Land South Adventures , a branch of Mulberry , Florida-based Land South Holdings , bought Cypress Gardens at a bankruptcy auction on October 16 , 2007 for $ 16.9 million , leaving Buescher as temporary manager until Baker Leisure Group of Orlando , Florida took over running the park in January 2008 . Land South Adventures , a subsidiary of Mulberry , Florida-based Land South Holdings , purchased Cypress Gardens at a bankruptcy auction on October 16 , 2007 , for $ 16.9 million , leaving Buescher as interim manager until Baker Leisure Group of Orlando , Florida , took over park operations in January 2008 .