Gazebo at Cypress Gardens, 1989

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Dublin Core

Title

Gazebo at Cypress Gardens, 1989

Alternative Title

Cypress Gardens

Subject

Winter Haven (Fla.)
Theme parks

Description

Nancy Lynn Cepero (b. 1954) and two of her children, Dennis Cepero (b. 1986) and Laura Lynn Cepero (b. 1987), at a gazebo at Cypress Gardens in June of 1989. Billed as Florida's first commercial tourist theme park, Cypress Gardens opened on January 2, 1936, as a botanical garden planted by Dick Pope, Sr. (1900-1988) and his wife, Julie Pope. Over the years, it became one of the biggest attractions in Florida, known for its water ski shows, lush gardens, and Southern Belles. It also became known as the "Water Ski Capital of the World," because many of the sport's landmark firsts and the over 50 world records broken there. Numerous motion pictures were filmed at the Cypress Gardens, including portions of This is Cinerama, the first feature filmed in the wide-screen format, as well as a string of Esther Williams films and television specials in the 1950s and 1960s.

In the 1950s, young women dressed in the crinolines reminiscent of the Antebellum South. During the American Civil War Centennial, young men dressed in Confederate uniforms would be photographed with the Southern Belles. With the addition of a custom photography boat named Miss Cover Girl in the early 1960s, the park became a popular site for the filming of television commercials. However, Cypress Gardens closed in 2009 and Legoland occupies the former lot at 1 Legoland Way in Winter Haven, Florida.

Source

Original color photographs, June 1989: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.

Date Created

ca. 1989-06

Contributor

Cepero, Nancy Lynn

Is Format Of

Digital reproduction of original color photographs, June 1989.

Is Part Of

Winter Haven Collection, Polk County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.

Format

image/jpg

Extent

190 KB
133 KB
121 KB

Medium

3 color photographs

Type

Still Image

Coverage

Cypress Gardens, Winter Haven, Florida

Accrual Method

Donation

Mediator

History Teacher
Geography Teacher

Rights Holder

Copyright to this resource is held by Nancy Lynn Cepero and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.

Curator

Cepero, Laura

Digital Collection

External Reference

"Cypress Gardens Adventure Park." Florida Amusement Parks .com. http://www.floridaamusementparks.com/resources/Cypress-Gardens-Adventure-Park.html.
Flekke, Mary M., Sarah E. MacDonald, and Randall M. MacDonald. Cypress Gardens. Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 2006.
Rajtar, Steve. A Guide to Historic Orlando. Charleston, SC: History Press, 2006.

Citation

“Gazebo at Cypress Gardens, 1989,” RICHES, accessed March 19, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/4470.

Locations

Categories