Originally Posted By brotherdave Cypress Gardens is struggling financially again and will close temporarily to remove all of the amusement rides and animal exhibits. They will downsize to focus on the world famous and historic botanical gardens, ski show, and waterpark only. The entrance will be moved back to its original location and a new parking lot will replace the amusement area. The fate of the park's two wooden coasters, including the recently saved and restored Starliner from defunct Miracle Strip Amusement Park in Panama City, FL, is unknown and most likely in jeopardy. <a href="http://www.theledger.com/article/20081109/NEWS/811090288/1410?Title=Cypress_Gardens_to_Close__Reopening_With_Expanded_Water_Park_Planned_for_March" target="_blank">http://www.theledger.com/artic...or_March</a> <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/orl-cypress1108nov11,0,7947433.story" target="_blank">http://www.orlandosentinel.com...33.story</a>
Originally Posted By sjhym33 I am not sure what the answer is for Cypress Gardens. The rides were added because the gardens alone couldn't sustain a profitable attendance. Now the rides are being sold and the park returned to its original state plus the waterpark in the hopes of saving it. Not sure if there is an audience for that type of park.
Originally Posted By brotherdave I always felt that this park should be marketed more for the locals than for tourists, especially after they added the rides. Disney, Universal, and the Anheuser-Busch parks are tourist driven. It would have been nice if Cypress Gardens could have catered more to the local needs, as well as some tourists looking for something outside of the major theme parks. Many amusement parks in the north are more 'locally' oriented and do quite well, given that their operating season is only 4-6 months long. Sadly, I don't feel that the gardens alone will draw the crowds like they used to. That's why the park closed 4 years ago. The waterpark might still be a draw, but with so many other waterparks in the region, I'm not sure that will be enough either. It will be sad to see the two wood coasters closed. Aside from Gwazi at Busch Gardens in Tampa in the Central Florida region, something that they could have marketed better. Sadly, most of the other rides were just standard 'carnival' rides that just didn't help in drawing the crowds. Although I hate to see the park remove its rides, I do hope that Cypress Gardens can continue on. It truly is a beautiful place, a reminder of 'old Florida' before the Mouse became a neighbor.
Originally Posted By sjhym33 I agree. Maybe they should get rid of the carnival type rides and keep the roller coasters. I am not sure the local will support Cypress Gardens they way they should. It is a tough market with all the choices that people in this area have.
Originally Posted By joe80x86 Darn I keep telling my self we would go see it. The problem with Cypress is it's location, it is difficult to get to from the big cities along the coast. It takes me about 1-1/2 hour drive maybe less depending on traffic to get to Disney from my house (straight up the FL Turnpike). However even though Cypress is closer as the bird flies it would take me about 2 hours to get to it because the only way their is two lane country roads. I think that is what would always keep most Floridian's away.
Originally Posted By sjhym33 There may be growing grassroots effort to get Cypress Gardens to keep a couple of the rides including the Starliner Coaster. I think that would be a great decision on Cypress Gardens part. I think that Cypress Gardens needs to decide what it wants to be and who its audience is. They cant compete with the biggies. And obviously the addition of rides and the thought of being a smaller, local park didnt work out. Then who do they think they can attract? Local retirees? Not sure that they can support a year round park.
