News: Cypress Gardens readies for an active summer

[BarryH]

Source: The Ledger

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050512/NEWS/505120366/1001/BUSINESS

 

Published Thursday, May 12, 2005

 

Cypress Gardens Readies For Active Summer

 

By Merissa Green

The Ledger

 

WINTER HAVEN -- After five months of better than expected attendance, Cypress Gardens Adventure Park officials are bracing for an active summer.

 

A new water park, a fifth roller coaster and an expanded concert series are all factors that will draw crowds, said the park's owner, Kent Buescher.

 

"We've been very pleased from the support we've received from our guests," said Buescher, who also owns Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Ga.

 

A year ago, Buescher said it would take 1 million visitors annually to keep the park operational. The estimate was later revised to a more conservative 750,000 guests.

 

But then in the first 21/2 months after the park's Dec. 9 opening, 225,000 guests visited the Winter Haven attraction. The surge in visitors occurred during Christmas, New Year's Eve and spring break, said Allyson Gernert, park spokeswoman.

 

"We had to re-project our year," she said. "That gives us hope of what the summer will look like."

 

Now Buescher predicts 1.3 million to 1.5 million people will visit the park by the end of the year. As of Monday, the park had 800,000 visitors. Attendance is calculated each time someone enters the turnstiles, Buescher said.

 

Being family-friendly has helped create a niche for attendance, Buescher said.

 

"Fifty percent of our attendance has been families with children," he said. "That's where we've seen the growth."

 

Since mid-March, 15 to 20 school groups have visited the park, making Wednesdays and Thursdays the busiest times during the week, Gernert said.

 

In June, the park will open the Galaxy Spin, a spinning roller coaster ride that promises to be thrilling, Buescher said.

 

The concert series also has kept visitors coming. Country singer Loretta Lynn's performance at the park Feb. 19 drew 20,000 visitors.

 

"That was just the people who came to enjoy the show," Gernert said. "We had more people at the park that day, too."

 

Another lure expected to keep attendance numbers steady is Splash Island, a nine-acre water park on the north side of Cypress Gardens.

 

Splash Island is expected to open in late June or early July. The water park has an island atmosphere with a Polynesian theme featuring a variety of water rides and a wading pool.

 

Buescher purchased Cypress Gardens in April 2004. The park, whose majority owner was developer Larry Maxwell, had closed in 2003, the result of declining attendance.

 

Buescher paid $7 million to the Trust for Public Land, which had intervened in late 2003 to save the property from development. The state of Florida paid the Trust $11 million for the conservation rights on all 150 acres. Polk County paid $2.5 million for 30 acres of the original botanical gardens. Buescher owns the remaining 120 acres and maintains Polk County's portion of the property.

 

Buescher has invested more than $40 million in the attraction. He changed the name from Cypress Gardens to Cypress Gardens Adventure Park.

 

Merissa Green can be reached at merissa.green@theledger.com or 863-401-6968.

[Gregory DG]

I'm elated the place is doing so well. I hope it can last over the coming years!

[BoardwalkandBaseball4Ever]

I'm elated the place is doing so well. I hope it can last over the coming years!

 

I have no doubts they can keep it up. Kent really knows how to market (he used to work at a print shop). By constantly adding new attractions and changing things quickly -- it keeps the parks interesting.

 

Even though Cypress Gardens has taken most of his energy over the past year -- he still has been adding new attractions like the Gauntlet ride and other shows at Wild Adventures. Both parks seem to be some of the best run privately owned parks.

 

The concerts are a huge draw to -- and a great idea. I would have bought my annual pass just to see all those '80s bands (for nostalgia)! The great "old-school" rides help, too.