Florida's first theme park, Cypress Gardens, was the brainchild of Richard Downing Dick" Pope Sr. With his wife, Julie Downing Pope, he transformed a marshy, lakeside property in Winter Haven into a magnificent garden. The park's first visitors in 1936 toured pathways surrounded by lush plants from around the world. Two years later, electric boats meandered through the park's winding, hand-dug canals. Water ski shows commenced in 1942, and the park became the "Water Ski Capital of the World." The Florida-shaped Esther Williams Swimming Pool still graces the shore of Lake Eloise. The park was a... Read More
Formats
Paperback
🚛 Ground shipping arrival between Wednesday, February 26 and Tuesday, March 04.
Free returns. Free Economy shipping on orders $50+.
Florida's first theme park, Cypress Gardens, was the brainchild of Richard Downing Dick" Pope Sr. With his wife, Julie Downing Pope, he transformed a marshy, lakeside property in Winter Haven into a magnificent garden. The park's first visitors in 1936 toured pathways surrounded by lush plants from around the world. Two years later, electric boats meandered through the park's winding, hand-dug canals. Water ski shows commenced in 1942, and the park became the "Water Ski Capital of the World." The Florida-shaped Esther Williams Swimming Pool still graces the shore of Lake Eloise. The park was a... Read More
Florida's first theme park, Cypress Gardens, was the brainchild of Richard Downing Dick" Pope Sr. With his wife, Julie Downing Pope, he transformed a marshy, lakeside property in Winter Haven into a magnificent garden. The park's first visitors in 1936 toured pathways surrounded by lush plants from around the world. Two years later, electric boats meandered through the park's winding, hand-dug canals. Water ski shows commenced in 1942, and the park became the "Water Ski Capital of the World." The Florida-shaped Esther Williams Swimming Pool still graces the shore of Lake Eloise. The park was a set for dozens of short feature films, a stage for beauty pageants, and a site for special television broadcasts. A butterfly garden, zoo, rides, and the small-town Southern Crossroads shopping and dining area remain popular features. Kent Buescher purchased Cypress Gardens in 2004, and today's expanded Cypress Gardens Adventure Park preserves the family-friendly appeal of Dick and Julie Pope's magnificent park."
Details
Pages: 128
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing Inc.
Imprint: Arcadia Publishing
Series: Images of America
Publication Date: 21st November 2006
State: Florida
Illustration Note: Black and White
ISBN: 9780738543390
Format: Paperback
BISACs: HISTORY / United States / State & Local / South (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV) PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Regional (see also TRAVEL / Pictorials) TRAVEL / Special Interest / Amusement & Theme Parks TRAVEL / Special Interest / Adventure
Reviews
Title: Florida's First Theme Park, Cypress Gardens Author: Roland Hopkins Publisher: Carousel News and Trader Date: 4/26/09
The historic Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, FL, is saying so long to all of it's amusement park rides. The zoo animals also will be removed as the park owners cite operating and maintenance costs and the inability to compete with nearby Disney World and other parks. The owners are assuring loyal fans of the park, considered Florida's oldest theme park opening in 1936, that the park will re-open in the spring, that the gardens and waterski shows will remain, and the zoo and rides will be replaced with a new water park.
While the park is closed for renovations we thought you might enjoy a brief look at some of the history of the park, which now includes the rides as, courtesy of Arcadia Publishing's Images of America Cypress Gardens.
BOOK REVIEW: Images of America - Cypress Gardens By Mary M. Flekke, Sarah E. MacDonald, and Randall M. MacDonald
Florida's first theme park, Cypress Gardens, was the brainchild of Richard Downing "Dick" Pope, Sr. With his wife, Julie Downing Pope, he transformed a marshy, lakeside property in Winter Haven, FL, into a magnificent garden. The park's first visitors in 1936 toured pathways surrounded by lush plants from around the world. Two years later, electric boats meandered through the park's winding, hand-dug canals. Water ski shows commenced in 1942, and the park became the "Water Ski Capital of the World."
The Florida-shaped Esther Williams Swimming Pool still graces the shore of Lake Eloise. The park was a set for dozens of short and feature films, a stage for beauty pageants, and a site for special television broadcasts. A butterfly garden, zoo, rides, and the small-town Southern Crossroads shopping and dining area have been part of the park through the years. Kent Buescher purchased Cypress Gardens in 2004, and today's expanded Cypress Gardens Adventure Park preserves the family-friendly appeal of Dick and Julie Pope's magnificent park."
Authors Mary M. Flekke, Sarah E. MacDonald, and Randall M. MacDonald are long-time Cypress Gardens visitors. Drawn from the park's archives, the authors' collections, and area libraries, these images trace the development and life of Florida's iconic roadside attraction and celebrate those who make Cypress Gardens memorable.
Images of America - Cypress Gardens can be purchased at local and national bookstores or can be purchased at www.arcadiapublishing.com.
Author Bio
Authors Mary M. Flekke and Randall M. MacDonald are senior librarians at Florida Southern College, with a combined 42 years there. Hundreds of Lakeland-area postcards were published during the early 20th century, advertising the young city's charm. Bountiful fishing, posh golf and country clubs, active rail and air service, and changes in architecture, transportation, and fashion are all featured in these vintage postcards from library collections and the authors' personal collections.
Randall M. MacDonald is the director of Roux Library at Florida Southern College. He has been at the college since 1986, following experience in public librarianship and records management. His undergraduate degree was in history, and his graduate work was in library science and education. His previous books include The Internet and the School Library Media Specialist: Transforming Traditional Services (1997) and Successful Keyword Searching: Initiating Research on Popular Topics Using Electronic Databases (2001, with Susan Priest MacDonald). He has coauthored four previous local history titles: Lakeland (2005, with Mary M. Flekke), Cypress Gardens (2006, with Mary M. Flekke and Sarah E. MacDonald), The Buildings of Frank Lloyd Wright at Florida Southern College (2007, with Nora Galbraith and James G. Rogers Jr.) and Sebring (2008, with Susan Priest MacDonald and the Sebring Historical Society).
Florida's first theme park, Cypress Gardens, was the brainchild of Richard Downing Dick" Pope Sr. With his wife, Julie Downing Pope, he transformed a marshy, lakeside property in Winter Haven into a magnificent garden. The park's first visitors in 1936 toured pathways surrounded by lush plants from around the world. Two years later, electric boats meandered through the park's winding, hand-dug canals. Water ski shows commenced in 1942, and the park became the "Water Ski Capital of the World." The Florida-shaped Esther Williams Swimming Pool still graces the shore of Lake Eloise. The park was a set for dozens of short feature films, a stage for beauty pageants, and a site for special television broadcasts. A butterfly garden, zoo, rides, and the small-town Southern Crossroads shopping and dining area remain popular features. Kent Buescher purchased Cypress Gardens in 2004, and today's expanded Cypress Gardens Adventure Park preserves the family-friendly appeal of Dick and Julie Pope's magnificent park."
Pages: 128
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing Inc.
Imprint: Arcadia Publishing
Series: Images of America
Publication Date: 21st November 2006
State: Florida
Illustrations Note: Black and White
ISBN: 9780738543390
Format: Paperback
BISACs: HISTORY / United States / State & Local / South (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV) PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Regional (see also TRAVEL / Pictorials) TRAVEL / Special Interest / Amusement & Theme Parks TRAVEL / Special Interest / Adventure
Title: Florida's First Theme Park, Cypress Gardens Author: Roland Hopkins Publisher: Carousel News and Trader Date: 4/26/09
The historic Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, FL, is saying so long to all of it's amusement park rides. The zoo animals also will be removed as the park owners cite operating and maintenance costs and the inability to compete with nearby Disney World and other parks. The owners are assuring loyal fans of the park, considered Florida's oldest theme park opening in 1936, that the park will re-open in the spring, that the gardens and waterski shows will remain, and the zoo and rides will be replaced with a new water park.
While the park is closed for renovations we thought you might enjoy a brief look at some of the history of the park, which now includes the rides as, courtesy of Arcadia Publishing's Images of America Cypress Gardens.
BOOK REVIEW: Images of America - Cypress Gardens By Mary M. Flekke, Sarah E. MacDonald, and Randall M. MacDonald
Florida's first theme park, Cypress Gardens, was the brainchild of Richard Downing "Dick" Pope, Sr. With his wife, Julie Downing Pope, he transformed a marshy, lakeside property in Winter Haven, FL, into a magnificent garden. The park's first visitors in 1936 toured pathways surrounded by lush plants from around the world. Two years later, electric boats meandered through the park's winding, hand-dug canals. Water ski shows commenced in 1942, and the park became the "Water Ski Capital of the World."
The Florida-shaped Esther Williams Swimming Pool still graces the shore of Lake Eloise. The park was a set for dozens of short and feature films, a stage for beauty pageants, and a site for special television broadcasts. A butterfly garden, zoo, rides, and the small-town Southern Crossroads shopping and dining area have been part of the park through the years. Kent Buescher purchased Cypress Gardens in 2004, and today's expanded Cypress Gardens Adventure Park preserves the family-friendly appeal of Dick and Julie Pope's magnificent park."
Authors Mary M. Flekke, Sarah E. MacDonald, and Randall M. MacDonald are long-time Cypress Gardens visitors. Drawn from the park's archives, the authors' collections, and area libraries, these images trace the development and life of Florida's iconic roadside attraction and celebrate those who make Cypress Gardens memorable.
Images of America - Cypress Gardens can be purchased at local and national bookstores or can be purchased at www.arcadiapublishing.com.
Authors Mary M. Flekke and Randall M. MacDonald are senior librarians at Florida Southern College, with a combined 42 years there. Hundreds of Lakeland-area postcards were published during the early 20th century, advertising the young city's charm. Bountiful fishing, posh golf and country clubs, active rail and air service, and changes in architecture, transportation, and fashion are all featured in these vintage postcards from library collections and the authors' personal collections.
Randall M. MacDonald is the director of Roux Library at Florida Southern College. He has been at the college since 1986, following experience in public librarianship and records management. His undergraduate degree was in history, and his graduate work was in library science and education. His previous books include The Internet and the School Library Media Specialist: Transforming Traditional Services (1997) and Successful Keyword Searching: Initiating Research on Popular Topics Using Electronic Databases (2001, with Susan Priest MacDonald). He has coauthored four previous local history titles: Lakeland (2005, with Mary M. Flekke), Cypress Gardens (2006, with Mary M. Flekke and Sarah E. MacDonald), The Buildings of Frank Lloyd Wright at Florida Southern College (2007, with Nora Galbraith and James G. Rogers Jr.) and Sebring (2008, with Susan Priest MacDonald and the Sebring Historical Society).