SOME GREAT NEWS FOR FLORIDA'S OLDEST THEME PARK

Cypress Gardens, located near Winter Haven, is currently celebrating it's 70th anniversary, and it's first anniversary from near-death.

The park, founded by the late Dick Pope and his wife Julie in 1945, has a long and storied history. The final chapter was almost written in April of 2003 when it's ownership group, led by developers Bill Reynolds and Larry Maxwell, shut down the attraction in the wake of declining attendance after 9/11. It came close to becoming just another condo development. But businessman Kent Buescher, who owns Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Georgia, purchased the park and promised a new day for Cypress Gardens.

One year after it's reopening, Cypress Gardens Adventure Park is doing quite well. During a 70th anniversary press conference today, Buescher proudly touted that --- barring weather issues for the remainding two months --- the attraction will host 1.4 million visitors, approximately double the original projection, and that Cypress Gardens will end the year in the black financially.

Clearly the additional of roller coasters and other attractions to help bring in younger visitors and families while retaining many of the traditional features...not to mention the lower prices compared to the larger, bigger name parks in and around Tampa and Orlando...are bringing tourists as well as locals back to this wonderful piece of Central Florida history. And if you're a fan of country music or older pop/standard music, they've got an impressive schedule of shows.

Congratulations, and continued success!