Welcome To:

Cypress Gardens Adventure Park Cypress Gardens was always beautiful. The only problem was that if you were any younger, than, say, 72, the original park also got boring pretty fast. Yes, the water ski show was fun, the belles were beautiful and the tropical serenity was calming. Sorry Gramps, that wasn't going to convince your grandson who came all the way down to Central Florida to go on some theme park rides. That's why Cypress Gardens closed in 2003. Annual attendance had dropped to 600,000 that year, about a third of what it was when the park's popularity peaked in 1976 when it entertained 1.7 million guests. Okay, enough about the history. The new park is a lot like the old park -- only with smiling kids. More than three dozen rides have been set up where the old parking lot used to be. Don't worry, you wont' even notice what it used to be as it is lushly landscaped, complete with a scenic lake in the center by the ferris wheel. Sure, this isn't Disney. That's not a bad thing. The rides are mostly your standard carnival fare but at least you don't have to wait in line -- or pay $60 to get in (admission is a little more than half that). The park officially opened in December of 2004 and hasn't looked back since. I was there for the sneak preview in November of 2004 and again a month later. The waterpark, yes, it's included with the admission, opened in July of 2005. The park has a great collection of fair rides, for kids, teens and, hey, Grandma and Grandpa may enjoy a few. The belles are still there. The water ski show is still there. A new shopping and dining area was opened as well as an animal habitat area. It is so good to have Cypress Gardens back. I'll refrain from my usual cynicism. Central Florida needed this. It's the anti-Disney. It's the low-tech, traditional amusement park experience that the area was lacking. Sure, I would like to see some better coasters. If you fancy big drops and airtime, well, you won't find it at Cypress Gardens. Then again, you won't find that at Disney World either. So welcome back Cypress! For more information about Cypress Gardens check out Cypress Gardens Unofficial. More Theme Park Reviews Nearest Hotels to the Park:  -- Best Western Admiral's Inn -- This is the closest hotel to the park. In fact, it rests mere yards away from the park's Paradise Pier area. You will have to walk a bit to get to the park entrance as the hotel is in the ride area, next to Thunderbolt and the train line, but you can't get any closer to the park than this.  -- Days Inn - Cypress Gardens -- Right on Cypress Gardens Boulevard, this is another reasonably priced place to stay right next to the park.  -- Other Winter Haven Hotels -- Other available hotels and motels in Winter Haven.  -- Baymont Inn & Suites -- Just a few miles from the park in Lakeland, enjoy the free continental breakfast before heading out to the park.

Copyright 2005 Park Outlet