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LiesaAnna
 United Kingdom
11612 Posts
Joined: 04 Sep 2004
Status: offline |  Posted - 09 Nov 2006 : 19:26:41  
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The owner of Cypress Gardens Adventure Park today announced a number of new attractions, including new rides for small children and construction of a long-awaited $5 million wooden roller coaster.
Owner Kent Buescher also said that the park will admit for free the holders of a season pass to any other theme park in the United States. This will be in effect from Friday through Dec. 24.
Buescher said installation of the famed Starliner roller coaster, purchased from a park in Panama City, will begin almost immediately. It will be open in late May.
And a new attraction for the park's youngest guests is on the way. Called Bugsville, it will feature 13 rides and interactive features in a four-story building.
In September, the park filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Georgia federal court, facing $17 million in unpaid claims from $25 million in hurricane damages the park suffered in 2004. Buescher vowed the bankruptcy petition would not affect operations or season pass holders. He said today there have been no new developments on this issue.
The bankruptcy paperwork shows more than $50 million in debts, but the filing allowed the park to borrow $13 million more to get through the short-term until the insurance issue is settled, he said. Fans of the park have been loyal. Attendance over the summer was up 16.5 percent from 2005 and park officials expect it to hit 1.3 million this year.
Buescher, who spent $7 million on Cypress Gardens and another $5 million in improvements before the 2004 hurricanes, owns a similar park in Valdosta, Georgia that went from a small petting zoo with 100,000 visitors annually when he bought it to an attraction with 1.5 million people passing through last year.
Cypress Gardens is considered "Florida's first theme park," and celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. |
Liesa |
Edited by - LiesaAnna on 09 Nov 2006 19:27:12 | | Report this post to a moderator |
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andrewandcarole
 United Kingdom
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Lynne S
 United Kingdom
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LiesaAnna
United Kingdom
11612 Posts
Joined: 04 Sep 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 09 Nov 2006 : 21:21:51
| | we are definately going to this one next year, we will be there a bit longer so will be able to try it out, hope any of you that do go will kindly get some pictures for us please? |
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LiesaAnna
United Kingdom
11612 Posts
Joined: 04 Sep 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 10 Nov 2006 : 18:09:47
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WINTER HAVEN -- Calling it the "Wal-Mart of the theme park industry," Cypress Gardens owner Kent Buescher announced Thursday there will be no increase in admission prices next year, and annual passholders will get free parking. The move comes just two months after the park declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Buescher also announced plans to spend millions of dollars on expansions next year, including $5 million to open the historic Starliner roller coaster by June and developing the first phase of a 13-ride children's attraction, which eventually will include a four-story interactive exhibit called "A Bugsville Adventure."
"We believe it is in the best interests for all the stakeholders to undertake these kinds of capital improvements," Buescher said after a news conference in which he also announced a 2007 concert lineup that includes Charlie Pride, Bobby Vinton, Engelbert Humperdinck and Third Day. All concerts are free to the park's annual passholders.
"We don't have the biggest, fastest, tallest of anything," he said of the park that touts itself as the best theme park bargain with its $69.95 annual pass -- about what other Central Florida parks cost for a one-day admission.
"We are less stress, less headache. A busy day at Cypress Gardens is a 20-minute wait in line," Buescher added.
And he wants new people to see the park so much that until Dec. 24, Cypress Gardens will honor annual passes from any theme park in America.
What may lure more people is the Starliner. Roller-coaster enthusiasts will remember the ride as the classic wooden coaster along Panama City Beach's Miracle Strip Amusement Park. It has an out-and-back design and causes riders to feel they are coming out of their seat with 2,640 feet of hills and bunny hops.
Local business officials were gleeful at Thursday's announcements and have remained steadfast in support of Buescher throughout the park's issues with bankruptcy, which stemmed from insurance disputes after the 2004 hurricanes.
In September, the park filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in federal court in Georgia, facing $17 million in unpaid insurance claims from $25 million in storm damage. Buescher had vowed the bankruptcy petition would not affect operations or season passholders.
The bankruptcy paperwork shows more than $50 million in debts, but the filing allowed the park to borrow $13 million more to get through the short term until the insurance issue is settled, he said.
Fans of the park have been loyal. Attendance over the summer was up 16.5 percent from 2005, and park officials expect it to hit 1.3 million this year. At the last assessment, the Central Florida Visitors and Convention Bureau estimated the park had a $160 million impact to the region annually, including $2.98 million in sales-tax revenue. It employs 400 people year-round and 700 seasonally.
Buescher, who spent $7 million on Cypress Gardens and another $5 million in improvements before the 2004 hurricanes, owns a similar park in Valdosta, Ga.
The new passes for 2007 will allow admission and free parking at both parks.
Cypress Gardens is considered "Florida's first theme park," and celebrates its 70th anniversary this year.
First-time guests Thursday weren't sure what to make of the announcement.
"I think it's [already] got some great stuff," said Patty Langland, of Columbia, S.C., visiting with her son, Paxton, 4. "I know he loves the boats and loves the pirate stuff. The pirate stuff is just huge. He's excited about the rides."
Taking a look at one of the new Bugsville characters, Paxton gave his assessment: "A fun thing."
Looking good!!
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chris c
 United Kingdom
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MTP
 United Kingdom
1367 Posts
Joined: 17 May 2003
Status: offline | Posted - 11 Nov 2006 : 18:25:30
| This all sounds really good, when we tried to go to Cypress Gardens before it was just after it had closed  .
We both love wooden roller coasters, so really looking forward to it being moved there. | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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cypress gardens news!!
