What area really needs a theme park?

[wiyoh1984]

It looks like someone thinks Lake Charles, LA needs a themepark/entertainment area.

 

http://www.kplctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13031763

 

 

 

 

By Lee Peck

LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC) - The latest proposal for Lakefront development takes the Lake Charles boardwalk as we know it and transforms it into a mecca for entertainment, shopping, dining and nightlife.

"I think it could transform it into a destination stop. I think you can retain the gamblers here from Pinnacle and get some of the people to get off the Interstate and stay for a while," said Lake Charles City Councilman Dana Jackson.

"The Mardi Gras Boardwalk" is the vision of several parties: including an executive from Disney World and famed New Orleans Mardi Gras float construction artist Blaine Kern, Jr. The proposal would sit on the area of land just north of the Lake Charles Civic Center and wrap around all the way to Veteran's Memorial Park.

Some of the big draws: an amphitheater that could seat 5,000 people for a variety of shows including Broadway productions, concerts and symphonies. Visitors would also have their pick of at least six to eight destination entertainment restaurants. Legendary New Orleans entertainer Dr. John has proposed to host a satellite radio show from a music venue that would also welcome big name entertainers to the area. The centerpiece of the boardwalk would be the largest Ferris wheel in the country. There are also plans to include a giant roller coaster that would incorporate a water element over the lake.

The development also includes a 300 luxury suite hotel and 50 condos on top of retail space -parking for tenants provided. However when it comes to our expected influx of visitors Jackson says, "I think it's going to be the responsibility of the council before it's over. If we have customers coming in and visitors and tourists - I think we have to figure out a place to park them."

All privately funded, some are calling it the Branson, Missouri of Southwest Louisiana. "It's really great if it would just work - you always have a chance of it not coming together but all we can do is just keep plugging and trying to put something together," said Jackson.

The timeline of construction calls for phase one of the project (everything except the hotel) to be built and operational within two years. The underwriting contractor would be MAPP Construction, who handled the expansion of LSU's Tiger Stadium.

Meanwhile the Lake Charles City Council will discuss this latest proposal at Tuesday night's agenda meeting and the mayor will refer copies to the Downtown Development Authority for further recommendation.

[HEADCHEEZ]

I honestly believe that any theme park in Las Vegas would fail miserably. Just because a place is a destination, doesn't mean that a theme park will flourish. Ask the banks in Myrtle Beach.

 

// Rode Manhattan Express in peak season with 2 people in the train.

 

Keep in Mind, We are also a city of 2+ million people. Almost all of the locals do not go to the strip so I would put a water park just off it. Wet N' Wild was always packed, so I think it would work.

Edited August 27, 2010 by HEADCHEEZ

[let1gre]

It looks like someone thinks Lake Charles, LA needs a themepark/entertainment area.

 

 

Don't they remember what happened to Six Flags New Orleans?

[wiyoh1984]

^ It looks as if they do not remember.

[haydn12]

Why do people think that Phoenix is just old people? I've seen this posted many times on forums. There are only a few areas in Phoenix that are retirement communities. There are quite a few young people here with growing families.

 

Phoenix does need a major amusement parks. I wish the Indian communities would build one instead of more casinos.

 

The closest major amusement parks are 6 hours away in the LA area. We usually take trips to the other side of the country once a year to hit Cedar Point, Kings Island and Michigan's Adventure. Then the next year we hit the Florida parks such as Busch Gardens, Disney and Universal.

 

BTW, we don't mind having legal Mexicans here. I have many Mexican friends.

 

Jim

[larrygator]

^I never said Phoenix is just old people, just that it had a very high percentage. But my my apologies for even saying that.

 

I just found this study that completely contradicts my assumption.

www.seniorjournal.com/NEWS/SeniorStats/6-08-21-SeniorCitizensNow12.htm

 

Now granted all the old people might be surrounding Phoenix, but this stidy is completely not what I expected.

 

However, Phoenix is still in the middle of a desert. If people can't sit outside for 3 hours for a major league baseball game in the middle or summer, they are not going to an amusement park.

[BeemerBoy]

Phoenix does need a major amusement parks. I wish the Indian communities would build one instead of more casinos.

I don't know. Just because a certain individual or a certain group of people have money and have been successful in one industry doesn't mean they're the perfect fit for a new one.

[dellice45]

Rhode Island Needs to add a park !!!! We havent had one since 1996. Closest is Six Flags New England 1.5 hrs away, Lake Compounce 1.5 hrs away and Canobie lake park 1.5 hrs away, granted 3 parks in under 2 hrs , but it would be nice for another park in New England and in Rhode Island. I rather not spend 3 hrs of traveling per trip.

[HowieP]

I'd say somewhere near Detroit could use an amusement/theme park. They haven't had an amusement park since Edgewater in 1981, and Canada's Boblo Island in 1993. The closest thing Detroit has right now is at Comerica Park (Home of the Detroit Tigers) with an all-tiger carousel and a baseball-themed ferris wheel. Right now the nearest park for folks in Motown is Cedar Point and, when it was still an amusement park and not [just] a water park, Geauga Lake. Maybe place the park not in Detroit itself, but very close by.

[NeoSporin]

agreed, northwestern United States for sure. If you're living in Seattle the closest decent-sized theme park is hundreds of miles away. I'm ashamed to admit that this is factoring in to my decision of whether or not to apply to UW for grad school

[SoCalCoasters]

and the fact that it is in the middle of an f'n desert.

 

Hey, that didn't stop Dubai! Oh, wait...

 

That made my day!

[fatdaddy]

but this stidy is completely not what I expected.

 

Someone didn't use spell check, shame on you, or is a stidy something new I have not heard of yet.

 

Oh, and I think your right about a park in Phoenix, maybe a indoor park would work.

[haiderodes]

I agree Vegas (or the rest of Nevada for that matter) can't really support a "major" theme park in this day and age, but dammit jim, there is no reason why we should still be without a water park! It's ridiculous that the closest, full-fledged water park is over 3 hours away (Raging Waters in San Dimas, CA).

 

It's not just theme parks and water parks that this city lacks...we also lack cultural stuff. For example I love musical theatre, but to see any of the traveling shows we have to drive to SoCal or to Tempe, AZ. Hopefully that will change with the new Smith Center downtown, but we still have over a year till that's ready. We try, especially with First Fridays downtown and the few fledgling festivals we have, but we have a long way to go. Its funny that as the city has grown things like that have become fewer and fewer. Luckily there seems to be a bit of a resurgence.

 

Then again, I do like to get outta town as often as possible to see and do all that I cant do here...its a nice change of scenery.

 

I think a small park could do well on Oahu in Hawaii. The weather is conducive to year-round operation. Land is super expensive, but even just a few rides would be nice.

[NorCalAndrew]

I vote Seattle, Wild Waves is cool.. but it's nothing spectacular.. at all.

[andre8]

Well, if Nevada really needs a theme park, instead of putting it in the middle of the desert, they should try putting it near Tahoe.

Also, I think the Central Valley of CA could use a theme park.

[robbalvey]

I agree Vegas (or the rest of Nevada for that matter) can't really support a "major" theme park in this day and age

I really do think that Hard Rock Park, with an even slightly more "adult" push, would have been at least a moderate success in Las Vegas...or I should at least say, would not have suffered the fate it did in Myrtle Beach.

 

Everyone points the finger at MGM Grand Adventures and even to some extent Luxor and says "Look at those two examples. They failed. So Vegas can't support a theme park", but I really do think that those two examples were entirely the WRONG type of park to build in Las Vegas.

 

If Hard Rock Park was built in place of MGM Grand Adventures, transplanted exactly how it was in Myrtle Beach but with a little more booze, hip clubs, some slightly borderline PG-13/R rated night time entertainment, I think it would have worked.

 

Vegas was never a "family destination" to matter how much they thought it would be. But theme parks don't have to mean "family." Just look at Epcot. That place is famous for going there and getting blitzed off your gourd while touring the world!

 

--Robb

Edited September 4, 2010 by robbalvey

[andre8]

^ I could see Vegas having that. But I think that if Vegas has a theme park, it should focus more on attracting the locals, people don't travel to Vegas to visit a theme park. I think that a park in Vegas wouldn't really attract tourists anyway, the heat would just make them turn away.

[fatdaddy]

One thing Vegas could do as far as the heat is, just like everything else is open 24 hours, maybe a park that opens in the evening. I could see something that opened say at 5 pm and closed at 2 am, or is that crazy?

[prescottcoyote]

That's an easy question to answer. It's Prescott Valley, Arizona. Not to far from Phoenix. Perfect weather, not to hot or cold. A great place for Phoenician's to come to and get out of the heat. It's a very beautiful area, big views, plenty of land. Great location 45 minutes from Phoenix Metro between Phoenix and the Grand Canyon. 3.5 hr drive from Las Vegas. Close to Flagstaff, Prescott, Sedona, Chino Valley, Cottonwood and the Verde Valley. Prescott Valley is a clean new growing city, ready for a great amusement park. Prescott Valley has already constructed large venues and attractions. It's just a matter of time before the right amusement park operator stakes thier claim in Prescott Valley, Arizona.

[vrf19977]

Blind post:

 

If no one's mentioned us yet, Delaware is pathetically in need of a theme park (or any other major tourist attraction besides the beaches). We're within several hours' drive of a few great parks, but for people with limited time and money, those other parks aren't always an option. We had one pitiful attempt at a park a few years ago (Blue Diamond Park) but the insane prices, crappy rides, and general yuck factor of the concrete carnival-wannabe killed it off pretty quickly. All the rides are still standing there, too, poor little ghost park.

[thrillgeek]

I would say the Lake Tahoe area. It's kind of like a mini Vegas and needs something more to attract people there.

[805Andrew]

Bringing back a old thread...

 

^Lake Tahoe has plenty of theme parks. They operate in the winter and are called ski resorts. I call Lake Tahoe the Orlando of ski resorts. Lake Tahoe is an outdoor enthusiasts (which I am also) area with skiing/snowboarding/sledding/snow activities in the winter and swimming/boating/hiking/camping in the summer.

 

Now the areas of the country I think that needs a GOOD theme park the most are Seattle, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Houston. An indoor park the size of Ferrari World would be great for Seattle (so it could be open year round) and Phoenix (for the heat). Las Vegas could use an adult oriented/thrill ride theme park and also a water park. The Las Vegas and Phoenix parks could be opened year round (and the Seattle one too if it was indoor). Another area that could use a theme park is Honolulu/Oahu, HI. If that Disney resort in HI is successful maybe we could see a Hawaii Disney park next to it in the future that is exclusive to HI (not another Magic Kingdom park). One can hope

[harper83087]

Skimming through the older posts it seems Phoenix is high on everybody's list. moving to phoenix from Detroit I lost the ability to drive an hour or two to a good park. My vote goes for phoenix haha. I understand the heat issues so why not consider an hour or so north towards Flagstaff? There could be potential for some very interesting and unique land options too incorporating the mountains etc. I would have thought with the addition of the wet n wild a few years ago would be one more step towards a park anyway.

[deguy123]

Blind post:

 

If no one's mentioned us yet, Delaware is pathetically in need of a theme park (or any other major tourist attraction besides the beaches). We're within several hours' drive of a few great parks, but for people with limited time and money, those other parks aren't always an option. We had one pitiful attempt at a park a few years ago (Blue Diamond Park) but the insane prices, crappy rides, and general yuck factor of the concrete carnival-wannabe killed it off pretty quickly. All the rides are still standing there, too, poor little ghost park.

 

The Blue Diamond park was not a good idea but I've always thought Delaware Park(The casinos) would be a great place to actually try to add some rides to see what happens.

 

Also Rehoboth could expend their rides onto a new pier somehow because that place get packed with people during the summer.

[QueerRudie]

Skimming through the older posts it seems Phoenix is high on everybody's list. moving to phoenix from Detroit I lost the ability to drive an hour or two to a good park. My vote goes for phoenix haha. I understand the heat issues so why not consider an hour or so north towards Flagstaff? There could be potential for some very interesting and unique land options too incorporating the mountains etc. I would have thought with the addition of the wet n wild a few years ago would be one more step towards a park anyway.

 

I live in the West valley- so I know your pain: I consider KBF, DL and SFMM my 'home' parks- as they're the closest one TO the valley...

 

That having been said, Phoenix has two huge things going against it- which makes it difficult:

1.) You're standing in it (The heat that's six months long, and the almost-neverending sun)

2.) Year round schooling (Some school districts here are already back in class today)

 

A good idea for here would be to put an enclosed park in, and make it truly year-round all over. To do that would require MegaBuck$ that the valley can't really provide for now. It would, for expansion purposes, have to be on enough land to expand to a much larger size over time- which in itself would be a challenge.

 

I know with the recent growth of the WestGate area in Avondale, and the new casino going in during 2012, there's a real possibliity that a good entrepeneur could consider doing something along those scales- but sadly, unless it's well planned out for now we're stuck with Castles and Coasters...