Legoland Florida Announcement

Lego have announced the opening of Legoland Florida on the site of Cypress Gardens in Central Florida.

It will be the largest Legoland to date and will create 1,000 jobs. It is expected to open in late 2011.

Cypress Gardens has been bought by the Merlin Entertainments Group who currently operate four other Legoland parks in California, England, Germany and Denmark. The Merlin Entertainments Group is the second largest entertainment group in the world after Disney with twelve other theme parks in the United States.

Leogland traditionally appeals to young children and their parents with rides, shows and of course tons of Lego. Upwards of fifty rides, shows and attractions are planned.

The plan is to keep the famous botanical gardens and possibly some of the existing on-site rides that will be re-themed and maybe even the water ski show. Longer term, there is the possibility of a hotel resort at which point it will probably be renamed the Legoland Florida Resort.

It is also likely that the existing water park will be re-opened but separate from the new Legoland Florida park.

Cypress Gardens is located in Winter Haven off the I-4, about 50 miles west of Orlando and within an easy drive from Tampa.