Like so many areas across Florida, Cypress Gardens Adventure Park was significantly affected by Hurricane Charley. As the eye of the storm passed over Winter Haven, Floridas first theme park stood the test of fierce wind, severe rain and tornados that touched down in the parks most historic area of the park, the botanical gardens. When I arrived Saturday morning at Cypress Gardens I was devastated, said park owner Kent Buescher. We had spent so much time restoring and rejuvenating the park that it was heartbreaking to see six months of hard work disappear overnight. Clean up began immediately as work crews arrived to assess the damage. Dedicated employees came to work Saturday morning, leaving their families and homes that too had been affected by this massive storm. Initial statements from state tourism officials give us hope that there may be some sort of financial assistance available that might help soften the blow that Charley delivered. the botanical gardens sustained a significant amount of damage as tornados touched down destroying numerous trees and changing the lush tropical backdrop of the gardens. Miraculously the Banyan Tree, a historic fixture of the Gardens planted by park founders Dick and Julie Pope, escaped with minor damage.

Mother Nature has a way of allowing intense rejuvenation of plants, trees and flowers after such a devastating natural experience, Buescher said. We will not turn back now and we have to accept that while the Gardens will be different, we will continue to do all we can to make it better.

While the four roller coasters under construction in the new ride area of the park escaped the storm unscathed, the park did experience structural damage totaling between $3.5 and $5 million. Numerous new roofs as well as the reconstruction of buildings to meet codes set in place after Hurricane Andrew are just a few of the reasons park officials believe the community will still celebrate Cypress Gardens reopening later this fall.

We are very fortunate, yet have a great amount of work to do, Buescher said. As we all continue to pick up the pieces and rebuild, our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have experienced great loss from this storm.

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