The Cypress Gardens theme park in Winter Haven, Fla., will close it gates permanently Sunday after more than 67 years of entertaining tourists, according to Local 6 News.

Thursday's announcement that the park would be shut down came from President and CEO Bill Reynolds.

Reynolds, who has owned the park since buying it from Anheuser Busch in 1995, said that the decision is purely a financial decision.

In a statement issued to Local 6 News, a Cypress Gardens official said that the park never fully recovering from the effects of Sept. 11, 2001, and diminished funds have placed the park in a distressed situation.

The statement also said that besides the effects of Sept. 11, 2001, the ensuing worsening economy and the effect on those who rely on investment interest for their income also contributed to the decision to close the park.

Local 6 News reported that the park's March attendance totals were down 42,000 visitors from the pervious year and the company has accumulated $6 million in losses.

Cypress Gardens has entertained millions of visitors and has gained world acclaim for its 200-acre gardens that feature over 8,000 plant varieties from more than 90 countries.

The closure will result in the immediate layoff of essentially the entire staff. But a skeleton crew will remain and wrap up the park's affairs, Local 6 News reported.

It is not known how many employees will be effected by the closure.

The park will be closed permanently April 13 at 7 p.m.

Cypress Gardens is located off U.S. Highway 27 between Tampa and Orlando.