FloridImagine.Com Blog

I know I’m a bit behind with this, but the story is too good to ignore. I’ll be following the progress and reporting back to you.

I guess I’m just a big kid, but I am so excited about Legoland coming to Florida.

A front-loading tractor was positioned Thursday morning outside the Magnolia Mansion at Cypress Gardens. It wasn’t there to move any dirt.

Instead, a driver tilted down the scoop and dumped 100,000 Lego bricks onto a stage. That was a mere down payment, with 39.9 million more to follow when Legoland Florida opens by the end of next year.

Cypress Gardens is nearly in my front yard, less than a 15 minute drive. If pushed, I could practically walk there. It was a destination for travelers long before the mouse moved in.

The possibility of 1000 local jobs is great news for the area, but I am excited about being so close to 40 million Legos.

[Merlin Entertainments Group CEO Nick] Varney said Legoland Florida will be larger than any of the company’s four existing Legoland parks – one in California and three in Europe. He said the park will eventually become Legoland Florida Resort and will contain at least one hotel.

Legoland Florida will follow the same model with a central “Miniland” exhibiting elaborate Lego models depicting scenes from the area. He said the company’s designers are already at work designing Lego constructions for the Winter Haven attraction.

The Legoland parks are geared toward children 2 to 12 years old – and, of course, their parents. Varney, calling Lego one of the world’s best-known brands, said the parks are unique among tourist attractions in presenting children the opportunity for “playful learning,” as opposed to passive entertainment at other theme parks.

The projected opening is October, 2011. I’ll be there.

Photo Credit: SCOTT WHEELER | The Ledger

No confirmation, but I just heard a story on the radio that said Cypress Gardens and Splash Island Water Park will close as of today.

Searching I found this at the News Chief:

After months of rumor surrounding the possible sale or closing of Cypress Gardens, the owners announced this afternoon that Florida’s oldest theme park is closing effective today.

The following statement was released by Bob Morgan, the park’s director of sales and marketing:

“From the earliest moment that our firm purchased Cypress Gardens and Splash Island Waterpark, our highest priority has always been to maintain the park’s beauty and protect its proud traditions as a mainstay of the state’s history and natural treasures. It is with these ideals in mind that we must announce that the park will be closed for business as of Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009.

“During the last two years, Land South Adventures LLC has explored numerous management frameworks and exhausted every possible approach to keep the park running in its traditional form. Now, we are in the process of negotiating with several potential purchasers and lessees for all or part of the property, and do not feel it is fair to our employees, the guests, or the public to continue operations heading into the fall with the future of the property in flux.

“We are optimistic that the outcome will be in the best interests of both the park and the residents of Polk County and the state of Florida.”

More on this when it becomes known.

Known as Florida’s first attraction, Cypress Gardens will be closing on November 17th.

This morning Land South Holdings LLC, the company that owns the park, announced Cypress Gardens would close after this Sunday for major renovation, with a reopening scheduled for March 2009. Plans call for a renewed focus on three areas — the ski show that was the park’s original draw, the botanical gardens that made it famous for generations and the water park that opened a few years ago. The zoo area, which specializes in exotic animals (including the albino wallaby at right,) and the ride area will be permanently closed.

Winter Haven’s Cypress Gardens theme park is changing their hours of operation. Via the News Chief:

Cypress Gardens Adventure Park’s weekend-only schedule of open days in September might stop at the end of that month, but it also could stretch into October.

“Right now, we’re not sure,” park co-ower Rob Harper said Sunday.

[...]

Harper pointed out that most other theme parks the size of Cypress Gardens have a similar schedule. He said that when the winter residents come back to the area and attendance picks up, the management will adjust the scheduling accordingly.

“We’re business people,” Harper said. “We’re monitoring what’s feasible to keep (the park) open.”

Various local events are planned that should boost attendance and promote future visits.

The owners and managers of the park have also said they want to aggressively market the Gardens as a natural setting for weddings and wedding receptions.

“The wedding business will take on new importance, because the (recently renovated Magnolia) Mansion is absolutely stunning,” Gernert said.

Before Cypress Gardens implements its reduced operating schedule in September, the park has three events scheduled for August. On Aug. 16, the park will host the 2008 Florida Sports Hall of Fame Induction.

On Aug. 23, the park will be the site of the Florida Miss Cypress Gardens USA and Miss Winter Haven USA pageants. And on Aug. 30, the Belles, Blues and BBQ event will be held at the park as a fundraiser for the Winter Haven Firemans Association, an organization that helps local victims of residential fires.

Harper said Cypress Gardens management could release an official statement about the September schedule change this week.