Orchids in Cypress Gardens
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A Tricolor Dragon Tree
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Great Blue Heron flying
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Flowers & lush greenery of Cypress Gardens
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Great Blue Herons “conversing” in a Cypress Tree
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Cypress Gardens had much to offer & we will miss it – thank you to LegoLand for making the “Cypress Gardens Land”