WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- The new owner of Cypress Gardens has pushed back the reopening of the historic Florida attraction from July to October because the park was in worse condition than expected.

Kent Buescher said Monday that the purchase of the 68-year-old park, rechristened Cypress Gardens Adventure Park, took longer than he would have liked and that the buildings were in worst repair than he expected.

In addition, workers discovered that maps of buried utility lines were incomplete while working on the foundations of roller coasters and an international shortage has made purchasing sufficient amounts of concrete difficult, Buescher said.

"I wanted to see how my concept worked in peak time instead of at off time," said Buescher, who also owns Wild Adventure in Valdosta Ga.

Bypassing the summer season, when children are out of school, will cost the new owner some money, but "the impact will not be long term," Buescher said.

Buescher also plans to add a water park next spring.