Midgetman82 Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 I wouldn't mind the name change. Bluegrass Boardwalk isn't a bad name, even though I don't recollect Louisville having any actual boardwalks.. If they do take over the park, and if they make season passes available for both Holiday World and "Bluegrass Boardwalk," I'm gonna flip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Edge of Beast- Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 I like the name, but alas, I also don't get the boardwalk thing. Like midgetman said, there are no boardwalks in Kentucky, nor should there ever be since there aren't tons of oceans and seas in Kentucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilltopper39 Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 I love the name, and still think if done right this place can be a real success. I'd love to see the "new" park somehow pay homage to the old Fountain Ferry Park that once existed in Louisville. Most guests probably wouldn't make the connection but could be a nice little historical touch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cal1br3tto Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 That has a nice ring to it, and I think "Boardwalk" is such a classic term to incorporate into park names. I agree that it would be nice to add a real boardwalk somewhere in the park (I'm assuming there is none), since I find it a bit odd that Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, as far as I know, is all concrete... I know people can be very protective of names, in some cases refusing to switch over to new ones, but doesn't Kentucky Kingdom have a bad reputation to shed? I'd think a name change could help with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidcoaster 2 Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 It makes sense to change the name after all the bad rep the park got especially the 2007 incident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midgetman82 Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 ^^When you look at it that way, a name change does seem necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilsam1993 Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Most people here in Louisville don't like the name change. Everyone is saying Kentucky Kingdom will always be Kentucky Kingdom. However, if the name change is what it will take to reopen the park, well take it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudvayneimn Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Looks like this is flying along, I just hope the fair board doesn't mess this up too. Good luck to the Kochs! Koch family reaches tentative deal to run Kentucky Kingdom LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- It appears a deal for the owners of Holiday World to run Kentucky Kingdom could be done this week. WDRB has confirmed that The Kentucky Fair Board has reached a tentative deal with the Koch family to run the park. The Fair Board is expected to vote on the lease agreement at its meeting this Thursday. Two weeks ago, the Kochs announced that they had formed a new company called Bluegrass Boardwalk, Inc, with the goal of negotiating an agreement to operate Kentucky Kingdom. They've also indicated they may change the park's name to Bluegrass Boardwalk. The Kochs plan to open the park next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double0Kevin Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 since I find it a bit odd that Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, as far as I know, is all concrete... It wasn't always concrete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vekoma_Man Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Six Flags announced Kentucky Kingdom's closing two weeks after I moved to Louisville. I pass by the park every day and have never been able to go. Needless to say, I am very excited to see this moving forward. Plus, I love the new name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedimaster1227 Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Bluegrass Boardwalk, Inc. has sent us a press release regarding Thursday's upcoming Fair Board meeting and the Koch Family presence there. Bluegrass Boardwalk, Inc. hopes to take another step toward re-opening Louisville’s amusement and water park in 2013 as the Kentucky State Fair Board considers a proposed lease agreement Thursday afternoon. Four members of the Koch* family in Santa Claus, Indiana, have formed a new company – Bluegrass Boardwalk, Incorporated – to negotiate the lease agreement with the Kentucky State Fair Board, secure financing, and apply for economic development incentives from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. No public monies will be requested from the Kentucky Legislature by Bluegrass Boardwalk, Incorporated. The members of the Koch family involved in discussions with the Kentucky State Fair Board as Bluegrass Boardwalk, Incorporated are Holiday World president Dan Koch, his sister Natalie Koch, their cousin Kathy Kamp, and her husband, Michael Kamp, who is a General Manager at Holiday World. Dan, Natalie and Kathy are grandchildren of Holiday World’s founder, Louis J. Koch, who opened the park (originally called Santa Claus Land) in 1946. Following Thursday’s Fair Board meeting, Dan Koch will be on hand to speak briefly with members of the news media in front of Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Exposition Center. As updates about Bluegrass Boardwalk are made public, information will be posted online at http://BluegrassBoardwalk.com, on Facebook: http://Facebook.com/BluegrassBoardwalk and via Twitter: @BluegrassBwalk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillerman1 Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 According to Bluegrass Boardwalk's Facebook, they will be tweeting from the meeting with the fair board which is about to begin, and in case you're interested you can follow along: http://twitter.com/BluegrassBwalk . BB is last on the board's agenda, so it might be a while before we see much twitter activity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidcoaster 2 Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 (edited) This was just tweeted! Bluegrass Boardwalk @BluegrassBwalk New name: Bluegrass Boardwalk! Open in 15 months. Jobs: 25 full-time and 800 seasonal. #BB2013 More! Safety is #1. Pretty, happy park will open May 2013. Dan is quoting his late brother Will: need to create a quality experience. #BB2013 "We'll bring our @HolidayWorld culture to @BluegrassBwalk. Safety. Service. Friendliness. Cleanliness. Value." #BB2013 Free soft drinks at @BluegrassBwalk ... free sunscreen ... free use of inner tubes. #BB2013 "We're here to serve our Guests. They're most important This is going to become a gem. We're going to do this the right way." #BB2013 We have a lease! https://twitter.com/#!/BluegrassBwalk Edited February 23, 2012 by kidcoaster 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillerman1 Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 That happend much faster than I anticipated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Kind of crazy to think the place only needs 25 full time staff to keep it running! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilltopper39 Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 ^It is crazy after seeing the thousands it takes to run a place like Disney or SeaWorld.....now how do I become one of the 25...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillerman1 Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 BluegrassBwalk Bluegrass Boardwalk "We will have new attractions in 2013." #BB2013 http://pic.twitter.com/EeCw2fC9 Intamin in place of Chang please. Well, one can dream right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedimaster1227 Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 (edited) Bluegrass Boardwalk has sent us a press release confirming the approval of their lease for the former Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom property. Under their new management, the park is set to reopen May of 2013! Lease Approval moves Bluegrass Boardwalk closer to re-opening Louisville park in 2013800 seasonal and 25 full-time jobs projected This afternoon’s unanimous vote by the Kentucky State Fair Board to approve a lease with Bluegrass Boardwalk, Inc. moves the reopening of the 57-acre amusement and water park closer to reality. “We can’t wait to get started!” says Bluegrass Boardwalk’s Dan Koch*. “We’ve got a lot of work to do to get the park reopened in just 15 months, but we’ll get it done. We’d like to thank the Fair Board for putting their faith in us and the community at large for their tremendous cheers of support.” Following today’s lease approval, Bluegrass Boardwalk's next steps are to secure financing and continue the application process for economic development incentives from Kentucky’s Tourism Cabinet. Bluegrass Boardwalk will not request public monies from the Kentucky Legislature. Bluegrass Boardwalk’s plans are to invest $15-$20 million to reopen the park in May of 2013, with continued investment in future years. “We’re bringing our business model of exceptional safety, cleanliness, friendliness and value for families,” says Natalie Koch. “That means free soft drinks, free sunscreen and free use of inner tubes.” Bluegrass Boardwalk, Inc. is a partnership of four members of the Koch family in Santa Claus, Indiana: Holiday World president Dan Koch, his sister Natalie Koch, their cousin Kathy Kamp, and her husband, Michael Kamp, who is a General Manager at Holiday World. Dan, Natalie and Kathy are grandchildren of Holiday World’s founder, Louis J. Koch, who opened the park (originally called Santa Claus Land) in 1946. Bluegrass Boardwalk updates will be posted online at http://BluegrassBoardwalk.com, on Facebook: http://Facebook.com/BluegrassBoardwalk and via Twitter: @BluegrassBwalk. Edited February 23, 2012 by ernierocker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
better_by_design Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 This was just tweeted! We have a lease! https://twitter.com/#!/BluegrassBwalk Also: "Thanks to the Fair Board. Professional. And you drive a hard bargain." Very interesting step for the Koch family - hopefully they manage to pull this expansion of their business off in flying colors! (also hoping this doesn't distract/detract from capital plans and quality at Holiday World) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XYZ Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Wow! The Koch family did it! I wonder if they are going to have some 2-day tickets for Holiday World & Bluegrass Boardwalk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoCo Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 All that's left to do is get Dee Snider on the phone, calm his ass down, and get Twisted Sisters back in action. PSYCHED! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilltopper39 Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 It will be interesting to see what happens with some of the existing attractions especially Twisted Twins. I know the trains are no longer on site and honestly it wasn't that great of a coaster when it was in operation. That section of the park also seems like an area that would be perfect for an expansion and complete overhaul. I'd love to see the water park expanded to possibly include the old Blizzard River and maybe even Mile High Falls as rides the could be possible be wet/dry water park/amusement park rides. Can't want to see this thing develop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobrider Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Twins with a rehab and Timberliners.. I think it could be a fun coaster again. Thunder Road getting some TLC would be great too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatle11 Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Very good news! Congrats to the Koch family! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astroworldfan1 Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Here's another article from a local news station: Koch family approved to take over Kentucky Kingdom LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- "A wonderful partnership that we are super excited about." That was Holiday World President Dan Koch's reaction to the Kentucky State Fair Board's decision to allow the family behind the successful Holiday World amusement park to take over Kentucky Kingdom. The State Fair Board made that decision in a vote Thursday afternoon. Koch says the park will be renamed Bluegrass Boardwalk and will be considered a "sister park" to Holiday World. He also promised it would open in May of 2013. "We're going to bring to Louisville the culture and guest experience" people have at Holiday World, he said. "We bring with us a core value of understanding families," he added. Koch says the park will bring 800 seasonal jobs and a number of full-time jobs to the community. He also emphasized the hard work it will take to get the park ready for next year's opening, saying painters and carpenters have to get busy, and that workers are going to start work on the rides and make them safe. Koch says, "We're going to make that park shine out there," and adds it will be something that Louisville "will be proud of." The Koch family has already secured a website and a Facebook page under the Bluegrass Boardwalk name showing children's rides and scenes from a waterpark. Koch family members have said they will apply for state tax incentives to help with financing, but won't ask lawmakers directly for money. Those incentives could include tax breaks to recover one-fourth of the Koch family's costs over ten years and allow a rebate of state sales taxes. Earlier this week, Mayor Greg Fischer said as part of the deal the city won't receive a payroll tax, but he approves of that, saying, "Well, if that's what it takes to help them get it open, we do that for different deals from time to time that create jobs and help the community. So our goal is to keep this open and get people employed and get our community enjoying it." www.wdrb.com/story/17003266/koch-family-approved-to-take-over-kentucky-kingdom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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