Dick Pope Sr.
Founder of Cypress Gardens and promoter of Florida tourism.
Floodmfx · CC BY-SA 3.0
Richard Downing Pope Sr. (April 19, 1900 – January 28, 1988), better known as Dick Pope, was a driving force behind Florida’s tourism boom. He created the Cypress Gardens theme park and helped turn water skiing into a popular pastime. His many nicknames included “Mr. Florida,” “Mr. Water Skiing,” the “Grand Poobah of Publicity,” and an “aquatic Barnum.”
Born in Des Moines, Iowa, legend has it that Pope arrived during a tornado, which supposedly gave him his whirlwind energy. His family moved to Lake Wales, Florida, when he was seven, in 1908. He later spent time living and working in New York City. In 1926, he met his future wife, Julie, in North Carolina. The couple settled near Winter Haven, Florida, where they were active members of St. Matthew’s Catholic Church. They raised two children, Dick Pope Jr. and Adrienne Pope Watkins. During World War II, Pope served in the U.S. Army Air Forces. He was known for his lively personality and flashy wardrobe, including a turquoise suit trimmed in pink, worn with bright white shoes.
Pope began working in his father’s real estate business as a child and reportedly closed his first deal at age 12. During the Great Depression, he took various promotional and sales jobs. With his brother, he found some success promoting speedboats and aquaplanes on Florida lakes. In the early 1930s, Julie showed him a *Good Housekeeping* article about a man charging visitors to see his manicured gardens. That inspired the idea for Cypress Gardens. Over the next few years, the Popes turned a swampy patch on Lake Eloise into a theme park garden. They opened on January 2, 1936, charging 25 cents admission. It was an instant hit.
Cypress Gardens eventually grew to more than 200 acres and drew over a million visitors each year. The park offered an escape from daily life, with idyllic botanical gardens and Southern belles as hostesses. During World War II, soldiers waiting to deploy from Tampa saw photos of water skiers on the park’s lake and assumed water ski shows were part of the entertainment. When a small group showed up ready to pay, Julie Pope quickly gathered her children and their friends for an impromptu exhibition. It was a success, and the next weekend 800 more soldiers arrived. Water ski shows became a permanent feature of the park.
Quick Facts
- Birth Name
- Richard Downing Pope
- Birth Date
- 1900-04-19
- Birth Place
- Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
- Death Date
- 1988-01-28
- Death Place
- Winter Haven, Florida, U.S.
- Occupation
- Founder of Cypress Gardens
- Spouse
- Julie Pope
- Children
- 2, including Dick Pope Jr.
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Dick Pope Sr. was born in Des Moines, Iowa, according to legend during a tornado, from which he was said to have derived his whirlwind personality. At age 7, his family moved to Lake Wales, Florida. He met his future wife, Julie Pope, in North Carolina in 1926. They spent most of their lives in and around Winter Haven, Florida, and had two children, Dick Pope Jr. and Adrienne Pope Watkins. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces. Pope was known for his lively personality and flamboyant clothing, including a turquoise suit trimmed in pink worn with bright white shoes.
Pope started working in his father's real estate business at an early age and closed his first real estate deal at age 12.
Reader's Guide
Dick Pope Sr. significantly shaped Florida tourism and the sport of water skiing. He referred to himself as the "Grand Poobah of Publicity" and through his efforts, the image of Florida as a playground for sun and fun spread worldwide. He distributed photos of attractive beachgoers and persuaded weather services to say "partly sunny" instead of "partly cloudy." He is credited with single-handedly revitalizing Florida tourism after the Great Depression and World War II. Cypress Gardens helped establish central Florida as the dominant area in the world for theme parks.
His legacy continues through the Dick Pope All-Florida Grand Golden Image Award given by the Florida Public Relations Association, the Dick Pope Sr. Institute For Tourism Studies at the University of Central Florida, and the Dick Pope Legacy Hall of Fame Awards established in 2013. A plaque honoring him was revealed in 2014 at the Orange County Convention Center. In water skiing, he was a member of the first class of inductees into the Water Ski Hall of Fame and also a member of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame. He hosted the second World Water Ski Championship in 1950 and again in 1958, and his Dixie Water Ski tournament was a major annual competition. He served as American Water Ski Association vice-president for life and helped form the World Water Ski Federation.
Did You Know?
- In 1928, he became the first person to successfully complete a jump on water skis, jumping a wooden ramp and going 25 feet.
- He and his son Dick Pope Jr. are the only father–son pair in the Water Ski Hall of Fame.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dick Pope Sr.?
Dick Pope Sr. (1900–1988) was an American tourism developer and water-skiing promoter who played a central role in shaping Florida's identity as a recreational destination. He is best remembered for founding the Cypress Gardens theme park and championing water skiing as a mainstream sport.
What is Dick Pope Sr. most famous for inventing or creating?
Pope is credited with building Cypress Gardens, a theme park in Lake Wales, Florida, and with helping transform water skiing from a niche novelty into a widely enjoyed pastime. His promotional genius turned both the park and the sport into major draws for visitors.
What nicknames did Dick Pope Sr. go by?
He was widely called "Mr. Florida," "Mr. Water Skiing," the "Grand Poobah of Publicity," and an "aquatic Barnum," reflecting his flair for showmanship and his deep ties to the state's tourism industry.
Where was Dick Pope Sr. born and what's the legend about his arrival?
He was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on April 19, 1900, and family lore holds that he arrived during a tornado, a story fans cite as the source of his whirlwind energy. His family relocated to Lake Wales, Florida, in 1908 when he was just seven years old.
Why is Dick Pope Sr. considered important in sports and tourism history?
Pope's ability to package entertainment, water sports, and publicity into a single experience helped launch Florida's modern tourism economy and put water skiing on the national map. His legacy endures in the parks, events, and promotional culture he pioneered in the early-to-mid twentieth century.
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