Cypress Gardens LEGOLAND Florida’s Secret Garden You Need To See
The Cypress Gardens LEGOLAND Florida is a hidden gem that very little people know about! You’re probably thinking a theme park is the last place you would ever look for a historic botanical garden. But, trust me! You don’t want to miss it!
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Florida’s First Theme Park
Way before Disney World and Universal Studios, Cypress Gardens LEGOLAND had been known as Florida first theme park. Cypress Gardens originally opened as a botanical garden on January 2, 1936, in Winter Haven, FL, by Dick Pope Sr. and his wife Julie.
From the 1930’s to the 1960’s, Cypress Gardens became known for their exotic plants, winding canals, and southern belles. People from around the world would come for their water skiing shows. The growing popularity had even drew the attention of Hollywood movie producers.
Does Cypress Gardens still exist in Florida?
After the opening of Disney World in 1971, in near by Orlando, the competition for guests increased. From the 1980’s through 2009, Cypress Gardens would go through multiple new owners and rebranding each with limited success. On January 15, 2010, the theme park and garden was purchased by Merlin Entertainments and was re-opened later that year as their fifth LEGOLAND theme park.
Cypress Garden LEGOLAND Today
Thanks to Merlin Entertainment purchasing Cypress Gardens, you are still able to enjoy the gardens. The southern bells made out of LEGOs, are a nod to the Gardens former glory days.
On the highest point in the gardens, you will find the Chapel Gazebo. The pillars came from a cigar factory that burned down and the dome part of the structure was once a satellite receiving dish used during World War II. The Gazebo overlooks Lake Eloise and many of the beautiful flowers and plants that surround it.
Cypress Gardens LEGOLAND is home to plants from all over the world like Africa, Asia, Oceana, and the Americas. To this day, you can still find more than 30 kinds of palms, 10 varieties of banana trees, 15 varieties of azaleas, 10 kinds of camellias, and so many more beautiful plants and trees.
Oh, and a Banyan tree that is almost 100 years old!
Cypress Garden LEGOLAND’s Famous Banyan Tree
The Cypress Gardens LEGOLAND banyan tree was originally planted as a seedling in 1936 by the original owners, Dick and Julie Pope. It was places in a 5 gallon bucket and delivered to it’s location in a wheelbarrow.
Look at it now!
Banyans trees have a hanging root system which over time become the support pillars for the branches as the tree grows. What does that mean? As this tree continues to age, it will keep getting wider and wider!
Water Ski Capitol of the World!
One of Cypress Gardens main attractions was their water ski shows. Perched along the shores of Lake Eloise, Cypress Gardens also became know as the “Water Ski Capital of the World.” It is home to many of the sports landmark firsts and over 50 world records.
Thankfully, the water skiing shows still continue inside Cypress Gardens LEGOLAND. The Brickbeard’s Watersport Stunt Show includes:
“… a never-before-seen, new female LEGO pirate character, new original music and gravity-defying water stunts including wakeboarding, barefoot-skiing, jump acts, and an iconic ski pyramid.”
LEGOLAND Florida’s Website
Click here to read about out our visit to LEGOLAND Florida.
LEGOLAND Florida will be opening a new ride in 2022, called “Pirate River Quest” that will take you though the Cypress Gardens canals.
Can you go to Cypress Gardens without going to LEGOLAND?
No, you cannot. You must purchase admission to LEGOLAND in order to visit Cypress Gardens.
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18 Comments
The Lively Traveler
Wow! Who knew such a charming garden could exist inside of a Legoland park!
Trisha
Exactly! I love LEGOs but it was a nice break to be able to walk around Cypress Gardens and enjoy the beauty.
Cindy Moore
My family and I visited Cypress Gardens many years ago, before it was a LegoLand park. So beautiful. My grandkids visited last summer.
Trisha
No way! That’s awesome! As I was walking through it, I couldn’t help but wonder what Cypress Gardens was like during it’s prime. It’s fantastic that LEGOLAND is helping to preserve such a historic landmark.
kmf
We love botanical gardens and we are a LEGO-loving family. Would love to visit Cypress Gardens LEGOLAND Florida – a beautiful hidden gem!
Trisha
I wasn’t aware it was part of LEGOLAND, with made it an even more wonderful surprise. I hope you and you family are able to visit someday soon!
Stacey Billingsley
I’m glad you can still see Cypress Gardens, though I didn’t realize it was a Legoland now. My parents took me in 1989, and it was so pretty. We saw one of the ski shows, and we also saw a figure skating show that was inside a building. I mostly remember it was pretty warm and humid, but so was everything we did on the trip. It was July, after all. That was also my first visit to Disney and Kennedy Space Center.
Trisha
Wow! That is so cool that you went to Cypress Gardens before! I’ve been wondering lately how awesome it must have been in it’s prime. What a special memory you have of all of those places! Sure sounds like you had an epic trip that year!
Barbara
I remeber visiting here when I was like 2-3 years old before the legos. I’m sure it has changed dramatically since then!
Trisha
That’s wonderful that you were able to visit! Cypress Gardens is pretty much the same, however, the theme park part of it does no longer exist.
Marianne
I have never heard of Cypress Gardens, but they look really interesting. My little guy would only be about the LEGO, but the flowers and that Banyan tree are pretty awesome!
Trisha
My youngest was all about the LEGOs too! Cypress Gardens was a great area to decompress and catch Brickbeards Water Skiing show.
Lisa
Wow, that banyan tree is incredible! We will have to visit Legoland when we visit Florida just to see it!
Trisha
I couldn’t get over how wide it was when we were standing next to it! It’[s definitely something you have to see for yourself to take in all of its beauty.
Leeanne
I remember going to Cyprus Gardens as a kid. I’m glad to know that is where LegoLand is now. I really do need to take my kids to Legoland. I’m sure they would love it.
Trisha
That is so wonderful that you go to visit it as a child. Our three kids are huge LEGO fans so they loved everything about LEGOLAND. I hope you get the chance to take your kids soon!
Julie
I cannot believe I did not know you could access Cypress Gardens at Legoland. We’ve been there a couple times.
Trisha
It’s kind of towards the back of the park so I can see how many people would overlook it. It’s worth a trip back to check it out! 😉