Bell's Is Still In Trouble

[Shavethewhales]

It's been a long time since word of Bell's has reached this forum, so here's an update.

 

The park has been completely dismantled, with the exception of the Chili Pepper water slides, which will be destroyed. The only thing left to do is to remove Zingo's pieces from their stacks in the parking lot to their holding spot in Catoosa. Bell's was supposed to have everything out by June 15th, but they've been given till Sunday night to get Zingo off the property.

And thus, with Bell's gone, the asphalt parking lot of unimaginable pleasures can be built - but that's not all the old amusement park site will see. A new main entrance for the fair will be constructed on the site, a mere mile or so away from most of the fair parking. During the fair, the questionable 'tiger show' will be featured on part of the old Bell's lot as well, featuring lean-looking tigers stuffed in small cages with only a crappy tarp to protect them from the blazing okie sun - at least that was what it was like last year. An international beer garden (translation: a few picnic tables and a cart that sells Heinekens) and a wild west show (I haven't a clue) will all use some of Bell's old land during the fair. The rest of the lot that isn't parking will be storage, and during the rest of the year the entire area will be turned into a giant crap heap full of stage parts and bleachers.

 

So that's that for the old location, but what about the future? Well, there may not be one, at least not until 2009. It's been all poor Robbie can do to just get the park moved into storage, so the process of building the new park hasn't even begun yet. They don't have land, they don't have much money, and they really can't form much of a plan until they have either. As Robbie said, a farewell season, or at least a fair warning would have made a world of difference in the fare of the park.

However, the park's future is bright still. Robbie still wants to re-open the park bigger and much better than ever before, but he certainly won't be able to by 2008. He now has to start back at the very beginning of the amusement park business: attraction investors. What worries me is that the fair alleged that Bell's had poor business planning and practices for the reason of their eviction, and this won't sound good to investors. Bell's will need at least $30 million or so to start a new park, and that kind of money comes from investors and banks who seriously trust in the man in charge.

Still, Robbie has his own extreme determination, the park's charm and history, and the overwhelming support of the community on his side. He just needs to get in the game, and he won't have a good chance to start until next week when the park is safe in storage.

 

The plans are subject to change, but back several months ago, Robbie was saying that the new Bell's would have up to seven new rides, and a new Phantasmagoria dark ride. I hope that the dark ride concept comes through, they were going to build it at the previous Bell's site, and the artwork looked amazing. I guess we'll just have to see what happens, but I anticipate a grand re-opening in 2009.

[Shavethewhales]

Well, I had doubts before, but the Bell family is out to prove to the world that Bell's can live again. It seems we may see a late 2008 opening after all, if nothing big happens to delay the project.

 

The old Bell's property has been officially robbed from Bell's as of midnight last night. The chili peppers and several massive hunks of scrap metal from the old buildings were all that was left behind. Everything else has been put in storage in either downtown Tulsa or a warehouse in Catoosa to be kept until they find a new piece of land, which may not take very long at all. Bell's team has been working like madmen for the past few months to take the park down on time, but they aren't taking a break yet. They'll start the process of buying a new piece of land this very week. Since they've already scouted out quite a few locations, they probably already know which one they want, so now they just have to buy it.

 

In a KOTV news report, Robbie Bell Sen. made sure to note that this was really only the beginning, and that Bell's was coming back with a force. Robbie Bell Jr. noted a few days ago that he was delighted to have a chance to build Bell's all over again just the way he wants, and also that the new park would be world-class. Even after all the countless hardships the family has endured, they still have a maniacal passion for the park, and won't stop working until it can open again.

 

It may be tough to open the park again for 2008, seeing as they still have to buy the land, zone it, plan the park, get it approved, get investors, get contractors, put in utilities, build the park, and test everything before they can open it. But none of the looming tasks ahead are even fading the Bell's passion, as they are still holding to that 2008 opening.

[Swoosh]

Well the good part is that they already have the rides so it is not like they are starting from scratch. Honestly I think this will be to the favor of the park (new Bell's) in the long run. They won't have to put up with the BS and such that they have been putting up with for quite some time now. The real losers will be the fairgrounds who will not miss out on all that extra revenue they were siphoning away from Bell's. I wish the family luck as this is no small endeavor, but if anyone can do it, it's this family

[Shavethewhales]

Here's a spot of more news: Bell's officially left the old site behind, and they are now in a boat without a paddle. Currently, the Bell family is taking a well deserved break, but they'll start the process of getting investors and a new piece of land later this very week. They'll need those investors to, by the way, as not only will Bell's have to pay for the new land and park, but they'll have to replace $5 million of lost articles from the old park. A slew of equipment, the arcade, concession buildings, and the Chili Peppers were all stolen from Bell's by the fair because there was no time to take them down what with the pending parking lot plans that couldn't be held back. Lord knows Tulsa needs more of that find asphalt paving.

 

Anyway, Robbie and company are still pissed about everything, and make sure to note that even while they were having a down-ish year, they still paid more in rent than the stadium and water park combined. Also, if they were given more notice or a final season, the process of moving would be much easier on Bell's, the taxpayers, and the fair. The list of grievances go on from there, but Bell's can't do anything to reprimand. What would they file a lawsuit for? You can't sue someone for terminating a lease, it's their right to. Still, that doesn't mean that every little bit of this whole tragedy was pure idiodicy, unethicality, and straight up mean with no pay off for anyone.

 

Anyway, the quest for the new park starts now. I'm sure we'll be seeing some good progress made in the next couple of weeks.

[Shavethewhales]

At last, Robby Bell has broken the silence on the direction of the park. In a radio interview I just now listened to, he stated that he is now in the middle of a land deal, and that plans for the new park are in the works.

 

In case you aren't in the loop with Tulsa politics, everything about the Bell's situation has finally caught up with the offending politicians. The fairboard president, one of the leaders of the charge against Bell's and one of the Murphy's biggest friends, has been fired, with county commissioner Miller (the one who acknowledges accepting campaign contributions from the Murphy's) on the same route. Good to see some justice in Tulsa again.

 

EDIT: Robby just stated that one of the first things he will do with the new park is add "a steel loop coaster" or possibly an inverted coaster. Mmm, I hope they go after that 2-loop schwartzkopf on ITAL.

[Scaparri]

While it's good to hear that things are looking up, it still sounds like this is far from becoming a realization. You already mentioned that he has little money, and I just don't see many investors jumping to build a park in Tulsa, OK. A new park isn't going to bring back the Bell's charm, and I don't see how a guy who apparently has so little money can build a park with a "steel loop coaster" by spring of 2009.

 

I really hope I'm wrong. Keep us posted.

[Shavethewhales]

The interview is now online -> http://podcast.1170kfaq.com/ChrisMedlock/tabid/1839/Default.aspx

 

I haven't heard a lot of the first half yet, but I know that he mentions his plans for the park throughout the second half. You have to sit through an hour of callers telling Robby how much they love him and hate Randi to piece it all together though. I've already stated the essence of what he said.