Cypress Gardens Purchased by Merlin Entertainment Group

Feb. 24, 2010 - PRLog -- Cypress Gardens was sold again and this time the new owners are re-inventing this Winter Haven, Florida theme park. Cypress Gardens, billed as the oldest theme park in Florida has been a destination of millions from around the world for several decades and was always known for the water-ski stunts and acrobats along with the gorgeous gardens.

Merlin Entertainments Group has bought the Winter Haven Park after months of speculation following the abrupt closure of Cypress Gardens in September 2009. The sale includes the original botanical gardens and the Splash Island water park. Merlin Entertainments Group is considered the world's second-largest attraction company and intends on turning Cypress Gardens into a Legoland theme park. The company owns 59 attractions in 13 different countries. Currently there are only four Legoland parks, three in Europe and one in Carlsbad, Calif., south of Los Angeles.

The new Legoland theme park would be a rebirth for tourism in Polk County and especially Winter Haven. Highland Homes currently has six communities in the Winter Haven area –, Lakeside Landings, Normandy Heights, St. James Crossing, Brenton Manor, Crescent View and Mandolin II – and is eager to provide central Florida new homes (http://www.highlandhomes.org) for the many new employees the theme park will attract.

Lakeside Landings features Winter Haven homes (http://www.highlandhomes.org/community.php?cid=57) priced from the $120’s. Highland Homes has over 30 floor plans to choose from ranging from 1,112 square feet with three bedrooms, two baths and a two-car garage up to 2439 square feet featuring four bedrooms, three baths and a two-car garage. The community offers exceptional amenities such as a recreation center, tot-lot, multipurpose fields, pool, jogging trail, dock and more.

Normandy Heights is located off of Winter Lake Road (Hwy 540). This community has always been popular with families looking for a high rated school system close to all the city conveniences. Homes at this Polk County community range from three to five bedrooms with two to three baths, and homeowners have a wide variety of floorplans to pick from including both ranch and two-story designs.

St. James Crossing is located in Auburndale, Florida off Hwy. 17/92. The community offers nearly 30 floor plans ranging from 1,100 square feet to over 2,600 square feet, with both ranch and two story homes available with 3 to 5 bedrooms and 2 to 3 baths.

Off of Hwy 27, Brenton Manor is a charming community of single family homes. The close proximity to downtown Winter Haven and convenient access to I-4 makes commuting around town and to Orlando a breeze. Like the other Winter Haven new home communities (http://www.highlandhomes.org/community.php?cid=25), Brenton Manor features both ranch and two-story floorplans for home shoppers to choose from.

Located just off 653 near the Chain of Lakes Elementary school, the Winter Haven new homes at Crescent View are priced from the $130’s and floor plans range from 1,100 square feet to over 2,800. These beautiful homes are situated on oversized homesites, a rarity for the area.

Priced from the $120s, Mandolin II is a gated community conveniently located less than 10 minutes from the site that will be the new Legoland theme park in Florida. This community showcases premium waterfront home sites with a wide variety of available floorplans.

Founded in 1996, by Robert J. and Joel Adams the vision of Highland Homes was established with a commitment to excellence and family values. Dedication, strong leadership and personal commitment have made Highland Homes the largest homebuilder in Polk County. Highland Homes has proudly maintained these virtues ever since.