After Over 85 Years, This Florida Theme Park Attraction Is PERMANENTLY CLOSING

One of Florida’s longest-lasting attractions is ending its run.

©Florida Memory

Long before Disney World, Universal, Busch Gardens, and the rest, Cypress Gardens was the entertainment hub of Florida. Originally opened in 1936 by the legendary Dick Pope Sr., the botanical garden and theme park was the state’s primary tourist destination for decades before Disney came to town. The park was headlined by a water-skiing show that drew in millions of guests — including some huge celebrities — to see daredevil performers, including Dick Pope Jr. The show’s success popularized the sport and made the park’s home of Winter Haven the “water skiing capital of the world.”

Cypress Gardens closed in 2009 but was purchased and refurbished by Merlin Entertainment, who opened LEGOLAND Florida on the site in 2011. In the decade since, a LEGO-themed version of the water-skiing show has remained part of the park… until now.

LEGOLAND

In mid-December 2024, LEGOLAND announced that the show, which is currently known as Brickbeard’s Watersport Stunt Show, will be closing after a final performance on December 30th. In a statement, the park said that the show “has been a beloved part of our history, creating lasting memories for families over the years. While we cherish this legacy, we are listening to our guests and our focus is on introducing new and dynamic experiences to continue creating family memories.”

©VisitCentralFlorida

Mark Voisard, a longtime Cypress Gardens employee who was the director of the water ski show for over a decade, told WFLA that he believed the closure of the show was a cost-cutting measure. “It wasn’t one of the top attractions at LEGOLAND, so they ultimately had to make a business decision. It’s pretty sad for the area because people would go there and go, ‘I remember coming here as a kid.’”

©LEGOLAND

A group of skiers, including Voisard’s son, make up the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team and plan to keep the area’s “tradition” alive with monthly performances on Lake Silver.

The final iteration of the legendary Cypress Garden’s water skiing show — LEGOLAND’s Brickbeard’s Watersport Stunt Show — is closing after a near-90-year run in Winter Haven, Florida. Stay tuned to AllEars for more on what’s coming to LEGOLAND.