Cypress Gardens For sale... Anyone got $17,400,000 I can borrow?

September 9, 2007, 12:32 PM · Well it's official: Adventure Parks Group, LLC is selling off Wild Adventures, in Valdosta, Ga. and its sister park Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Fla.

As long as Ive been submitting sotries to Theme Park Insider Ive pushed Cypress Gardens as a great family alterntive the Big three here in Florida....Ken Buescher, CEO of the company...said he was hopeful the new owners would keep both parks up and running...Which would be a great thing to do...I wish both parks the best of luck.....

Replies (8)

September 9, 2007 at 5:03 PM · Lol and some parks pay that much for 1 roller coaster
September 9, 2007 at 6:16 PM · Personally, I never really liked Cypress Gardens. It's got that unique feel to it, yes, and it's definetely a good family destination. However, I'm more familiar with Universal and Disney, and prefer to visit those locations in lieu of Cypress Gardens or Busch Gardens.
September 10, 2007 at 1:32 AM · Poor Cypress Gardens, it has a long and proud history. But in recent years, it just couldn't compete with the big boys. As Disney and Universal added their new theme parks (IOA, AK, Disney/MGM) to soak up all those extra vacation days, Cypress Gardens really took it hard. When you look at how many major attractions there are in the Orlando area, it's awfully tough to for a family to choose a day at Cypress Gardens in place of far more elaborate options.

In my case, I've been to Orlando six times and while I've always been curious about CG, I've never gone. Next trip, I would try Gatorland for the first time over CG... not to be mean, it does interest me but just not enough to drive there and give up time at other places that interest me more. I do with them luck keeping it going, but my guess is that someone may develop the land for another purpose given the number of failed owners that have come and gone.

September 10, 2007 at 3:17 PM · It's kind of the same as when Home Depot moves into town and the local hardware store that's been there since you were a kid closes down. Kind of sad, but with Universal selling tickets for $85 for the week, or the Disney package deals, who has time for Cypress Gardens? I, personally have never been. I probably would have liked it as a kid, but be bored by it now, anyway.
September 10, 2007 at 3:46 PM · We went to Cypress Gardens last winter. It was lovely. After all the hassle and BS at Disney, the two hour lines, it was heaven to be able to walk up to a ride, wait maybe FIVE minutes and get on a ride. The surroundings are beautiful,and the park clean. I hate to see this happen. I hope it is able to stay open. It is such a nice alternative to the big parks.
September 10, 2007 at 4:17 PM · I support Cypress Gardens, and having all the parks annual passes I think Cypress Gardens gives more for the buck if consider traveling to GA. to Wild Adventures I have always felt that they were here when I was a kid and it was a great pleasure when my family and I went to this park. My personal outlook if you want to compare parks I believe that Disney World is way out of the price range compared to Universal Studios and IOA and Sea World/BuschGardens on the annual passes. I have to say that I have more fun if you compare rides at Universal Studios /IOA than I do at Disney World and the thing at Wild Adventures in GA. this park has a lot of cool rides and if you have never been there you need to go for the exp. I'm not baggering Disney but when they charge for two annual passes what I pay for the other three parks all to gether you go figure. My girlfriend loves Disney but she feels the same way, I hope for best with Cypress Gardens I sure would hate to see a historical park like this one go to waste just like the Marco Polo park did
September 10, 2007 at 4:56 PM · what!!!!!!!!
thats it?????????
thats like the price
for 1 roller coaster
September 12, 2007 at 1:18 PM · I have never visited Cypress Gardens but have been to sister park Wild Adventures many, many times. Given how clean and friendly WA is, I can assume CG is no different. I cannot imagine Wild Adventures being shut down and redeveloped by new ownership as the land underneath it is not of particular value (it was wide-open farm land before the park arrived).

I wish both parks the best of luck. I plan on renewing my Passport as long as there is a park to visit. If I could just win the state lottery, I would probably buy the place.

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