The 1930s: Dick and Julie Pope Decide to Garden...
- Bob Gernert
- May 27
- 5 min read
Dick and Julie Pope are remembered (respectively) by many Havenites as the flamboyant and gracious founders of Cypress Gardens. Their story and its impact on our community are both rich and colorful. This month we take a look at Dick Pope long before he created Cypress Gardens ... up to the time that he met his lifelong personal and professional partner, Julie Downing.
Richard Pope was born April 19, 1900, in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of J. Walker Pope and his wife, Lily May. The family would relocate to Winter Haven in 1910.
Richard D. Pope & Julie Downing Pope c. 1920s
At the age of 12, he joined his father at his Winter Haven real estate office and learned to help out when Richard D. Pope c. 1920s Julie Downing Pope c. 1920s J. Walker Pope was out of town. Following one particular trip, his father returned to learn that young Richard had shown a property and arranged the deal for the sale.
It was definitely a sign of things to come and “an idea a minute” became his trademark. While other youngsters were involved with traditional childhood pursuits, Dick Pope was beginning a career in sales and promotion.
As a teenager, Pope enjoyed golf, skiing, and photography. He also served as vice president of the 1918 graduating class of Winter Haven High School. Following a brief attempt at college, he returned to Winter Haven. He managed to find plenty of time to play golf ... fast becoming Florida’s Amateur Champion. He traveled the country for tournaments. Ultimately, in North Carolina for the National Amateur Championship, he accomplished two major feats: he came in second in the tournament, and he met the perfect business partner ... his future wife, Julie Downing.
Dick and Julie married and by 1931 found themselves living in New York City as he worked in public relations. As young parents, they evaluated the potential for success if they remained in New York. Dick felt “you could make more money” there, but didn’t enjoy what you had to endure to do it. Both longed to return to the south.
Dick and Julie continued to refine their idea of a garden so beautiful, that people would pay admission to see it. Due to his boating expertise, Dick was asked to serve on the Canal Commission. He believed the canals connecting Winter Haven’s lakes were the community’s greatest asset.
Times were very tough in Florida. The stock market crash came directly on the devastating collapse of the Florida land boom. The Florida Emergency Relief Association (FERA) paid a dollar a day to many who otherwise would have no work. The work involved odd jobs such as raking leaves.
Soon, Pope advanced an idea to use FERA funds and financial support from the Canal District to build a garden that would be owned publicly but charge an admission fee. He would serve as administrator (and promoter). He sold the idea to the Chamber of Commerce, and before long, excitement was growing throughout Winter Haven.
Pope picked the location for Cypress Gardens based on his memories of camping there as a boy of 13, having traveled to the site by a horse drawn wagon.
During the land boom, a country club was built on the site overlooking Lake Eloise. In the early 30s, it sat boarded up. Citrus grower John Snively, Sr., agreed to permit the use of this building for ticket sales and a small gift shop.
His greatest challenge at the time was convincing others to join in the mission. He needed $1200 or more from several sources ... a lot of money for the time. John Snively, Sr., George Andrews (Haven Hotel), M.M. “Dad” Lee (Florida Chief) and George Burr (Winter Haven Herald) ultimately believed in Pope’s dream enough to provide some backing.
In addition, the Canal Commission had spent $6500 in an arrangement worked out by Pope and Ray Bice. With a budget of 3500 “man-days” at a dollar a day, FERA crews started digging canals and working on the property in September of 1932. It didn’t look particularly good as a work in progress, and doubts began to surface. City and canal officials began to doubt its viability. FERA representatives visited the site and announced they were pulling out of the process. The Canal Commission insisted that they be relieved of the responsibility of the “disaster.”
Pope and John Snively decided to take over the project and struck a deal with the Canal Commission to repay the money invested. They would pay $500 down and the balance over a period of three years. It was 1933, and Pope would eventually be derided as “Swami of the Swamp.”
Julie and Dick formed “Florida Cypress Gardens Association, Inc.” and both were owners. Pope later noted, “It was a little rough going for a while because 30 men worked six days a week for $1 a day and when I didn’t have the money I’d call (Publix Founder) George Jenkins - the Pope family grocer - tell him I was a little short and ask to give out chits for $1.25 each to the workers.” Jenkins agreed, and Pope reportedly offered him stock, but Jenkins replied, “No, I’ll stay in the business I know best.”
Julie Pope brought her “green thumb” to the initial landscaping for the Gardens. She and friends traveled the area gathering plants that residents were willing to share. From bougainvillea to flame vines and azaleas to camellias, those first sprigs and sprouts brought the Gardens to life.
Pope was a master promoter. As he and Julie designed the Gardens, he developed a plan to make every path beautiful and photogenic from every angle. Each plant, flower, and tree that was added was placed in position after Pope had viewed the location through a camera viewfinder. Composition, color, beauty, and lighting were important considerations for each pathway. Working with his good friend and legendary photographer, Robert “Bob” Dahlgren, Cypress Gardens was planned to photographic perfection.
On January 2, 1936, Cypress Gardens officially opened to the public. In the midst of the Great Depression, the Popes had created the foundation of a park that would eventually welcome 45 million visitors with Winter Haven tagging along for the ride.
Next month: The “Swami of the Swamp” has the Last Laugh
