Posts filed under 'Cypress Gardens'
Posted: May 5, 2008: 1:59 pm
Free Admission! Special Shows! Food and Merchandise Discounts!
Special Discounted Annual Pass for Chamber Members!
Tickets for the Chamber’s May Showcase, “Chamber Family Night” at Cypress Gardens are now available in our lobby while they last. (Limit six per family) The event will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on May 22.
Winter Haven Chamber members need only display a Chamber Advantage Card, business card or employee ID card from a Chamber member company. Join your friends at Cypress Gardens for an evening filled with family fun!
| See other posts filed in: Chamber Events, Cypress Gardens, Tourism
Posted: April 18, 2008: 9:40 am
Free Admission! Special Shows! Food and Merchandise Discounts!
Special Discounted Annual Pass for Chamber Members!
The Chamber’s May Networking Showcase morphs into “Family Night” fun as Cypress Gardens Adventure Park rolls out an evening of special shows, breathtaking flowers and food and merchandise discounts for Chamber members and their immediate families. The Gardens is hosting members and families from the Winter Haven, Haines City, Lake Wales, Auburndale and Lake Alfred Chambers of Commerce.
Cypress Gardens Adventure Park
Chamber “Family Night” Fun
4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Special 6 p.m. Ski Show
Special All New Animal Encounter Show
Botanical Gardens open until 6 p.m.
More than 40 rides to thrill!
Special “Family Night” Admission Tickets* available May 1 in Chamber Lobby while they last.
To obtain tickets:
Present your Chamber Advantage Card or your business card/or employee identification card with Chamber member company at Lobby Desk. You may only pick up tickets for your immediate family (parents and children). The Chamber reserves the right to limit quantities.
| See other posts filed in: Chamber Events, Cypress Gardens, Parks and Green Space
Posted: April 14, 2008: 9:12 am
No, we’re not speaking of corporal punishment … but the best way to win the Second Annual Chain of Lakes Challenge Canoe & Kayak Races is to paddle your boat better than anyone else in the competition.
Bring your canoe or kayak to the Lake Summit Boat Ramp Park this Saturday, April 19. Registration begins at 7:15 a.m. and the races start at 7:45 a.m. There are four divisions:
Professional Kayak (under 26″ wide)
Recreational Tandem or Solo Kayak (more than 26″ wide)
Professional Canoe (single bladed paddles)
G-2 canoe or kayak encouraging two generations to participate together (i.e. parent/child or grandparent/grandchild)
The first three categories will depart Lake Summit and travel along the shoreline of Lake Eloise clockwise and into Little Lake Eloise back into Lake Eloise continuing in a clockwise direction to the Eloise/Lulu canal. Paddlers will travel directly across Lake Lulu to the Lulu Shipp canal and back across Lulu into Eloise and on to Lake Summit and the Boat Launch Park finish line. (Approximately 7.7 miles.
The G-2 race will depart Lake Summit shortly after the above divisions and travel through the Cypress Gardens ski show circle, on around the tire breakwaters and back to Lake Summit Boat Launch Park.
Entrants must bring their own canoe or kayak. All crafts must be manually paddled. All participants must wear flotation throughout the race. All participants must finish or report out of the race at a check point to account for whereabouts. Checkpoints will be located at Little Lake Eloise and Lulu/Shipp Canal (east end).
First Place winners in each division get Cypress Gardens Passes and $50 cash awards. Second Place finishers receive $25 and Cypress Gardens Passes. Registration forms available at Andy Thornal Company and the Winter Haven Chamber Lobby. $20 registration fee per boat. All entrants receive Challenge T-Shirts.
The Chain of Lakes Challenge is sponsored by Andy Thornal Company, The News Chief and The Ledger. It is the final event in the 2008 Chain of Lakes Festival. The Chain of Lakes Challenge is organized by the Winter Haven Chamber Foundation and the City of Winter Haven Department of Natural Resources. Course Checkpoints courtesy of Marine Supply - The Boating Center.
Pictured at left, Don Nettlow noses between the finish line buoys to win the inaugural Chain of Lakes Challenge Professional Kayak division in 2007.
| See other posts filed in: Chain of Lakes, Chamber Events, Cypress Gardens, Sports
Posted: March 28, 2008: 11:02 am
The Chamber has learned that Shaner SPE Associates LP has site plans prepared to build a four story 104-room Marriott Courtyard Hotel on three acres of land fronting Cypress Gardens Boulevard across from the new Towne Center at Cypress Gardens.
Shaner Hotels is one of the foremost owner-operator companies in the hospitality industry. The current portfolio is made up of 20+ properties in 15 states and total assets that exceed $400 million. New properties are constantly evaluated as the division continues a conservative yet opportunistic approach to growth. Shaner plans to build 20 new Marriott properties over the next three years.
No start date has been announced. The hotel’s vicinity location appears below. Projected opening: Spring 2010.
| See other posts filed in: Commercial Developments, Cypress Gardens, Economic Development, Real Estate, Tourism
Posted: March 20, 2008: 6:49 am
Cypress Gardens to Host First-Ever Corporate Beach Volleyball Tournament
In celebration of the reopening of Splash Island Water Park and Cypress Gardens’ first-ever Ski & Surf Weekend, the park will host a Corporate Beach Volleyball Tournament on Saturday, March 29. Cypress Gardens is looking for eight teams of four players who will compete for the title of Cypress Garden Beach Volleyball Champions. The winning team will also designate a charity of their choice to receive a portion of the money raised from the event. An entry fee of $100 per team will provide the four participants admission to the park for the day as well as entry into the tournament. Fun prizes will also be awarded to the “Masters of Sun and Sand.” To receive information on the tournament and an entry form, please contact Jennifer Mansfield by emailing jmansfield@cypressgardens.com.
The tournament will be held on the brand new beach volleyball court located in Splash Island and will begin at 11 a.m. Cheering fans from participating company’s are encouraged to come out and cheer on their team. Call 863-324-2111 ext. 3 for group ticket information.
Ski & Surf Weekend will also feature the All American Ski Tournament taking place in the Ski Show Circle, ride alongs sponsored by Huston Motors and Correct Craft, a Sunday tribute to Banana George Blair, Sammy Kershaw in concert Saturday, March 29 at 3 p.m. and the Beach Boys in concert Sunday, March 30 at 3 p.m.
| See other posts filed in: Crazy Things To Do, Cypress Gardens, Sports, Tourism
Posted: January 2, 2008: 11:13 am
The new owners of Florida’s Cypress Gardens have announced a significant operational change at the historic attraction. Owners say the move will create a more energized, fun-filled experience that will be applauded by Cypress Gardens’ current guest base and create strong appeal to both area residents and visitors to Central Florida.
Baker Leisure Group, headquartered in Orlando, respected worldwide as one of the premiere
consulting and management specialists in the themed attractions industry, has been appointed to operate the 71-year old Florida themed attraction. “This is an important first step toward providing our guests with a more positive, memorable guest experience,” said co-owners Rob Harper and Brian Philpot, who announced Baker Leisure Group’s appointment on Tuesday. Harper and Philpot said the change does not affect the attraction’s operating staff, but replaces the contractor that had been managing Cypress Gardens on interim basis since the two Polk County natives purchased the attraction last October. The operational changeover is effective immediately.
“We are fortunate to have Baker Leisure Group at Cypress Gardens. They are one of the premier management companies in the world and based in Central Florida. Cypress Gardens needs a strong community presence, an element the Baker group understands,” said Harper and Philpot. Baker Leisure Group, comprised of veterans of some of the world’s most successful theme parks and attractions, has earned worldwide recognition for their attraction and theme park management capabilities. The Orlando-based company has handled assignments ranging from the popular Coca- Cola Olympic City at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games to planning, opening and managing Al Shallal, Saudi Arabia one of the largest theme parks in the Middle East. Altogether, Baker Leisure Group has been involved with more than 100 theme parks, attractions and related assignments around the world since the firm was founded in 1988 by 40-year theme park and attractions management specialist Steve Baker.
Harper and Philpot also stress that the attraction will maintain a close relationship with the local community. Community relations programs will include partnerships with local businesses, greater community involvement and a proactive outreach to Cypress Gardens’ “alumni” and fans.
Cypress Gardens staff were notified of the operational change on Tuesday morning. Vendors and suppliers to Cypress Gardens were also notified of the change, along with assurances that the change is a reflection of the new ownership’s confidence in the park’s future.
The ownership team said they are in the process of notifying a number of other influential local audiences in Central Florida, including tourism industry and economic development leadership, as well as current ticket holders and volunteers who have lobbied to keep Cypress Gardens operating after the attraction suffered attendance declines in the 1980s and 1990s and an ownership change in 2005.
“Visitors to Cypress Gardens will notice a more lively, interactive, engaging atmosphere as we move forward,” said Steve Baker, whose company has assumed operational control of the attraction. “We provide the best overall guest experience possible. The changes will range from cosmetic to cultural. Cypress Gardens enthusiasts will recognize and applaud the changes and potential guests, particularly families living in the fast-growing Polk County metropolitan area, will have plenty of reasons to want to visit the attraction for the first time or make a return visit.”
Baker said operational changes will address intangibles such as more extensive staff training, revised internal operating procedures such as queue line management and more accessible food and beverage service, as well as more visible changes.
Land South Holdings Group
Land South Holdings, based in Mulberry, Fla., is a real estate investment company specializing in large land acquisitions in the United States. www.landsouthgroup.com
Baker Leisure Group
Baker Leisure Group based in Orlando, Fla., is a multi-faceted management and consulting company specializing in attractions, entertainment centers and tourism businesses. bakerleisuregroup.com
| See other posts filed in: Commercial Developments, Cypress Gardens, Tourism
Posted: November 14, 2007: 7:44 am
You just can’t keep a great parade down! The Christmas Boat Parade … threatened by low water levels … will have a new “twist” this year. It will take place ON LAND!
Based on interest expressed by a variety of residents, boats will be decorated on their trailers and caravan through downtown and around Lake Howard Drive. (The exact route will be announced after consultation with the Winter Haven Police Department.)
The parade will take place on Saturday, December 1, assembling downtown near City Hall. It will begin at 6:30 p.m., circle the Central Park area and the Carols In The Park Tree lighting and then proceed to circle Lake Howard. Several special entries are planned and Cypress Gardens Adventure Park will provide a boatload of Christmas Belles! There will be prizes for boats judged best in show!
Bob and Amy Lanpher have agreed to Chair the effort for this the 25th Annual Chain of Lakes Christmas Boat Parade! The Winter Haven Nautical Club and Marine Supply are also assisting in organizing boaters. To participate boaters must pre-register with the Chamber at 293-2138. You will need to provide your name, telephone number and email address.
There is no charge to participate but the boats must be decorated with holiday lights. Arrangements will be made for Santa to join us on one boat so participants are asked not to bring other “Santas.”
Complete details will be announced on November 20. For now, interested boaters and “land lubbers” need to call the Chamber to register: 293-2138.
DECK THOSE HULLS!!!
| See other posts filed in: Cypress Gardens, Downtown, General Announcements, Tourism
Posted: November 9, 2007: 12:48 pm
We are saddened to report that Richard Downing “Dick” Pope Jr. passed away last evening after a brief bout with pancreatic cancer. Son of Cypress Gardens founder Dick Pope, Sr., and wife Julie, Dick Jr. and school friends staged the first Gardens ski show. He was among the first to barefoot water ski and won several water skiing championship titles in the early 1950s.
He assumed the operation of the park from his father and served as its president until 1985. In retirement he was an avid fisherman and hunter.
After Cypress Gardens closed in 2003, he was heavily involved in the efforts to preserve the park and restore its operation. Pope was an accomplished pilot donating his time, airplane and resources to take local leaders to Tallahassee for numerous governmental meetings up until the Governor and Cabinet voted to join with Polk County and Kent Buescher to purchase the historic Florida tourism icon.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. at St. Matthew Catholic Church on Overlook Drive in Winter Haven.
Dick and wife Frances photographed at the
dedication ceremonies for Cypress Gardens Adventure Park (2005).
| See other posts filed in: Cypress Gardens
Posted: October 19, 2007: 10:57 am
Cypress Gardens Adventure Park has announced new daily admission prices effective immediately:
Juniors ages 3 - 9 and Seniors 55+ $29.95 plus tax (good for second day in same week*)
General Admission ages 10 - 54 $34.95 plus tax (good for second day in same week*)
Parking fee: $7
Park President and CEO, Kent Buescher, also announced the park has resumed full operations on a daily basis and approximately 75 employees will be added to improve the guest experience.
* - When a daily admission is purchased it may be exchanged at guest services for a second day voucher.
| See other posts filed in: Cypress Gardens, General Announcements, Tourism
Posted: September 28, 2007: 12:41 pm
The Middle District Court in Macon, Georgia has approved the sale of Cypress Gardens Adventure Park to Land South Holdings of Mulberry. Brian Philpot and Robert Harper are the new owners of the 71 year-old theme park.
Previous owner Kent Buescher will stay with Cypress Gardens as CEO. He commented, “I believe this is the best possible outcome for the park and its employees. I am excited to have the opportunity to continue my association with the park and look forward to working with Brian and Rob.” Buescher added that there are exciting things under consideration for the park and announcements will be forthcoming.
Land South bid $16.8 million for the historic park founded in 1936 by Dick and Julie Pope.
The park comprises 152 acres 30 of which are owned by the citizens of Polk County and maintained by the owners. Those 30 acres include the botanical gardens, ski show circle and most of the lakefront.
The legendary Bette Davis joins legendary Garden’s founder Dick Pope in this 1950s era photo at the park.
| See other posts filed in: Cypress Gardens, General Announcements, Tourism
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