Wild Adventures owner interested in Florida's Cypress Gardens

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Efforts to preserve Cypress Gardens advanced Tuesday, as a Georgia amusement park owner met with state officials about the property and a local task force issued its recommendations for saving the historical site. At the suggestion of Gov. Jeb Bush, two top Department of Environmental Protection officials traveled to Winter Haven on Tuesday to meet with Kent Buescher, owner of the Wild Adventures theme park near Valdosta, Ga.

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Wild Adventures

A big obstacle for any success at this property is location. Winter Haven is not the easiest place to get to. Back when US 27 was a major travel route it was one thing but now it is off the beaten path.

I'd like to see this park survive for its historical significance alone but I am not sure how it would thrive as a business. Maybe the State should turn it into a not-for-profit.

So true, wahoo. When it said two top DEP officials "traveled to Winter Haven", I wondered what THEY did to deserve such punishment...;) Out of the way doesn't even BEGIN to describe 27, ROFL....

As protected environmental land, CG would probably at least cost less to opreate....a *profit*, I just don't see that happening unless 75 and 95 both get closed...;)

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"Like most problems in life, it's nothing that can't be solved with a little bending"...Bender, Futurama

I sure hope the Indians get out of Winter Haven soon. Making that trip for Spring Training each year is a real downer. Ft. Myers would be my biased vote.

I think that would be a good move. The people at Wild Adventures know how to generate a crowd from absolute scratch. If Cypress Gardens built a coaster, I would be spending a lot more time at my Grandma's who lives right next door in Lake Alfred.

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*** This post was edited by Halo 5/8/2003 9:02:48 PM ***

The article stated that there is 167 acres. Does that excludes the parking lot area? I have heard that the property of over 200 acres. So how much space completely undeveloped is there? Maybe there could be three separated parks: The original gardens, the waterpark and a standard thrill ride park with at least 5 coasters at opening. BGT has 5 coasters but two of them are very small. If Kent Buescher can get the property and get a hold of enough money to build at least 5 coasters over 120 feet tall like a woodie, floorless, inverted, large mine train and a Boomerang, launch or Impulse coaster that park may be able to compete with IOA and BGT. And last but not least an Intamin hyper at least as good as S:ROS. Yes a hyper can be built in FL if the 220-250 foot lifthill has beacon lights.
*** This post was edited by Pink Floyd Fanatic 5/10/2003 11:04:55 PM ***

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