The Place That Made Water Skiing Famous

Some of my favorite childhood memories begin behind a boat.

In the 1950s and 1960s, it seemed like everyone was water skiing, including my grandmother. Her claim to fame, at least according to family lore, was skiing from Fort Hamer all the way to the De Soto Bridge. In another family tale my uncles gave up barefoot skiing because their feet had had enough. Instead, they slipped on Converse tennis shoes and kept right on skiing. They wore jeans  instead of swim trunks because  the saltwater gave the denim that perfectly weathered look that couldn't be bought in a store.

Above: A performer waterskis barefoot at Cypress Gardens circa 1950. 

By the time I was growing up in the 1980s, the tradition was still going strong. My dad once bet my mom she couldn't get up behind a 15-horsepower motor. She proved him wrong. Determined not to lose the bet, she held on even after she lost the top instead. 

I always loved these stories, but looking back, I realized my family wasn't unique. Water skiing had become a way of life for families across Florida. It made me wonder how the sport became so popular. The answer leads to one remarkable place: Cypress Gardens.

Above: Ladies relax at a pool in the shape of the State of Florida at Cypress Gardens circa 1950. 

When Cypress Gardens opened in Winter Haven on Jan. 2, 1936, it wasn't a water-ski attraction. Intead, owners Dick and Julie Pope envisioned a beautiful botanical garden where visitors could stroll among towering cypress trees, colorful blooms and winding canals. Their vision quickly blossomed into something much larger.

Before Disney World transformed Florida tourism, Cypress Gardens was the state's premier attraction, drawing visitors from around the world. Even Roy Disney (Walt's older brother)  reportedly visited the park to study what made it so successful, according to "Florida Frontiers: Cypress Gardens" by the Florida Historical Society.

Above: A stunt man performs a jump with a boat as specators look on circa 1950s. 

Ironically, the famous water ski shows  that Cyprus Gardens became known for  were never part of the original plan. During World War II,  soldiers stationed nearby saw a photograph of people waterskiing at Cyprus Gardens and beleived it to be part of the allure. They arrived at the location expecting to see a water ski show they had heard about. There wasn't one. Rather than disappoint the crowd, Julie Pope gathered family members and friends, handed them skis and staged an impromptu performance. The crowd loved it, and what began as a spontaneous demonstration soon became one of Florida's most recognizable attractions, according to "Richard Downing Pope Sr." by USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation.

Above: Actress Esther Williams peforms for a movie scene at Cypress Gardens.  

Although Cypress Gardens didn't invent water skiing, it introduced the sport to millions of people. The Popes were master promoters, filling magazines with colorful photographs, mailing postcards around the world and welcoming Hollywood film crews and television producers to showcase the park's famous ski shows. World championship competitions, synchronized ski pyramids and daring barefoot performances turned water skiing into must-see entertainment. Families visited Cypress Gardens, returned home inspired and bought boats and skis of their own. Before long, weekends on Florida's lakes, rivers and bays were filled with people eager to give the sport a try, according to "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Cypress Gardens" by the National Park Service and "Florida Frontiers: Cypress Gardens" by the Florida Historical Society.

Cypress Gardens did more than entertain visitors. Dick Pope earned the nickname "Father of Florida Tourism" for helping shape the state's image as a place of sunshine, adventure and family vacations. In many ways, the park became Florida's front porch, welcoming visitors from across the country and introducing them to a lifestyle centered around the outdoors. Water skiing became part of that identity, creating memories that stretched far beyond the park's location in Winter Haven., according to the National Register of Historic Places.

Above: Waterskiers perform acrobatics at Cypress Gardens cira 1980s. 

Looking back, it's no surprise that everyone seemed to own a pair of  water skis. What started as an attraction in Central Florida became part of family life across the state, including my own. Those old Cypress Gardens skis that still sit in my mom's garage are more than a piece of sporting equipment. They're a reminder of weekends spent on the water, family stories that still make us laugh and a time when a boat, a pair of skis and a little determination were all you needed to create memories that would last a lifetime.

All photos  were provided by the State Archives of Florida.