{"product_id":"cypress-gardens-fl-images-of-america-073854339x","title":"Cypress Gardens, FL (Images of America)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN:\u003c\/strong\u003e 073854339X\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Flekke, Mary M.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e New\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFlorida's first theme park, Cypress Gardens, was the brainchild of Richard Downing Dick\" Pope Sr. With his wife, Julie Downing Pope, he transformed a marshy, lakeside property in Winter Haven into a magnificent garden. The park's first visitors in 1936 toured pathways surrounded by lush plants from around the world. Two years later, electric boats meandered through the park's winding, hand-dug canals. Water ski shows commenced in 1942, and the park became the \"Water Ski Capital of the World.\" The Florida-shaped Esther Williams Swimming Pool still graces the shore of Lake Eloise. The park was a set for dozens of short feature films, a stage for beauty pageants, and a site for special television broadcasts. A butterfly garden, zoo, rides, and the small-town Southern Crossroads shopping and dining area remain popular features. Kent Buescher purchased Cypress Gardens in 2004, and today's expanded Cypress Gardens Adventure Park preserves the family-friendly appeal of Dick and Julie Pope's magnificent park.\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mia Karts","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51885623509280,"sku":"NEW073854339X","price":28.36,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0980\/7426\/3840\/files\/51iN-BSVouL.jpg?v=1781896319","url":"https:\/\/miakarts.com\/products\/cypress-gardens-fl-images-of-america-073854339x","provider":"Miakarts Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}