Active community named after iconic Florida attraction
Cypress Gardens, named after Florida’s first theme park and home to Winter Haven’s biggest attraction, is an appealing community dotted by lakes just 5 miles from Historic Downtown Winter Haven. This Central Florida destination of more than 10,000 takes center stage in fast-growing Polk County, a popular alternative to buzzier and more expensive locales nearby. “A lot of people are looking to purchase a Florida home, and the Orlando/Kissimmee area is pretty tapped out. So if someone is looking to invest, Winter Haven is a great place,” says Emily Ward, a Realtor with EXP Realty and community resident. “We’re near Orlando and near Tampa, but we have a smaller state of mind. With lower prices, it’s a great place for people looking for longer-term investments.”
Traditional ranch-style homes on spacious lots are prominent in Cypress Gardens.
Residents of Cypress Gardens can enjoy boating and fishing on Lake Ned.
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Median prices are less than county and state medians
Waterfront homes often featuring private docks highlight an eclectic mix of housing built in a variety of residential pockets around the community’s many lakes. Traditional ranch-style homes on spacious lots are prominent, while contemporary custom homes in subdivision settings comprise much of the newer housing. “The average home in Winter Haven is about $350,000,” Ward says. “You can get a lot of house here for that money, usually about 2,000 to 2,500 square feet.” Manufactured homes in 55-plus offer even more affordable options. The median price is around $290,000, about $20,000 less than the county median and about 30 percent less than the statewide median. Residents enjoy a subtropical climate that allows for year-round activities, and they avoid the severe weather risks faced by the state’s coastal communities. Wind damage remains a risk during hurricane season.
Cypress Gardens neighborhood is a growing community with new and beautiful homes in Florida.
Many homes in Cypress Gardens have delightful front porches and a wrap-around driveway.
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Cypress Gardens, Legoland are well-known community attractions
The community got its name from the titular botanical marvel billed as Florida’s first theme park, around since 1936. For context, Disney World didn’t open until 1971. No longer a stand-alone park, the gardens are still an impressive sight. The meticulously landscaped grounds on the shores of Lake Eloise are home to a massive banyan tree planted as a seedling in 1939 and nearly 8,000 flower varieties from 90 countries. The gardens are preserved as part of Legoland Florida, a theme park and resort that attracts about 1.5 million visitors per year. More than just a tourist attraction, Legoland offers discounted rates to Florida residents, making it especially attractive to families living in the community. The colorful park features a popular water park, and its attractions include not only an assortment of rides and games but a Lego-themed water-skiing show on Lake Eloise. The park also hosts an annual Pirate Fest, a weekend extravaganza from late January to late February. Legoland’s newest addition is a theme park dedicated to Peppa Pig.
Legoland brings more than 1.5 million visitors a year to the Cypress Gardens neighborhood.
Enjoy a sunny day with the family at Legoland Water Park in Cypress Gardens.
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Lake Eloise, Lake Lulu are part of popular chain
There are more than 50 lakes in Winter Haven, including the many interconnected lakes that make up the city’s well-known chains. Two of the lakes in Cypress Garden, Lake Eloise and Lake Lulu, are part of the southern chain. Canals connect all the lakes in the southern and northern chains, providing an array of waterfront recreational options. Lake Eloise, a public lake, is the largest in the southern chain at more than 1,150 acres. Eloise is connected to smaller neighborhood lakes Lulu, Roy and Summitt. Ned Lake is part of the city’s outlying lakes. The neighborhood hums with activity on its lakes, as residents can take to the water for speed boat runs or nautical adventures that test one’s skills. “Winter Haven is known as the water-skiing capital of the world,” says Ward, who notes that the Cypress Gardens theme park used to employ a world-renowned water-skiing team. The team now puts on a monthly show on Lake Silver in neighboring downtown Winter Haven. Fishing is arguably the most popular pastime in Central Florida, a region famous for its bass fishing. Nature lovers can visit the Lake Region Audubon Nature Preserve, where scenic wooded trails are home to an impressive array of native flora and fauna.
Take in the lake views at the Lake Ned Park dock in Cypress Gardens.
Boating on Lake Summit is a typical weekly attraction in Cypress Gardens.
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Cypress Gardens Boulevard commercial corridor leads to downtown Winter Haven
Cypress Gardens Boulevard, the city’s primary commercial corridor, runs through the community, offering easy access to retail and dining. The corridor leads directly to downtown Winter Haven, where an even greater concentration of retail and dining options, as well as historic theaters and contemporary concert venues can be found. Back in the community, Harry’s Old Place, a well-known seafood restaurant on Ned Lake, is a featured eatery. “Harry’s has been around for quite a while,” Ward says. “It’s one of the old family-run businesses in this area.”
Cypress Gardens Blvd is the main commercial corridor in the community full of retail & dining.
Harry’s Old Place is a well-known seafood restaurant on Ned Lake in Cypress Gardens.
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Niche gives Polk County Schools a B
Students are served by Polk County Public Schools, which earns an overall grade of B from Niche and As for sports and diversity. The district offers a choice program, so eligible students can attend schools outside of their geographic zones.
Garden Grove Elementary School serves over 600 Cypress Gardens students from Pre-K to 5th grade.
Cypress Gardens students finish their education at Winter Haven Senior High School.
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U.S. Highway 17, U.S. Highway 27 provide access to nearby cities
Citrus Connection bus stops populate the community, providing easy access to public transportation. Winter Haven Hospital is conveniently located downtown. Nearby U.S. Highway 17 and U.S. Highway 27 offer travel to nearby points of interest, including Bartow, Lake Wales, Haines City and Davenport. Lakeland is less than 15 miles directly west. Winter Haven is centrally located between Orlando and Tampa. Both have international airports that are about 50 miles away via Interstate 4.
Crime statistics for Cypress Gardens are not readily available.
Written By
Matt Pallister
Photography Contributed By
Jeffery Palmer
Video By
Nathan Allen
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Steve Lockhart,
an experienced agent in this area.
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