LEGOLAND Florida Opens Restored Florida Pool

LEGOLAND Florida Florida Pool Oriental Gardens

LEGOLAND Florida is continuing to pay tribute to the heritage of Cypress Gardens by reopening the Florida Pool and Oriental Gardens. Surrounded by elected officials and community leaders, General Manager Adrian Jones and Bob Gernert, former Winter Haven Chamber Executive Director and Cypress Gardens historian, reopened this historic area.

LEGOLAND Florida Florida Pool Oriental Gardens

As we approached the area we were greeted by Former Cypress Gardens southern belles in their billowing dresses and the LEGO belles.

LEGOLAND Florida Florida Pool Oriental Gardens

The Florida Pool was filled to brim with LEGO brick and the outside of the pool was lined with fresh Florida citrus, paying homage to the iconic citrus photos made famous by Dick Pope, Sr. during the mid-1900s.

LEGOLAND Florida Florida Pool Oriental Gardens

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“We have taken great care to restore and maintain the historic Cypress Gardens since our opening in 2011 and we are thrilled to reopen such beloved areas as the Florida Pool and the Oriental Gardens for guests of all ages to enjoy,” said Adrian Jones, LEGOLAND Florida General Manager.

LEGOLAND Florida Florida Pool Oriental Gardens

Cypress Gardens was Florida’s first theme park that became famous for its botanical gardens, southern belles, and was known as the Water Ski Capitol of the World from the 1930s through the 1960s.

Cypress Gardens was used as a film site for a multitude of movies and TV shows, and the Florida Pool was originally built as a set for the 1953 film, “Easy to Love”, starring Esther Williams.

LEGOLAND Florida Florida Pool Oriental Gardens

LEGOLAND Florida has taken great care to restore Cypress Gardens to beautiful, historic, and pristine condition as they sit at the heart of the park.

The collection of native plants, including azaleas and camellias, have been reclaimed and combined with a range of exotic species to create a horticultural masterpiece. The breathtaking Banyan Tree, planted in 1939 as a seedling, still stands prominent within the gardens.

LEGOLAND Florida Florida Pool Oriental Gardens

LEGOLAND Florida Florida Pool Oriental Gardens

“The most exciting thing about this is it makes the gardens whole again,” said Gernert. “It makes it exactly what it was when Mr. and Mrs. Pope put the concept together so many years ago.”

LEGOLAND Florida Florida Pool Oriental Gardens

Cypress Gardens is included with general park admission. The best way to experience LEGOLAND Florida is with the LEGOLAND Florida Resident Annual Pass as low as $99 each. Pass members receive unlimited admission for 12 months to LEGOLAND Florid and free parking. For the most current information on special events, daily operating hours and to purchase tickets, visit www.LEGOLAND.com.

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