Georgia Theme Park Set To Acquire Cypress Gardens
Cypress Gardens Is One Of Florida's Oldest Tourist Attractions
POSTED: Wednesday, December 17, 2003
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The owner of the Wild Adventures theme park in south Georgia is poised to take over Cypress Gardens in Central Florida. 
Cypress Gardens has been known for decades for its water ski shows and Southern belles. It closed its doors earlier this year because of declining attendance. Under the arrangement, Wild Adventures owner Kent Buescher would pay $7 million for 120 acres of the 67-year-old Cypress Gardens, which is one of Florida's oldest tourist attractions. Polk County and the City of Winter Haven would pay $2.5 million for the remaining 30 acres, including the historical botanical garden. The state of Florida would pay $11 million for development rights to all 150 acres. Buescher would manage the park. Cypress Gardens is located outside Winter Haven, which is about 35 miles southwest of Orlando.
Copyright 2004 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Cypress Gardens has been known for decades for its water ski shows and Southern belles. It closed its doors earlier this year because of declining attendance. Under the arrangement, Wild Adventures owner Kent Buescher would pay $7 million for 120 acres of the 67-year-old Cypress Gardens, which is one of Florida's oldest tourist attractions. Polk County and the City of Winter Haven would pay $2.5 million for the remaining 30 acres, including the historical botanical garden. The state of Florida would pay $11 million for development rights to all 150 acres. Buescher would manage the park. Cypress Gardens is located outside Winter Haven, which is about 35 miles southwest of Orlando. Previous Stories:
- May 23, 2003: Businessman Wants To Reopen Cypress Gardens
- April 30, 2003: Complaints Spark Cypress Gardens Probe
- April 17, 2003: Fla. Takes First Step To Save Cypress Gardens
- April 15, 2003: State May Buy Cypress Gardens
- April 10, 2003: Cypress Gardens Shutting Down
Copyright 2004 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Authorities release a chilling 911 call from a 19-year-old woman who hid in the back bedroom of a Central Florida home while four men attempted to break into the house.
An ex-wife of the man who found the remains of Caylee Anthony says that she thought her ex-husband was responsible for or involved in the girl's death.
Five people are dead after a mobile home fire broke out in Central Florida.
Officials question the credibility of a female deputy who called 911 in September to report a masked man had attacked her.
Dashcam video shows a Florida woman offering an officer sex instead of getting a ticket.
A 3-year-old boy was left stranded at a commuter train platform when a door on the train malfunctioned, separating the toddler from his dad. A good Samaritan stayed with the child until the father could return. (Nov. 20)
South Carolina police say an obese man died after not moving from his recliner for the past eight months. Police say the man's body was physically stuck to the chair and firefighters had to cut him out. He died a few hours later at the hospital.
A woman tired of hearing her son say he lost another sock has come up with an idea to prevent it from happening again.
An Oregon appeals court has ruled against an Oregon high school teacher who wants to take her gun to class. She has been battling for years and says she needs the gun for protection. (Nov. 20)
Thirty Victoria's Secret supermodels take over New York's Times Square this week.
Take a quick look at the flicks headed to your multiplex. Check out the trailer, too.
Get your daily dose of the cute and unusual right here.
Email Alerts
RSS News Feeds
Mobile
Live Streams
Slideshows
Video
Search
