Merlin Entertainment group buys Cypress Gardens

Cool! Finally!!!! An owner with a proven track record!

This Can only Lead to Good things..

Maybe a "Legoland Florida?"

I think that would be a mistake of cosmic proportions.

^Why do you say that?

Because it's be stupid to heavily invest in a park that far outside of Orlando. The original concept worked because it scaled to the kind of traffic they could potentially get. Something like the Legoland concept is far more expensive and I don't think they can draw enough people an hour away from Disney (more from I-Drive and Universal) to make it worth the cost.

What about Busch Gardens Africa, it is at least an hour outside of Orlando and International Drive and it is doing just fine,

^You mean the park that's in a population center, well-known and financed by the bazillions of dollars of BEC, and right off two major interstates?

Actually the park is miles from either interstate, but not as bad as Cypress Gardens. I actually hate driving to Bush Gardens Africa. Then getting off either of the interstates only to hit traffic and wish I got off on the other one instead. ^_^

Busch Boulevard is a big no-no, I use Fowler - but I'm coming from the north. Yeah, BGA's a few miles from the Interstates...but Cypress is miles from the nearest decent road. Put a 65-mph road near the park and the exit for Lego Lane could become very well-utilized.

It may be miles from the freeway, but that being said, the road getting there was less stressful than driving from the airport to Magic Kingdom (and required no tolls). Overall, I'd like to see Cyprus be successful, but I'm not sure given the current economic conditions there is room for yet another Florida park in Central Florida.

According to Screamscape, Merlin will announce their plans for the site on Thursday.

I believe I use Fowler also, after all these years I can't tell you how I get there anymore, I just automatically drive from Lake Buena Vista. Well I hope Merlin plans to reopen the park completely. I never got to ride Starliner and the park is such a wonderful escape from the "corperate" Central Florida parks. Plus I also love the park's real life "RTC" feel. :)

I just checked, I use Fowler Road.

If you are driving on I-75 in either direction, you use Fowler.

If you are driving on I-275, you use Busch Blvd.

I believe I mistakenly took Busch Blvd. once. I'll never make that mistake again. But yes, Busch is far enough off of the interstate.