| Amusement Park: | Cypress Gardens Adventure Park (2004 to ?)
Cypress Gardens (1/2/1936 to 4/13/2003)
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| Address: | Cypress Gardens, Florida 33884 USA |
| Phone numbers: | 863-324-2111 Local |
| Official web site: | http://www.cypressgardens.com |
| Fan web sites: | Cypress Gardens Photos |
| Status: | Operating since 11/26/2004
Operated from 1/2/1936 to 4/13/2003 |
| Parks nearby: | Existing · Defunct · All · Map |
| Maps: | Bing Maps (Road) · Bing Maps (Satellite) · Google Maps (Road) · Google Maps (Satellite) |
| History: | Cypress Gardens was conceived and built by Dick and Julie Pope. In the early 1980s they retired and passed the park on to their son Dick Pope, Jr.
In the 1980s book publisher Harcourt Brace and Jovanovich (HBJ) decided to aggressively get into the amusement business by buying up Sea World, Circus World (in 1985), Stars Hall of Fame and Cypress Gardens (in 1985). They got out of the business just as quickly and sold the parks (don't know about Stars Hall of Fame) to the Busch Corporation in 1989.
Busch was most interested in the Seaworld parks as they closed Circus World immediately. Busch continued to operate Cypress Gardens until 4/1/1995 when a group of the park's managers led by Bill Reynolds purchased the park.
Under Bill Reynolds (now president and CEO) the park operated until 4/13/2003. The park was closed due to declining attendance due to the drop in tourism after September 11th, 2001 (World Trade Center terrorist attack).
During this time the park was owned by First Gardens L.C. of which Larry Maxwell was the majority share holder. This is the company formed by the former park managers.
On 2/22/2004 a rather complex deal to save Cypress Gardens was signed. The land was placed on a conservation easement preventing it from development. Kent Buescher owner of Wild Adventures in Valdosta, GA purchased the park and reopened it as Cypress Gardens Adventure Park. |
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| Past Roller Coasters (6): | Name | Type | Design | Opened | Closed |
| | Fiesta Express | Steel | Sit Down | 11/26/2004 | 11/16/2008 |
| | Galaxy Spin | Steel | Sit Down | 8/17/2005 | 11/16/2008 |
| | Okeechobee Rampage | Steel | Sit Down | 11/26/2004 | 11/16/2008 |
| | Starliner | Wood | Sit Down | 7/14/2007 | 11/16/2008 |
| | Swamp Thing | Steel | Inverted | 12/9/2004 | 11/16/2008 |
| | Triple Hurricane | Wood | Sit Down | 11/26/2004 | 11/16/2008 |
