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www.actwon.com/cg/ap/news_2004.htm |
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Cypress Gardens
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Kent Buescher,owner of Wild Adventures, arrives with Cypress Gardens Belles Carolina Beleut (left) and Angela Yauchler (right) on each arm at the press conference in the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce building after signing the papers for the purchase of Cypress Gardens. February 25, 2004 Photo: George Aycrigg / News Chief |
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| Saturday, December 11, 2004 Threat to Gardens aired Alleged threats from the city of Winter Haven to Cypress Gardens Adventure Park regarding annexation are being heard throughout Polk County. Rumors that the city of Winter Haven would turn off the utilities to Cypress Gardens if it didn't annex into the city were denied by both park and city officials Friday afternoon. The city does, in fact, provide water and sewer services to Cypress Gardens. According to Winter Haven City Manager David Greene, there is currently an outstanding bill in the amount of $69,384.49 for service during construction. Friday, December 10, 2004 Park finally open As people entered Cypress Gardens Adventure Park for the grand opening celebration, construction crews continued working in the park. "Not only are we blessed with a great new park, but a great new owner with great ideas," said Dick Pope, Jr., son of the original Cypress Gardens owner. "He's a lot like my father was. My parents would be very proud because of the way he has modified the park while respecting the things that made the park so special. It's wonderful to see it come back to life." Thursday, December 9, 2004 Cypress Gardens reopens The day Polk County has been waiting for has finally arrived the reopening of Cypress Gardens. The newly-renovated Cypress Gardens Adventure Park will open to the public at 10 a.m. today. A grand opening ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. in the Ski Show Pavilion, with a ski show to immediately follow. A vintage plane from Fantasy of Flight is scheduled to conduct a flyover during the festivities. Approximately 2,000 people, including local officials, community leaders and residents, as well as Florida Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings, are expected to attend. More than 45,000 people have already visited the renovated park during its soft openings held the past two weekends ACTWON fotos of Fantasy of Flight Tuesday, December 7, 2004 Cypress Gardens parking Letters- I wish the News Chief would stop jumping up and down and giving free publicity to the new Cypress Gardens Adventure Park and instead send the reporter out there to find out just how they're going to solve the problem. I was told when I talked to a cashier a couple weeks ago that they had already sold 40,000 guest passes at $65 each, that's $2,600,000, and assuming they sold 20,000 parking vouchers at $25 each, its $500,000, and I would like to know what the owner is going to do about the parking problem Wednesday, December 1, 2004 Cypress Gardens park is great; exit needs thought Letter from Bob Sarno Congratulations are in order to Kent Buescher and his staff for the wonderful job they did to restore the Gardens and add an amusement park that will entertain both young and old for years to come Sunday, November 28, 2004 Gardens top expectations for opening If the crowds, the gleeful shouts and the applause on opening weekend are indicators, then the new Cypress Gardens appears destined for resounding success. Surely the late Dick Pope Sr., who opened the original gardens in 1936, would be proud of what is there today. Kent Buescher With so much to see and do, this theme park will attract a more diverse clientele of adults and children, and they are likely to return again and again Saturday, November 27, 2004 Cypress Gardens Returns After closing its doors 19 months ago, Cypress Gardens reopened Friday revamped, revitalized and focused on a broader market We are glad to see folks lined up," said Kent Buescher, owner and president of Cypress Gardens Adventure Park. "I think we have created a great park" First into the park was 12-year-old Katelyn Ehlers who was quickly greeted by Buescher. I am glad you are here, have a great time today," he said, happily surprised to discover she had waited for three hours to be the park's first guest Sunday, November 14, 2004 Entertainment, dining designed to be family-friendly Banana George plans to make a guest appearance during the grand opening celebration of Cypress Gardens Adventure Park scheduled for Dec. 9 The 89-year-old barefoot skier was a mainstay at Cypress Gardens before its closure in April of 2003. As a skier in the last show he says he is excited about returning to the park The theme of the new show, which will debut during the soft opening later this month, is based on the movie "Top Gun." The 30-minute show will feature skiing, wakeboarding, barefoot skiing and the delta wing kite flyers. The ambassadors of the park, the Southern Belles, will also return to Cypress Gardens Adventure Park. www.Banana George.com IMDb "Top Gun" |
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Cypress Gardens
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| Sunday, December 19, 2004 Buescher: Cypress Gardens Not Disney Kent Buescher wants the new Cypress Gardens Adventure Park to remake the Florida tourism as WalMart Inc. changed retailing. Buescher expects the new Cypress Gardens will draw 75 percent of customers from residents living within 100 miles, The other 25 percent will be tourists Buescher ran a water ski and scuba school until 1981, when at age 25, he began a printing company with his wife, Dawn. In the early '90s, the couple transformed their farm into a popular local petting zoo, which became Wild Adventures in 1996 with the addition of a few rides. He sold his printing business in 1999 I can't compete against Disney. Why would I try? How do you compete against a $2 billion or $3 billion product. It doesn't mean you cannot be successful understanding who or what you are. Many Q&As here. . . Tuesday, December 14, 2004 Theme Parks Draw More Visitors Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom kept its big ears over the top of the charts this year, drawing in more than 15.1 million guests; more than any other park in the nation. Cypress Gardens drew about 600,000 a year before its gates closed in April 2003 Friday, December 10, 2004 Pope's Park Now a Place Where Past, Future Meet This is the future of Dick Pope's Cypress Gardens. Now called Cypress Gardens Adventure Park, it's a blending of old and new where the past meets the future and those of varying generations can connect in the present Thursday, December 9, 2004 Gardens Officially Reopens Today Dedication and ski show planned for attraction's first day of operation Finally, the much-anticipated day has arrived. After two weekends of "preview" days, the gates of Cypress Gardens Adventure Park will open on a daily basis beginning at 10 this morning. Saturday, December 4, 2004 One-Day Disney Ticket Up To $59.75 Walt Disney World, revamping its admissions policy for the first time in at least two decades, is dramatically restructuring its ticket pricing structure by offering lower prices for longer stays and other options. Although the pretax price of a oneday ticket to a single park will rise $5 to $59.75, when the changes go into effect Jan. 2, a week's admission will cost $199 -- $28.43 a day. For children ages 3-9, prices range from $48 for a day to $160 for a week Google - Walt Disney World Sunday, November 28, 2004 Southern Belles, Skiers and Others Happy to Rejoin Gardens Among the hundreds of jobs lost when the park closed last year, the water skiers may have felt it most intensely. To many of them, said ski team leader Mark Voisard, Cypress Gardens is viewed as the water-skiing capital of the country, and opportunities like this are rare. Of the park's 400 employees, about 60 were rehired Friday, November 26, 2004 A Trip Through Cypress Gardens Adventure Park As Cypress Gardens Adventure Park opens its doors today, we provide you with a look at some of the sights, sounds and tastes you will encounter at the refurbished attraction. Friday, November 26, 2004 Cypress Gardens: Remembering the Fun As Cypress Gardens Adventure Park Prepares to Entertain New Generations, We Take a Look at the Good Ol' Days November 6, 2004 Early Ticket Sales Bode Well for Gardens Sales of annual tickets have already exceeded 10,000, said Alyson Gernert, public information manager for the park "We've sold $500,000 in the past four days," Gernert said Friday. "There's a huge line out there right now." July 12, 2004 Businessman Specializes in Adventure Kent Buescher's profile |
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| Thursday, December 9, 2004 Cypress Gardens Adventure Park officially opens today Earlier this year, Kent Buescher, the Valdosta businessman who created one of the fastest-growing theme parks in the nation with Wild Adventures, acquired the venerable Cypress Gardens, one of Florida’s oldest themed attractions. Buescher purchased the park after it closed in 2003 following 67 years of operation. |
