On Dec. 30, 1935, a small wire story ran inside the Orlando Sentinel with the headline, “Cypress Gardens opened.”
“State Sen. S.L. Holland of Bartow was principal speaker at the formal opening of the Florida Cypress Gardens scenic project at Lake Eloise,” it said.
That humble start led to a 70-plus-year run for Winter Haven’s Cypress Gardens, which has been called Florida’s first theme park.
Its theme, Sentinel writer Joy Wallace Dickinson noted in 2009, was Florida itself. “Its role in promoting the state shouldn’t be underestimated,” she said.
As an example, here’s how a 1937 story in the Sentinel described Cypress Gardens as “one of Florida’s real beauty spots.”
“In the Lake Region of Central Florida, among the hills and orange groves, a most remarkable beauty spot, one that is fast developing into a national attraction, has been built within the past two years. The name of this is the Florida Cypress Gardens and it represents a dream conceived some eight or ten years ago by Richard D. Pope of Winter Haven.
“…Today, the Florida Cypress Gardens is advertised over the state to such an extent that a hundred thousand people will visit this natural wonderland during this coming season.
ED SACKETT, ORLANDO SENTINEL
The Southern Belles at Cypress Gardens. The Veranda in the background is made from a World War II satellite dish and the pillars are from an Ybor City Cigar factory. (Sentinel file)
“…After a purchase of a ticket to go thru the Gardens (35 cents is being charged this year), a wide pathway of pecky cypress blocks winds down the hillside of perfect lawn to the edge of large Lake Eloise, some two and a half miles across, and here a grove cypress is growing out of the water. Many say this one scene of these weird but magnificent centuries-old trees is worth the trip they have made.”
As its reputation grew nationally and its attendance grew, Cypress Gardens became a favorite spot for photographers – amateurs and professionals. In 1947, the park’s gift shop was the world’s highest-grossing retail outlet for Kodak film.
A story in the Sentinel on Christmas Day 1950 noted, “while nearly all the visitors come with cameras, few of them realize that they are in one of the world’s busiest outdoor color studios where movies, television, advertising illustrations and many other phases of pictorial art are consummated.”
While its beautiful gardens, amazing waterski shows, pretty Aqua-Maids and charming Southern Belles in their “crinoline costumes of the old South” were popular for decades, it became harder and harder to compete for visitors once Disney World, Sea World and other attractions arrived.
Esther and the Boys of Cypress Gardens. The aquatic queen of Hollywood, Esther Williams, leads a core of water-skiers through the trees during the filming of the 1953 movie ‘Easy to Love.’ When this great woman swimmer donned water skis, it had a significance everywhere,’ Dick Pope Sr. wrote. From the book ‘Water Skiing’, 1958
Waterski show at Winter Haven’s Cypress Gardens in 1941. ORG XMIT: HO CYPRESS GARDENS
Miss America Lynda Lee Mead waves a greeting while water skiing at Cypress Gardens.
Dick Pope Sr., from left, daughter Adrienne, wife Julie and son Dick Pope Jr. take to the water likely in the 1950s. Dick Pope Jr. was the men’s national waterski champion in 1948, 1949 and 1950. (Courtesy Cypress Gardens)
Nancy Osborn water skiing at Cypress Gardens
Richard D. Pope, Sr.-Developer of Cypress Gardens and Florida tourism promoter.
Undated Photo
Cypress Gardens Aquamaids. Daytona Beach, FL.
Cypress Gardens water show pictured in 1965. (Cypress Gardens)
Leonard G. Alsford/Stringer/Hulton Archive via Getty Images
A group of women water ski in formation at Florida’s Cypress Gardens.
This Oct. 31, 1977 file photo of Cypress Gardens shows Marty Bowers at the flower clock
Hulton Archive/Staff/Hulton Archive via Getty Images
1972 | American television host Ed McMahon and comedian Bob Newhart fish from a rowboat in Cypress Gardens, Florida, in 1972.
CYPRESS GARDENS PUBLIC RELATIONS
A view of the the park in 1936 — This early post card shows one of the bridges across a canal as it appeared when Cypress Gardens opened January 2, 1936.
CYPRESS GARDENS
‘Old-Timers Ski Show’ at Cypress Gardens
The Magnolia Mansion at Cypress Gardens
In addition to the southern belles, Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven featured 8,000 varieties of flowers and other plants. (Sentinel file)
CYPRESS GARDENS ARCHIVE
One of Cypress Gardens’ signature Southern belles welcomes Borden Dairy’s Elsie the Cow.
GARY BOGDON / ORLANDO SENTINEL
Florida State University head football coach Bobby Bowden enjoys a laugh with Cypress Gardens Southern Belles, from left, Katie Campbell, 18, Katie Anderson, 16, and Tiffany Spickard, 18, during the Florida Sports Hall of Fame annual college football coaches news conference and gathering, Sunday, August 1, 1999, in Winter Haven, Fla. (AP Photo/The Orlando Sentinel, Gary Bogdon) ORG XMIT: FLORL101
A Cypress Gardens employee checks the flowers around the gazebo area in the botanical garden area of the park Monday, December 27, 2005. The Botanical boat tours will return with the 70th anniversary of the park in 2006. Story Edwards (Ed Sackett/Orlando Sentinel) ORG XMIT: 00068598A
CYPRESS GARDENS
Cypress Gardens’ annual ‘Mum Festival’
The Belles pose for a photo (L-R) Joanna Babers, Amanda Murrah, Kimberlie Hines and Audrey Hidalgo. Cypress Gardens Adventure Park is geared up for the Holidays with strolling bells in t colors, fanciful lights throughout the park and a Frosty frolicking ice spectacular show, Tuesday, November 21, 2006. (Julie Fletcher/Orlando Sentinel)
CYPRESS GARDENS
Cypress Gardens
Lindsay Wilmouth (cq), Angela Yauchler (cq) and Catherine Ciccarello (cq) perform in a ski show at Cypress Gardens on Monday, December 27, 2005. The 70th anniversary of the park is bringing back the skiing pyramid and will begin a program for water ski instruction.
(Ed Sackett/Orlando Sentinel)
ORG XMIT: 00068598A
The Florida-shaped swimming pool at Cypress Gardens botanical gardens and theme park in Winter Haven, Florida. (Courtesy of Visit Central Florida)
JESSICA MANN, ORLANDO SENTINEL
A four level pyramid containing 12 skiers was the finale to the last water ski show at Cypress Gardens Sunday afternoon. The skiers circled the bay once holding an American Flag on top to the tune of Neil Diamond’s “America.” Cypress Gardens closes its doors after 67 years. It is known for its botanical gardens and water ski show. These are scenes from its last day open. April 13, 2003.
***** UNPUBLISHED AS OF 03/30/1998 ***** You won’t get to perform in a ski show like these performers, and you might not look quite as good, but you now can ski at Cypress Gardens in Florida. (photo courtesy Cypress Gardens)
MARIE D. DE JESUS, ORLANDO SENTINEL
Mara Manning, 21, a ‘Southern bell’ at the Cypress Gardens Adventure Park.
During a jog fair Monday, June 30, 2003, at Grenelefe Resort in Polk County “Save All Of Cypress Gardens” buttons were worn by many former Cypress Gardens employees. (Ed Sackett/Orlando Sentinel) ORG XMIT: 10712
CYPRESS GARDENS
The Triple Hurricane roller coaster at Cypress Gardens.
Thursday, June 17, 2004 – Kent Buescher, CEO of Adventure Parks, which includes Cypress Gardens Adventure Park in Winter Haven, checks out construction progress in June. Here, he walks past the construction of the wooden rollercoaster.
(Julie Fletcher/Orlando Sentinel)
George Skene, Orlando Sentinel
A workman studies the ride as employees test the track of the Starliner at Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven.
The Starliner Rollercoaster at Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven on Thursday, July 12, 2007. The ride was originally built in 1963 for a Panama City Beach resort which closed in 2004. The top of the coaster is 70 feet on the first hill and reaches speeds of up to 70 mph. The coaster has cost the park more than $4 million to restore. George Skene/Orlando Sentinel
Cypress Gardens Calendar of Events 2004-2005. Photo illustration featuring Glenn Campbell, Aaron Carter and Chubby Checker (file photos)
DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL
Women dressed as Southern belles greet guests to newly reopened Cypress Gardens on Saturday, March 28, 2009. The new entrance is really the old entrance from a few years ago.
Ed Sackett, Orlando Sentinel
Scott Jackson, 11, and Kirk Palmer-Russell (right), both from England, ride Swamp Thing at Cypress Gardens in 2006.
Legoland Florida / Courtesy photo
Shaquil Barrett and family rider through Cypress Gardens as part of the new Pirate River Quest attraction at Legoland Florida theme park.
Skiers form a human pyramid during a show at Cypress Gardens in 1963. (Gerald T. Coli/Dreamstime/TNS)
JESSICA MANN, ORLANDO SENTINEL
Five skiers complete a jump and forward somersault in the air during the last ski show at Cypress Gardens. Cypress Gardens closes its doors after 67 years. It is known for its botanical gardens and water ski show. These are scenes from its last day open. April 13, 2003.
ED SACKETT, ORLANDO SENTINEL
Cypress Gardens skiers Brian Robbins, Jeff Schmick and Nick Jackson (l to r) form the base of the skiing pyramid for Catherine Ciccarello, Lindsay Wilmouth and Angela Yauchler, on top, during the Cypress Gardens ski show Monday, December 27, 2005. The 70th anniversary of the park is bringing back the skiing pyramid and will begin a program for water ski instruction.
ED SACKETT, ORLANDO SENTINEL
Lindsay Wilmouth, Angela Yauchler and Catherine Ciccarello slalom at Cypress Gardens in the ski show Monday, December 27, 2005.
Ed Sackett, Orlando Sentinel
Lindsay Wilmouth, Angela Yauchler and Catherine Ciccarello perform in a ski show at Cypress Gardens on Monday, December 27, 2005.
The Chapel Gazebo in Cypress Gardens at the LEGOLAND Florida Resort, on Wednesday, January 11, 2023.
(High-dynamic-range composite image by Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)
A Lego souther belle stands by the podium. Legoland held a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday to celebrate the reopening of two of the most iconic sections of Cypress Gardens, the Florida Pool and the Oriental Gardens. March 5, 2014 B583574356Z.1 George Skene/Orlando Sentinel
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Esther and the Boys of Cypress Gardens. The aquatic queen of Hollywood, Esther Williams, leads a core of water-skiers through the trees during the filming of the 1953 movie ‘Easy to Love.’ When this great woman swimmer donned water skis, it had a significance everywhere,’ Dick Pope Sr. wrote. From the book ‘Water Skiing’, 1958
The Pope family would sell Cypress Gardens to Orlando-based publisher Harcourt Brace Jovanovich in 1985 for $23 million. Busch Entertainment would by the park from HBJ four years later. New ownership could not not solve the same old attendance problems.
Shortly after after Universal Orlando opened, Cypress Gardens had to lay off 22% of its workforce in 1991 because of declining attendance. In April 2003, the park would close but then relaunch itself as Cypress Gardens Adventure Park on Nov. 26, 2004. New owners and the addition of 38 rides including four roller coasters and an ice-skating show still couldn’t draw the crowds needed to sustain it.
Cypress Gardens would close for good in 2009. The site today is home to Legoland Florida Resort, which includes nods to its historic predecessor.
JOE BURBANK / MCT
A Lego Belle sculpture, in the tradition of the Cypress Garden Southern Belles, is featured during a media preview for Legoland in September 28, 2011. (Sentinel file)
Many Floridians still have fond memories of the state’s first theme park. “For years it was the place to be and be seen. Miss Floridas and Miss Americas made it one of the first stops on their victory tours. Elvis Presley visited. Swimming star Ester Williams made a move there,” the Sentinel noted.
Dickinson wrote that Pope claimed that Cypress Gardens had hosted at least 10 kings, some of whom were taught to waterski. Among them was the Shah of Iran, which inspired Pope to say, “There’s no business like shah business.”
For more stories from the Orlando Sentinel’s celebration of its 150th birthday, go to OrlandoSentinel.com/150