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Cypress Gardens Shapes Audience Of Young, Old Visitors

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 4, 2007

Cypress Gardens Adventure Park is balancing beauty and thrills, owner Kent Buescher says, to move successfully beyond a bankruptcy brought on by three hurricanes to a future as America's best entertainment value.

From late fall to late spring, seniors rule Winter Haven's Cypress Gardens, taking in shows and strolling through the park's gardens. From late spring until school reopens, families run the place. They ride roller coasters and splash in a water park.

It's the latter Buescher brought when he revived Cypress Gardens after it shut in 2003.

The attendance figures are up this year, and although Buescher doesn't think they will quite match 2005's crush of 1.2 million visitors, he says it's possible.

Metro, Page 1

•Buescher wants to use the period just after school begins to try to win back senior visitors. Starting today, Cypress Gardens will close the rides and water park Monday through Thursday and offer a $19.95 ticket to the gardens and shows.

•The full park will still be open at regular price Friday through Sunday. 'Garden Days,' as the promotion is called, will run through Sept. 27.

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