Buzz About the Garden’s Sale …

Posted by Bob Gernert on January 18, 2010 at 12:21 pm

Lego-blocks-jumble

The sale of Cypress Gardens to Merlin Entertainments has received wide spread review in the theme park  industry publications and Florida media. The company will release details of their plans for the park at media conference later this week. First reported in the News Chief and later this blog, speculation abounds that Merlin may have plans for a Legoland Park similar to their California property.

What others are saying:

The Disney Blog

about.com: theme parks

Orlando Tourist Tips

Park Thoughts

(Editors note:  Several news reports have said Merlin purchased the botanical gardens — not true. The citizens of Polk County own the original 30 acres which include the botanical gardens. As with past operators, Merlin will lease the gardens in exchange for its maintenance.)

WHYPG

See other entries filed in: Cypress Gardens, Merlin Entertainments, Tourism

REMARKS   10 Total remarks on this post. Add your own remarks below

  • January 18th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
    Kent Buescher

    I am thrilled to learn that Cypress Gardens once again has a new lease on life. Merlin is a strong and well capitalized operator.I am eager to learn of their plans for the park.

    My prayer is that they will be successful where I could not.

    I will always cherish the many friendships I made at Cypress Gardens.

    Kent Buescher

  • January 18th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
    Billy Rerucha

    I wonder how the Botanical Gardens looks after the several days of freezing temps? I’m sure its probably all dead. When I worked there several years ago, all the employees would stay up all night tending to the smudge pots. I did not see anybody there during the time we had the below freezing nights.

  • January 18th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
    Bob Gernert

    The county Parks and Recreation Department has a former Garden’s employee on staff. He checks on the park regularly and we were assured plans were in place to protect the botanical gardens from the cold. Since the park closed in September, the beds of colorful annuals have not been replanted and therefore didn’t require protection. The new owners are familiar with maintaining botanical parks. We will learn more of their plans in the near future. For now the County has taken the steps they felt necessary to monitor the park.

  • January 18th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
    Jean Reed

    Good to hear from you Kent! My best regards to you.

    To my knowledge, plans were still in place to protect plants all possible.
    However, I am also concerned as to how things look and hope to visit the botanical area soon.

  • January 18th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
    BK

    Thank you Mr. Buescher for your kind words and great wishes! Like everyone else posting here, I hope the botanical gardens have survived the recent freeze and will continue to flourish for years to come.

    The news regarding Merlin’s purchase of the park is welcome and exciting! Having perused the company’s website, this will be a strong blessing to our community. It is hoped the locals will get past the admission price tag and understand we will all get our money’s worth with this great venture.

    Mr. Buescher, I am especially thankful to you for all you’ve done for our community. Many blessings and good wishes to you, sir!

  • January 19th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
    Kathy Barsotti

    My commitment to seeing Cypress Gardens thrive is the same as it is here at Chalet Suzanne. These are historical institutions for Florida that so often get over shadowed by the ‘Modern Giants.’ There must be modernization to survive but we remain hopeful that it is done with a healthy nod to history.

  • January 19th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
    James Tillman

    As an old ( old? I’m 29) MSAP fan, I was glad to see that Mr. Buescher saved the mighty Starliner, and was disappointed with how Land South treated his vision for a new ,modern, Cypress Gardens. Now Merlin has bought the park, and hopefully the Starliner and its new “little sister” Triple Hurricane, can ride again.

    I also would like to thank Mr. Buescher for saving my first and still favorite wooden coaster. Starliner was a heck of a site that first day seeing it at CG, as if it truly belonged there if not MSAP. And that first ride was as fast and smooth (for a Woodie) as I remembered it at MSAP.

  • January 19th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
    Greg

    Exciting times for CG are here again! I haven’t been this happy since Mr. Buescher took over 6 or so years ago. I can’t wait to hear of their plans and to bid goodbye to LandSouth.

    I hope that Kent has the opportunity to offer some advice to Merlin. I think they’d benefit from some of his experience with the park.

  • January 20th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
    Tony Trotti

    Thank You Merlin Entertainments for Re-Opening a Family Themed Park. It will be interesting to see the mix of Botantical Gardens and Lego’s! What a mix. Who doesn’t like Lego’s? This is another opportunity for me to be a kid!

    My son (10) loves Lego’s an is looking forward to the annual pass (if you will have one.) He wants to go everyday.

    Thank You!

  • February 25th, 2010 at 12:26 am
    Diana Conway

    Can not wait to visit your park again,its a shame that the water parks cannot be used this summer for our kids to enjoy while they are on school holidays for 12 weeks,while the rest of the park is being dealt with, as the park is on our doorstep,and also will you be considering having any concerts in the future as they were very pleasing and enjoyable to listen to for us oldies. please consider a annual pass.

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