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2 questions 1. Does anyone know if cypress gardens amusement park in florida will be open during spring break, march 23-31 for me.
2. What's the best amtrak stop for the park?
Anything would be appreciated.
Fla1 Member # 2989
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The Cypress Gardens web site says they will be open.
It's in Winter Haven. The Amtrak station in Winter Haven is served by both the Silver Meteor and the Silver Star.
SilverStar092 Member # 2652
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Newspapers here in Florida recently had an article about the opening and it will be open for you. It was a great place for years and the new park should be even better. Winter Haven is the best stop and is within about 4 miles of the park.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Off topic, but what was the "Old Florida' attracton 'sort of near' Ocala that recently shut down?
So long as we are addressing "Old Florida", looked what appeared in the Sunday Travel Section of The New York Times.
[This message has been edited by Gilbert B Norman (edited 12-20-2004).]
Thansks for the tip on the New York Times article. I went to DeLand High School and then on to Stetson University in DeLand. I still visit DeLand frequently, and it looks like I'll be visiting even more since Amtrak train service has ended here in Ocala, and I have little interest in getting off the Star at 4:30 am to ride a 3-hour bus to Ocala.
Merry Christmas!
Kairho Member # 1567
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...except the Six Gun Territory closing wasn't recent ... it was in the early 1980s that it closed.
I'm in Ocala and am not aware of any other nearby attraction that has closed...
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Wasn't it some kind of underwater pagent in which the performers got to "take a gasp' on;y when their routine called for them to break the surface?
sbalax Member # 2801
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Are you thinking of Wikki Watchee Springs? (Sp?) I think it closed in the last couple of years. Where did all those Mermaids go?
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Thanks, Kairho, for the link. Now I can stop worrying about where out of work Mermaids would find employment.
Frank in DARK SBA.
socalsteve Member # 2406
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The lost Ocala park I believe is Silver Springs. That's where they had glass-bottom boats.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Oh yes, the subject of a Doris Day Arthur Godfrey movie that still makes rounds on the movie channels.
Arthur strumming the Ukelele and Doris warbling 'The Glass Bottom Boat".
Also a recent touch of Old Florida was part of a 2002 TV movie titled 'Sunshine State' that starred Carmella Soprano.
Oh well, isn't this supposed to be a rail forum? Judging from some of the stuff I have seen around here, this could actually be considered on topic.
At least you can ride Amtrak to get there.
Kairho Member # 1567
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No, Silver Springs is alive and well...
rresor Member # 128
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Ah, Old Florida! Yes, there's still a bit of it left. As someone who more-or-less grew up in South Florida (Delray Beach) I wholly agree with Carl Hiassen, columnist for the Miami Herald, when he says, "There's nothing wrong with South Florida that a good Category 5 hurricane won't fix!"
I've been to DeLeon Springs, Deland, and Orange Park, and driven Bartram Highway along the river. It's a favorite stretch of "what once was" and, for the moment, still is. And the former ACL main line runs right through it.
Another remote and wonderful area lies between Gainesville and Tallahassee, along what once was the "Perry Cutoff" used by Chicago-Florida train "The Southland" with cars for St. Pete. Tampa, Punta Gorda, and points south. The railroad is gone now, by I recommend a stop in Walker's Oyster Bar in Perry. I sat down, the waitress came over and said, "You here for oysters?" I answered yes, and her next question was, "How many dozen you want?" Turned out they were $2.50 a dozen. Now that was 20 years ago, but I had some in Tallahassee a few years back for $3.25....it's a long way from Tallahassee to Ft. Lauderdale.
SilverStar092 Member # 2652
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You bet it's a long way from here in Tallahassee to Ft. Lauderdale. Speaking of the Perry cutoff, I rode on part of that line on what likely was its last move. A few years ago several of us had a chance to ride private motorcars (speeders) on the Wilcox Jct to Cross City segment which, at that time, was the northernmost remaining part of the line. The dirt road crossings were totally covered by sand and we dug down several inches before the rails could be seen. At othe rpoints the weeds were 3 feet high and we were surprised the motors didn't get fouled. About a week later they pulled up the rails.
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