Cypress Gardens: From HumbleBeginnings to International Acclaim
- Bob Gernert
- Jun 30
- 5 min read
As 1936 began, Dick and Julie Pope would host the grand opening of their park on January 2. Many local leaders had serious doubts about the park’s viability, and Pope often faced ridicule from those who felt the operation would surely fail.
But the doubters failed to recognize Dick Pope’s skill set. His work with brother Malcolm in daredevil boating, as well as his golfing talent, had earned him valuable media contacts. He leveraged those contacts and promoted the gardens with passion, creativity, photographic excellence, and more than a dash of audacity.
From the very beginning, Cypress Gardens’ fame spread through an ever-increasing barrage of photographic material. The park’s international recognition attests to the old adage, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Dick Pope was well aware of this and used this photographic heritage to serve the Gardens well. One of his first successful promotions involved an international ballet star named Gail Armour. The Tampa-based dancer brought a crowd of several thousand people paying 25 cents admission to see her and experience the Pope’s “Florida Cypress Gardens.” International ballet star Gail Armour was Cypress Garden’s first successful promotion. Possibly Cypress Gardens’ most iconic photographic vista, complete with a “dash of audacity” from Mr. Pope himself!
For the first several years of operation, the botanical gardens were the singular attraction. Then, in 1939, brother Malcolm Pope would introduce electric boats to silently whisk visitors through the lush landscaping via the canals.
In the early 1940s the gardens were maturing and, as fate would have it, a hard freeze damaged the flowering vines located on each side of the ticket booth. Not wanting guests arriving to see dead plants, Mrs. Pope enlisted several employees to don what she referred to as “Old Fashions” or what we know today as Belle dresses. She had the women stand on either side of the ticket booth allowing the dresses to hide the damaged vines. In that moment, the iconic Cypress Gardens’ Belles were created.
Soon after, Dick Pope was called to WWII military service in Europe. During his time away, Cypress Gardens was one of only a few tourist locations that managed to continue operations. Julie Pope was managing the park when she was approached by several visiting soldiers inquiring as to “when the ski show would take place.” As the story is told, they had seen a newspaper photo of the park’s landscaping, and there were water skiers in the background on Lake Eloise. Mrs. Pope, not missing a beat replied, “3:30.” She then proceeded to have her children Dick and Adrienne, and several friends arrive at the park to “put on the show.” And with that, the world-famous Cypress Gardens’ Ski Show was born. The ski team would evolve into Pope’s traveling advertisement as he took the athletes around the world to thrill onlookers and advertise his park.
Mr. Pope returned home at war’s end. His early experience with newsreels convinced him there would be natural avenues for promotion in film. He would later move quickly to pursue television coverage.
With each new Gardens innovation, Pope would call the newsreels and often obtain coverage. This type of exposure helped him expand his network of contacts in Hollywood. Some of the first “shorts” filmed at the park included visiting soldiers (during WWII). This type of coverage was shown to the soldiers as well as the movie-going public. The content was patriotic with a little silliness thrown in - and, of course, vintage Pope stunts.
Soon Hollywood came to Florida and “the Gardens were ready for their close-up.” In 1948, “On an Island With You“ premiered at the Ritz Theatre. (This was the WORLD premiere for the movie - surely a bit of Pope’s flair for publicity). It starred Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalban and was the first feature film shot at the park. It featured scenes framed in the beautiful botanical gardens. In 1953, “Easy to Love” (also starring Williams, Van Johnson, and Tony Martin would produce the Gardens’ greatest Hollywood success. Incredible scenes captured massive ski show routines, water cannons, and even Pope himself in a bit part, all woven around a campy love pursuit at Cypress Gardens. The movie features lavish choreography by Busby Berkley and was said to have been seen by 170,000 people a day on Broadway in New York. It was for this musical water ballet that the famous “Florida Pool” was constructed. This Gardens’ landmark is now 72 years old in 2025. The film is available on DVD and features many recognizable Haven landmarks, including the Lulu-Shipp Canal and the Haven Hotel/Condominiums.
The Gardens’ television era began in 1948 when Dick Pope Jr. and the Aquamaids were shown on station WPIX. Arthur Godfrey, a morning show host of WWII fame was one of the first television programs to originate from Cypress Gardens. The park’s exposure continued to grow through such network broadcasts as Ed Sullivan, Mike Douglas, Garry Moore, and late-night legend, Johnny Carson. These are but a few of the programs that provided endless and immeasurable exposure to Beautiful Cypress Gardens and Florida.
The 50s and 60s were the golden era for Cypress Gardens. It enjoyed the reputation of Florida’s #1 tourist attraction. When Disney World plans were announced, Pope took out full-page advertisements welcoming the park with Pope’s ever-present optimism. He reasoned that what was good for Florida and Disney would be good for Cypress Gardens.
In anticipation of Disney, the park embarked on ambitious expansions including “Gardens of the World” and soon after, “Southern Crossroads.” But Disney/Universal/Sea World proved to be daunting competition. Other ski shows and flower festivals left the Gardens stranded too far off the interstate to survive. In 1985 the Pope family sold the park. It passed through several more corporate owners and ultimately into a local ownership team. In April of 2003 owners announced the park would close with the 9/11 tragedy as a contributing factor. A noble effort to resurrect the site as Cypress Gardens Adventure Park failed in large part due to triple hurricanes and their damage in 2004.
Limping through receivership, the park ultimately closed its doors in 2008.
The final ownership group brought Merlin Entertainment’s Nick Varney to the site in 2009. He was so impressed with the potential beauty of the location that, in his words, “the hair on the back of my neck stood up!” In 2010, Merlin announced they would build LEGOLAND Florida on the site. On October 15, 2011, LEGOLAND Florida opened to enthusiastic crowds. The original botanical gardens are owned by Polk County and maintained by LEGOLAND Florida in exchange for its use.
Indeed the “Swami of the Swamp” Dick Pope had the last laugh on those who doubted his resolve. The park developed a worldwide reputation entertaining kings, governors, and a multitude of celebrities, not to mention 45 million tourists. Pope, known as Mr. Florida, also bailed out the failing Florida pavilion at the 1965 World’s Fair in New York City.
The vision of Dick and Julie Pope has been honored by the National Register of Historic Places, as the botanical gardens were officially listed in 2014. The legacy also lives on in the performances of the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team, performing on Lake Silver.
