POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Major changes are coming to Central Florida's oldest theme park. Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven will soon be transformed into Legoland Florida.
Legoland Florida would be the largest of the five Legoland attractions and officials said it may be up and running by the end of 2011. The first 100,000 Lego bricks in what many hope will be the building blocks for an economic recovery in Polk County were dumped in a ceremony Thursday.
LEGOLAND PICS: Florida Announcement | California Park
The historic Cypress Gardens will be transformed into Legoland Florida, a new theme park heavyweight that promises to be a tourist destination and the source of 1,000 new jobs.
"It is a great day for all of Florida. A great day," Governor Charlie Crist said.
Governor Crist welcomed Merlin Entertainments to Winter Haven. The company's CEO says he expects Legoland Florida to outperform the company's successful park in California, while keeping some of Cypress Garden's signature attractions.
"I can assure any of you that we're concerned, that the gardens of Cypress Gardens are very, very safe in our hands," said Nick Varney, CEO Merlin Entertainments.
In the past, some said there just wasn't enough at Cypress Gardens to compete with the other big theme parks. But the new owners say they can give guests a "larger than life" experience, even if some of the displays are not.
"How do you make this park work when ones before it in this same location simply haven't?" WFTV reporter Eric Rasmussen asked.
"Well, I think it's a very thin dividing line between success and failure on theme parks," Varney replied.
Merlin and Legoland share the same parent company with SeaWorld and Universal, but don't expect any park hopper-style tickets. Officials will only say prices will be competitive.
People who live near the park hope the new tenant in an old spot will be a good neighbor.
WFTV
