Cypress Gardens to close (Florida's First Theme Part Osama Victim)

Polkonline.com ^ | April 11, 2003 | SANDI MARTIN

[dawn53]

It doesn't have much to attract children.

When my son was small we enjoyed Cypress Gardens because it was "low key" with no lines.

After our fill of Disney Parks, we found that a season pass to Busch Gardens was the best value (visit once during a certain month and get a pass for the entire year), and had lots of things that kids enjoy so we get a pass every year to Busch Gardens in Tampa.

Now that he's a teenager, Universal would be his preference, but we save those visits for "special occasions" and only get to Universal about once every other year.

[stuartcr]

CG has gone the way of all the other Fla attractions..Parrot Jungle, some of the water parks, alligator theme parks, serpents, etc. Nature is not exciting enough for kids anymore.

[Sam's Army]

"Nature is not exciting enough for kids anymore."

True, and a Debbie Boone concert isn't either.

[MalcolmS]

Of course they can raise their prices even higher in an attempt to squeeze even more money from fewer people instead of lowering their prices and expanding the base. After all, isn't that the way the government does it?

Prices have already been effectively lowered, but there is a two-tier pricing structure in effect.

For example, Busch Gardens (Tampa) and SeaWorld (Orlando) have been offering a two-for-one deal for tourists. Buy one day (about $50) and come back free for a second day. And most people really do need 2 days to see everything.

However, Florida residents can pay for one day and come back free all year. You still get dinged for parking etc. About the same time this was done, it seems like food prices inside the park (not allowed to bring your own picnic) went up by about 50%, and most new construction involves souvenier shops. It appears that the business model is shifting away from admission fees and towards inside-the-park sales.

[Sam's Army]

You have mail

[dawn53]

Nature is not exciting enough for kids anymore

In a way this is true. But if you live in Florida (as we do), you'll probably be confronted by nature on a regular basis. We live in a large city, but near a nature preserve.

Alligators are a common sight (we've even had to chase one out of our back yard), and we see bald eagles, egrit, herons, rosette spoonbills, quaker parrots (lots of those noisy birds), osprey, owls, racoons, opposums, gopher tortoise, etc. on an almost daily basis.

So only tourists would find "Florida nature" a real draw. If a Floridian wants to see an alligator, why pay money, just go to your nearest golf course.

Busch Gardens has a pretty impressive zoo, and I think that adds to it's attractiveness as a theme park. Much better than the Disney zoo.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

You have no idea how this news distresses me - I'm glad to hear the State of FLA may be buying the property - it is a marvel unto itself.

I may be in contact with you sooner or later re: the house rental. My folks live in Lake Wales; my mother was born there in 1929 (my grandparents moved there right after The Crash because my grandpa took the City Clerk job - it was a job after all ;-), and my parents live there now after moving back there in the mid 1980's, but don't have room to house our family when we visit. Dick Pope was a very good friend of my grandpa's and we used to visit there every summer of my childhood since my grandparents were given all-season passes (my grandpa was a big tourist promoter in the central FLA area).

Also, my grandparents were also at the opening ceremony of the Bok Singing Tower where they had a dinner with "Silent Cal" Coolidge who was there. Have you ever done "Spook Hill" in Lake Wales? I'm telling you - you haven't lived unless you have! ;-)

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

In reality, attendance at Cypress Gardens had been going down for the last 10 yrs. It doesn't have much to attract children.

Sorry - bzzzzzzzzzt. Wrong answer. (Reference my post above.) I loved the place when I was a kid - used to spend a LOT of time there every summer when we'd visit our grandparents who ran a ma & pa motel in nearby Lake Wales. I loved the ski show AND the gardens. Unbelievably beautiful. The Botanic Gardens in the Chicago area is a big hit with the kids - the schools around here are always getting the kids there for Field Trips. I have yet to hear any complaints about that from my kids or any of their friends for that matter.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

I wish I had a way to convert the 16mm movies my grandpa took of Cypress Gardens ski shows during the 1950's and 1960's. He had a regular seat in the photographers reviewing stand.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

I remember when a Busch Gardens visit meant a tour through the factory, some time in their menagerie (where a parrot bit a button off my sister's shirt) and my dad drinking beer in their sample tent. Mind you, this was back in the late 1960's! ;-)

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

BTW, by your profile, I see you are relatively new to FR - welcome!

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

What the REAL deal about what makes Cypress Garden special is that it is a very unique place and does indeed have a certain "historical" value to the State of FL, for it was one of the first really big-deal tourist attractions in the state. And I'm not kidding. My grandparents moved to central FL when there really WAS a LOT of swamp land for sale ;-).

The REAL value is in the gardens and its proximity to the lake. If the State of FLA takes it over, it should get some sort of State Park designation. Entry fees would support its maintenance on that level.

[MalcolmS]

Also, my grandparents were also at the opening ceremony of the Bok Singing Tower where they had a dinner with "Silent Cal" Coolidge who was there. Have you ever done "Spook Hill" in Lake Wales? I'm telling you - you haven't lived unless you have! ;-)

Wow! Talk about local connections.

My wife's Mom stayed in Lake Wales last winter. We drove past the Spook Hill sign many times, but never took the opportunity. I'll be sure to next time--at least the price is right.

[Sam's Army]

"If the State of FLA takes it over, it should get some sort of State Park designation. Entry fees would support its maintenance on that level."

In theory, yes. In reality we'll likely see a raise in some taxes (The same way St Pete did with Sunken Gardens a while ago). The mantra of free-markets will go out the door because no local politician will want to be painted as "against the Gardens".

Funny thing is that in another article posted above, a Georgia businessman has offered to open discussions about buying the park but the current owner won't return the calls and some WH city officials are trying to make rules about what the park should be like if a buyer is found.

Sounds to me like they want their cake and the ability to eat it, too.

[dawn53]

You still can take the tour and get free beer at the hospitality house.

[inflorida]

I visited the Bok Tower for the first time just two weeks ago and that park is beautiful! Before we left Lake Wales we drove over to Spook Hill and followed the instructions on the sign but we didn't "get" it. Our car just rolled backwards from the white line. What did we miss?

[stuartcr]

I lived in a lot of places for quite a while in Fla, and yes, nature is right outside the door in most places....and it usually tries to come inside if you let it.

[stuartcr]

Sorry, not a wrong answer...attendance has been going down. I've been there, and all the other Fla places. I liked them too, but it still doesn't draw like Disney. You don't hear complaints because the people that do go there enjoy it, you just don't see many kids there.

[Sam's Army]

Another issue is the annual pass holders will (or did) increase attendance on concert days. Problem was that no more revenue could be recognized; especially if the crowd often left as soon as the concert was over and never spent a dime on concessions inside the park or on souvenirs. Typically they left to go to the closest restaurant and order the senior special and gyp the wait staff of a tip after service

[dawn53]

I lived in a lot of places for quite a while in Fla, and yes, nature is right outside the door in most places....and it usually tries to come inside if you let it

We had an egrit that would come into the yard on a regular basis, so we started feeding him bait fish. If you left the front door open, he'd follow you right into the house.