FloridImagine.Com Blog

A group of Polk County government, business, and tourism leaders made a trip to London to discus plans for Legoland Florida.

Plans are moving along for Legoland Florida (at the old Cypress Gardens site in Winter Haven), and park officials will hold a community preview meeting in early July. That is what a group of Polk County leaders learned from Legoland officials on Thursday afternoon as they visited the company’s park in Windsor, just outside of London.

I am excited to hear about the community preview meeting in July. I think this project is a wonderful opportunity for Winter Haven and Polk County, both for the jobs it will create and in the revenue it will bring to the area. Of course the park itself will just be a lot of fun for the kids in our home, including the big one who writes this blog!

I will keep you informed with new information as I find it. Be sure to check back often.

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

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.