Today Merlin Entertainments announced a multi-million dollar investment for its biggest family tourist center in the world with the planned opening of Legoland Florida.
Merlin purchased the historical Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Fla. from property investment company Land South Group and will open Legoland Florida on the site at the end of 2011. The deal [...]

It seems the cat may have gotten out of the bag. The Lakeland Ledger has obtained an e-mail sent to Polk County Commissioner Randy Wilkinson that says Legoland is coming to Cypress Gardens. All e-mails sent to public official’s business e-mail accounts are public record.
But the e-mail wasn’t sent from Merlin Entertainments Group officials [...]

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that Merlin Entertainments Group has purchased Cypress Gardens.
From blogs.orlandosentinel.com:
A spokeswoman for Merlin said the purchase includes the current Cypress Gardens theme park, the Splash Island water park and the adjacent botanical gardens. The company did not disclose the sales price.
Merlin is the second busiest amusement operator in the world. Its [...]

The owners of Cypress Gardens announced today that the park and Splash Island Waterpark have closed. The park closed last fall for five months then reopened earlier this year without its many amusement rides. Since the end of March, it has operated with just its water park, gardens and ski show.
Here’s the owner’s statement regarding [...]

Here’s what’s happening around the tourist areas of Central Florida for July 4 this year.
Magic Kingdom
“Celebrate America Fireworks” will fill the sky at 9 pm. July 4 (guests who’d like to begin the celebratory weekend a day early can enjoy the special fireworks on July 3 at 9 p.m.). After the fireworks, guests can enjoy [...]

Cypress Gardens is on track to reopen this Saturday, March 28 and will operate its new Splash Island Water Park through the season ending Oct. 18. The park closed late last year and has removed all of the rides, choosing to concentrate on their gardens and water park.
“You will see many changes and improvements with [...]

From orlandosentinel.com:
Cypress Gardens, the small Winter Haven attraction built on botanical gardens and Southern Belles, has announced the new management that will reopen the shuttered park this spring.
Bill Sims, a long-time veteran of the Florida tourism industry, will manage the park, which is scheduled to open March 28.  Cypress Gardens closed in the fall, promising [...]

When Cypress Gardens announced in November that they were closing down for nearly five months while they retool the park, Silver Springs announced that Cypress Gardens passholders could have free admission to their Festival of Lights. Now that the festival is over, two more local attractions have stepped up.
Fantasy of Flight and Bok Tower Gardens [...]

Silver Springs General Manager Terry Turner and Cypress Garden’s Co-Owner Rob Harper have announced that Cypress Garden’s season passholders will receive free admission to Silver Springs during their Festival of Lights.
Silver Springs 16th annual Festival of Lights runs Dec. 5 and 6, 12 to 24, and 26 and 27. Cypress Gardens passholders, during the [...]

Volume 2, Issue 1 of Orlando Attractions Magazine is now available for pre-order!
You can flip through and preview the entire issue here before you buy it.
Features included in this fun new issue are:
• Chill out in Orlando with ICE!
Holiday fun at the Gaylord Palms Resort.
• 21st Century Christmas
How Disney keeps its holidays up-to-date.
• A’Lure [...]