Orlando Magnate David A. Siegel meets with Florida Deputy Secretary Bob Ballard to discuss buying Cypress Gardens David A. Siegel and Burma Davis Posey, President of "Friends of Cypress Gardens" have met with Florida DEP Deputy Secretary Bob Ballard to discuss Siegel`s possible acquisition of Cypress Gardens. Ballard has been appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to gather information to help save Cypress Gardens. Siegel and Ballard discussed the state purchasing part of the park to retain as a Historical site and Siegel buying the remaining acreage. This would keep the park intact and make it possible to immediately hire back the 529 people who lost their jobs with only three days notice.
Siegel plans to spend several million dollars of his own money to clean, then update the park. This would include a new entrance with lush landscaping and new signage. He would install a flowering hedge along Cypress Gardens Boulevard to block the parking lots from view. He plans to investigate the possibility of a History and Collections Center, which could include:
"Gone With The Wind Museum" valued at $66 million; This would be located in the Historic mansion built in 1941 to look like Tara. "Royal Doulton Historical Museum", the largest collection of jugs and figures in the world with over 1,400 some valued at over $10,000 each "Pageant Hall of Fame" This would be the first pageant museum in the world with gowns of former Miss America`s and Miss Universe`s "Florida Sports Hall of Fame"
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The Dick Pope-Cypress Gardens Story Museum"
This could lead to Cypress Gardens becoming the "Smithsonian of the South"!
Siegel also plans to greatly enlarge the water park to attract as many families as possible. He will bring the entire park up to the present day without eliminating any of the features, such as the Botanical Gardens and Ski Show, that have attracted people there for the past 67 years. His goal is to make Cypress Gardens better than it was during its peak years.
Siegel, who made his fortune building timeshares, has no intention of adding residential to the property. "I make my money with my other businesses. I want Cypress Gardens to be the Legacy and gift I leave to my five children and the children of tomorrow."
He will use every marketing resource he has to generate the large numbers of tourists and local residents that would be needed to make the Park successful. He has over 15,000 guests currently staying in his various resorts in central Florida. He is planning many more thousands of new accommodations also within a 30 minute ride. 300,000 families own his Timeshare villas. He also publishes, "I Love Orlando" magazine with 1.5 million copies per issue. He will bombard the millions of Timeshare owners throughout the world with information regarding Cypress Gardens. Siegel buys more Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld tickets than anyone in the world. He is a marketing genius with billboards and tourism locations throughout Central Florida that will expose millions of people to Cypress Gardens.
Burma Davis Posey, former Miss Georgia, is leading the "Friends of Cypress Gardens" grass roots effort to save ALL the Gardens. She and her daughter, Shanna, handed out 14,500 fliers on the final day with Governor Jeb Bush`s personal e-mail address. The Governor was bombarded with e-mails and went on television the next day saying he would pursue the state purchasing Cypress Gardens for a state park. "Friends of Cypress Gardens" are very happy about Siegel`s involvement and vision.
Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce President, Brad Dantzler, appointed his brother, Rick Dantzler, to head a local Task Force. Rick Dantzler had been defeated in the Governor`s race by Jeb Bush. From the time of the closing, Dantzler and Executive Director of the Chamber, Bob Gernert have tried to save only 37 acres, then 75 acres of the park. A record breaking crowd attended the Task Force meeting. A hand count was demanded by the audience and 97% of the people supported the state purchasing ALL of Cypress Gardens. Only three people voted to save 37 acres of the 233 acres.
In spite of the overwhelming vote, Dantzler decided to outline what was "Historically Significant" enough to save and recommended only 75 acres to the state. This would allow the developer 158 acres to build condominiums and small houses. The audience hissed and booed!
Dantzler and Gernert have both been quoted saying Seigel could not make a profit as it would cause Florida Forever to lose their tax-exempt status. Deputy Secretary Bob Ballard said, "That information is ridiculous!!!"
Even if it were true, which it is not, Mr. Siegel laughed and said, "I will get Historic Restrictions put on the older part of the park. I will also write in the contract that all money made will go directly back into the Gardens to better the park!"
The "Friends of Cypress Gardens" incorporated and in just five short weeks, they now have active members in 27 states, 6 countries, 48 cities in Florida and 100 additional members who wrote emotional letters without giving their addresses. They have planned a huge rally in Tallahassee on June 5 when the Acquisition and Restoration Council meets to take public comment. In attendance will be former queens, Cypress Gardens skiers, senior citizens, children, and "Friends of Cypress Gardens" dressed in matching "Save all of Cypress Gardens" shirts. The ARC will then make their recommendation to Governor Bush in August. The first council voted in April 7-0 to recommend saving all the gardens..
Siegel has met with Bill Sims to manage Cypress Gardens. Mr. Sims worked 15 years at Cypress Gardens for Dick Pope, Sr. He also managed Silver Springs. He said it will be like coming home!!! He thinks like Dick Pope, Sr., is a gentleman, and working with David Siegel will once again make Cypress Gardens a world class destination.
Siegel is one of those rare wealthy men who enjoys giving back to his community. He has a charitable organization that gives over $1,000,000 per year to organizations and those in need. There ARE some great honest successful business men out there who want to make the world a better place. David A. Siegel is one of them. |
