Remembering Cypress Gardens -

Cypress Gardens holds a special place in the history of Central Florida. Long before the giant mouse moved into Orlando, the shores of Lake Eloise in Winter Haven were the epicenter of Florida tourism. Founded in 1936 by Dick and Julie Pope, it was officially Florida’s first commercial theme park and set the gold standard for roadside attractions.

Here is a look back at what made Cypress Gardens so unforgettable:

The Iconic Elements

The “Water Ski Capital of the World”: Cypress Gardens essentially put show skiing on the map. The park hosted staggering human pyramids, barefoot skiing, kite flying, and ramp jumps. It was so famous that it became the backdrop for Esther Williams films and Johnny Carson specials.
The Southern Belles: A brilliant piece of accidental marketing. After a hard freeze damaged the flame vines at the park’s entrance in 1940, Julie Pope dressed young women in antebellum hoop skirts to distract the guests. The “Southern Belles” became an instant, enduring icon of the park, posing for millions of photos along the winding pathways.
The Botanical Masterpiece: The park originally started as a swamp. Dick Pope, often jokingly called the “Maharaja of Muck,” transformed 16 acres of marshland into a lush paradise featuring over 8,000 varieties of flowers from 90 different countries.
The Banyan Tree: Planted as a mere seedling in 1939 in a 5-gallon bucket, this sprawling tree became the centerpiece of the gardens and a favorite shaded photo spot for generations of families.

The Next Chapter

The landscape of Florida tourism shifted dramatically when Walt Disney World opened in 1971. While Cypress Gardens continued to operate for decades under various owners (including Anheuser-Busch), it struggled to compete with the modern mega-parks and the devastating 2004 hurricane season. The original park officially closed its doors in 2009.

However, the story has a silver lining. When LEGOLAND® Florida took over the site in 2011, it recognized the cultural significance of the land. They carefully preserved the original botanical gardens, the massive Banyan tree, and the winding brick paths. They even kept the water ski show tradition alive—though today, the skiers are dressed as swashbuckling LEGO pirates.