Rachel127

No one goes to AZ to vacation? AZ has a huge tourism industry! especially the Scottsdale/Biltmore area of Phoenix which is rapidly becoming Spa city. Plus every year we get tons of snowbirds and winter visitors. Sedona is also a huge destination spot. I actually think the location of the park could be good because analysts predict that within the next 10 years Phoenix and Tucson will merge to become one giant metro area like New York, LA or Jacksonville-Miami. I think its a decent concept although It would be awesome if they could affiliate with the Hard Rock group, its a much stronger brand name and has much better marketing appeal.

Has anyone else heard about this? It would be awesome if it really worked out but haven't there been rumors about parks coming to phoenix before? What are your thoughts? Rock 'n' roll theme park proposed for Eloy Ronald J. Hansen The Arizona Republic Nov. 7, 2007 01:24 PM A Phoenix-based investment team said today it wants to build a 240-acre rock 'n' roll theme park in Pinal County intended to rival Orlando's Disney World complex and the Busch Gardens amusement parks across the country. The $800 million project, which is proposed to include a luxury hotel and retail space, would be known as Decades Music Theme Park. One of the consultants for the project was a project manager of Disney's Epcot Center. Key state lawmakers seem intrigued by the proposal, said Kevin DeMenna, a lobbyist who is pushing for legislation that would help provide bond funding for the park. Jason Rose, another lobbyist working for the project, declined to identify the private investors who intend to help support Decades. The park would be located in Eloy, with roller coasters and other rock-themed rides divided into sections associated with music through the decades, starting in the 1950s. With the state's usual tourism base and with residents of Phoenix and Tucson nearby, Decades could attract at least 5.4 million visitors annually, according to Peter Alexander, the Epcot project manager and a consultant who worked on other parks, including Disneyland and the Six Flags chain. Eloy is roughly 65 miles from downtown Phoenix and 60 miles from downtown Tucson. "It's the only large metropolitan market . . . that doesn't have a theme park," Alexander said of the Phoenix area. "Obviously, it's the perception that it's too hot here." But the heat index in the area averages 93 degrees in July compared with 92 in Orlando, Fla., home to Disney World, Alexander said. And Orlando was a small, sleepy town before the park opened there, he added. Arizona's theme-park laws would have to be rewritten to allow Pinal County to establish a locally controlled district with bonding authority, DeMenna said. If approved, it would allow the park's builders access to a $1 billion state fund for theme park construction, he said. Sales taxes that could reach 9 percent at the park would help repay the project's construction costs. Martin West, the creative director of Decades, said he first envisioned a rock-themed amusement park more than a decade ago. He and Alexander publicly discussed the proposed theme park a day after Mesa voters easily approved a land sale that helps clear the way for Waveyard, a water-sports resort planned for that city. Next spring, Myrtle Beach, S.C., expects to open Hard Rock Park, a 140-acre, $400 million rock 'n' roll theme park after years of planning and construction. Like the Decades plan, that park is divided into different sections based on genres of music. Decades is positioned as the West Coast counterbalance to that rock-themed park, which is owned by another investment group. Decades' design plans include an 850-room luxury hotel on the park's grounds as well as at least 120,000 square feet of retail space. West envisions an amphitheater similar to the former Compton Terrace in Phoenix and a 55,000-seat indoor concert hall. Attractions could include an MTV logo in the center of the park intended to resemble the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and busts of rock legends reminiscent of Mount Rushmore. Rose said licensing agreements with the various musical artists are among the details that need to be worked out if the state provides help with the legislation.

My friends and I are thinking of going to SFMM labor day weekend. We would be driving out from Phoenix sunday and at the park on Monday. Should we make the 6 hour drive or will it be insanely busy and not worth it? Any advice would be appreciated!

Congradulations! How about: Brooke Alvey Ryanne Alvey Paige Alvey Lila Alvey Marina Alvey or Nicole Alvey

My favorite places are; 1. Hershey park, its so beautiful and always so well kept there plus it has coasters! 2.This area in the woods behind my old house, it had a creek running through it and it was always so peaceful there. Places I'd love to go are; 1. Japan, I've always been fascinated with the culture there 2. Austria, Germany, Switzerland, (my heritage is austrian, and german) 3. Morocco, just cause its so different and exotic 4. Dublin and Copenhagen for no real reason other than I think They'd be cool cities to see.

Ok, so I am going to be in Atlanta from July 19 -21 on business but I made sure to set aside a day so I can visit SFOG. Since I've never been there before, does anyone have any usefull tips or advice? Should I be worried that someone just got shot there, ( i.e. is the park in a bad area?) Also does anyone want to meet up there? No one from my company is big on amusement parks. Anyhow, thanks for any advice!

Its kind of early to assume its going to be a dive machine. While that would be awesome, the sign said "like nothing else in the world" and since Sheikra is not so far away, a dive machine wouldn't be unique. Maybe it could be a prototype of some kind, after all most coasters unless the launch into an element have a drop of some kind so you could still say the dropping thing and not necessarily be talking about a dive machine.

Ok, so I recently decided to move out of Phoenix and I plan on moving to either Louisville, Ky or Charlotte, NC. Does anyone have any information on either of these cities? I need first hand accounts, what are good areas of each city, which areas should be avoided. I plan on waitressing so what are some good restaurants to hit up? Also what is there to do as far as entertainment in each city and are the people fairly friendly there? Thanks so much for any advice!

We have mascots?!?!

Some of my favorites are, Nemesis Oblivion Wildfire and Cornball express (just cause its hilarious!)

Im 20 and the first coaster I rode was the Phoenix at Knobels when I was I think 5 or 6.

It seems like alot of people are going with the Aqua Trax idea, but I disagree. The main reason I disagree is because wasn't there mention at one point that they filed to use the name Maverick? If anyone remembers from the movie Top Gun the call name for one of the pilots was Maverick. To me, that could lend itself to being a fighter jet themed wing walker with a dive or interlocking corkscrews over the pond. plus it would require less themeing.

As someone who's not overly familiar with coaster terminology, what kind of a coaster is a wing walker?

Starflyers scare the crap out of me. 200 plus in the air with nothing but a few chains holding you up. (shudders...)

I probaly shouldn't have put that one of the reasons I am considering leaving phoenix is because I broke up with my bf. This particular setback has the least bearing on my decision. I acutally grew up in NEPA and my fondest memories are of my time spent there with my friends with whom I am still in quite close contact with. As im sure you have noticed, I am only 20 years old and I currently attend community college and waitress full time. I can easily do both of these things in Pa. Furthermore, I (and call me crazy if you will), actually love the weather in Pa, I love to ski and I enjoy the fall foliage and smell of fresh cut grass. This is not in any way a spur of the moment decision, believe me, I have thought long and hard about all aspects of how my life would change. I have a few more months until school gets out at which point I can make my decision. As such my new question is this, Would trade big city life for small town life and why?

Alot of my friends are currently pregnant or have kids, (seriously its like there's something in the water in phoenix). After working as a waitress and seeing some how some children behave (screaming, throwing food at other tables, in general misbehaving), I dont want to have kids for at least 7 or 8 years. At that point I'd probaly look to have one child and adopt a second.

Hey everyone, Since this is the random forum, this is a random question, Should I stay in Phoenix, AZ or move back to my hometown of Scranton, PA? I have lived in Phoenix for 5 long years now, and a number of things have happened that make me suddenly want to leave. My boyfriend dumped me, ( its stupid, I know, but oh well). I miss my friends and family back in PA. I have only been back to visit twice in 5 years and its hard not being able to see them. I finally have a job where I earn enough money that I can afford to move. Lastly, as you all know the nearest amusement park ,(not counting CNC), is like 6 and half hours away! I have been to 2 amusement parks in 5 years, Im like ride deprived, seriously! lol My parents (they live in Phoenix), somewhat dissaprove of me trying to move back to Pa. I know I can earn just as much money there as I do here, I have my friends and family that live there, and there are lots of amusement parks there. So my question is, Should I follow my heart and move back to Scranton, PA or should I listen to my head ,(and my parents) and stay in hot, dusty, dry, smoggy, Phoenix?

azbob19 you're from phoenix too? How funny, cause Im from Scottsdale and I was a SFMM on saturday too, what are the odds? Btw how long did it take you to get there, I ran into major traffic on the 210 in Ca. It was like bumper to bumper all the way from Indio to Pasadena.

I agree with Swimace. SFMM is seriously lacking in flat rides. I was there for the first time yesterday and was dissapointed in the selection. I would love to see them put in a giant frisbee, a disko (spelling?) or a new drop tower.

Thanks you guys! I wish I could go another weekend, but this is when I was able to get off from work. I will definatly take your advice and try and make the best of it.

Hi everyone. I am planning my very first trip to SFMM on Feb 25 and 26. However according to the calendar on SFMM website, it says those days are the CA Cheerleeding Championships. Do yo think it will be insanely busy? When inside the park, are there certain rides I should hit first in order to get the most out of my trip? Lastly does anyone know any decent, affordable hotels near the park? Thanks so much for any input!

my parents just gave me gift certificates this year, but my boyfriend gave me a beautiful swarovski crystal necklace with matching crystal drop earrings. he also gave me one of those silver charm bracelets with a heart charm and he had my initals and the year ingraved in it. To top it off he put them all in a sterling silver box ingraved with my name. Im so lucky!

seeing as I live in Phoenix, the Anti-theme park capital of the US, the only park I'll prolly, hopefully, maybe get to go to is SFMM otherwise, then just CNC woo hoo

Eat tofu, would you rather be sunburned or get frost bite?

It seems there has been lots of talk of potential new parks lately, Wild West World in Kansas, Hard Rock Park in SC, Santa's Christmas Theme Park in AZ. I can't wait to see how many actually open, Its about time for some new parks!