New Amusement Park planned for... Tracy, CA?

[Wes]

I'm proud to announce I'm building a $3.8 bajillion resort in my backyard that will make people instantly crygasm when they see it.

[larrygator]

I'm proud to announce I'm building a $3.8 bajillion resort in my backyard that will make people instantly crygasm when they see it.

 

Do you need an in-house Media Director to help with your advertising?

[jzoole]

But $1.2 billion! You have to be out of your mind!

 

Hell, if you've got $1.2 Billion, you could build a decent park in Houston AND in Portland. You could start a new chain! Not that I believe for a fleeting moment that this cat will gain access to $1.2 Billion...

 

Please read the article, it's not $1.2 Billion for an amusement park it's for an entertainment hub including a race track, casino, convention center, hotel, wine tasting center and amusement park. I'm not sure $1.2 billion is enough, but then again I've never built any of those businesses. Nor am I certain that Houston and Portland need all those businesses.

 

I would be curious what other large scale projects this guy has led (I couldn't find anything online through a quick search) before I totally dismiss this (even though over 90% of ideas never come to fruition). Also, it appears he has a long range timetable to open in 2024, so I wouldn't expect a lot of progress updates. Lastly, it appears the environmentalists (Sierra Club) are already calling the project a non-starter.

 

If you're going to dream, dream big. Even if it has failure written all over it.

 

Thanks, but I did read the article. My point was that if someone had $1.2 Billion to invest in an entertainment destination, why would they spend it building a complex in some funky little town far outside of a metropolitan area which already offers plenty of entertainment options and two amusement parks? If I had all that money to invest, I wouldn't blow it all on one overambitious project in a bad location. I would build a few smaller, more scaled back and feasible projects in markets where there is less competition and more demand. I mentioned Portland and Houston, because those were brought up by others. Anyway, my comment was mostly sarcasm, with a little bit of truth behind it.

[larrygator]

^Sometimes businessmen like to establish their business close to home, family, friends and a comfortable network of business associates.

 

Do Portland and Houston need a race track, convention center and a casino, etc...? Those areas might be best served by an amusement park, but an amusement park only a small portion of the vision.

 

I don't mean to pick on you specifically, it justs seems a lot of people have developed a selective reading problem.

[robbalvey]

I don't mean to pick on you specifically, it justs seems a lot of people have developed a selective reading problem.

Agreed.

[singemfrc]

Well I live in Sacramento, so I can tell you this is about the same distance away as SFDK. CGA and SCBB are more than double the distance. Speaking for myself and most of my family and friends, SFDK and CGA are mainly ignored for thrills because of their size...most people I know are much quicker to go all the way down to SFMM (If looking for thrills) or DLR (If looking for a family destination) before the northern california parks.

 

If this were what it claims it would be, then it might in fact draw very well. I think it would do much better as "SFMM North" than "Disneyland North"..as a thrill park rather than as a family park. I don't think a thrill park necessarily needs to be located in a major area like SF or Tahoe..in fact it can often benefit from being outside major cities. CGA, SFDK, and KBF are all faced with limitations that I don't think Tracy would present.

Disney is Disney, and I think a lot of people like it because it's Disney..there's a certain magic to it that I don't think anyone will ever be able to replicate..trying to copy them never works out well. (Look at FairyTale Town in Sacramento, that's what it was intended as when built in 1959, Disneyland North)

 

tl;dr: If it's just another attempt to replicate or exceed DLR, don't bother. I don't think they have any chance at all at outdoing Disney in the family resort department, especially in that location. I think the location would serve a large thrill park well but not a DLR type resort. It's a pipe dream anyway, it will never get beyond the dreaming stage.

[Double0Kevin]

This would only be Disneyland North if it were in Sebastopol.

 

It would be interesting I just think it's too ambitious. It seems like they want to do too many things. I think it's biggest appeal would be the Casino... but is this Indian land? If not, it can only be the basic casino with card games. If it's a full casino, I think places like Cache Creek have proven to be draws even when they are in the middle of no where. The Casino would allow for the rest to be popular, but again, it's so ambitious it seems doomed to fail.

[Wes]

I think it's biggest appeal would be the Casino... but is this Indian land?

 

So its cursed?

[Double0Kevin]

I think it's biggest appeal would be the Casino... but is this Indian land?

 

So its cursed?

 

Precisely, or because of the gambling laws in California. Both are acceptable reasons.

[jzoole]

I don't mean to pick on you specifically, it justs seems a lot of people have developed a selective reading problem.

 

I understand. Again, my comments were really not much more than an extrapolation upon the sarcastic grumblings of Cal1br3tto and Mrlittle. I think I was just misunderstood (or perhaps a victim of "selective reading" on your part? )

[cfc]

I think it's biggest appeal would be the Casino... but is this Indian land?

 

So its cursed?

 

 

I agree that Bay Area residents aren't too inclined to visit the Central Valley unless 1) they have relatives there or 2) they're just passing through on their way to LA. Tracy has developed into a "Bay Area suburb," though, as have some of the other towns along I-5.

[Angry_Gumball]

Speaking as a Bay Area person and lived here my whole life, it is very seldom that I ever visit Tracy...actually, I think I've only actually stopped there once at the mall years ago as my sister had some singing gig going on. Otherwise, I just happen to pass through it during my seldom visits out to my relatives up in Roseville. I really don't have any other reason to even go out in the valley...and being as there is no Manteca Water Slides, there's definitely no real reason.

 

This idea sounds great on paper but we'll see how this really goes. This reminds me of years back when some outdated waterslide complex at a regional park in Pleasanton was to get a massive upgrade. It originally sported 4 terrain-based mat slides in which were mirrored images of each other. Any bay area local may know Shadow Cliffs. The upgrade included a rename of the park to California Splash and the park was originally supposed to get another 4-slide complex, some mat racers, halfpipe/sidewinder, toilet bowl, wave pool, and a lazy river. The park could have really used it too but unfortunately the project fizzled out, not even making it past planning. From what I recall, the Shadow Cliffs Rapids site began posting photos of 'construction' of just some dirt being pushed around and a random small utility building going vertical.

 

Now this project fizzled due to local opposition (hello NIMBY neighbors). While Tracy's out in cow country, it seems like an ideal location and being right next to major highways seems to be even more ideal. I honestly have my doubts that anything will really materialize and can see CGA getting a 300-foot giga before this happens.

 

What ever happened to Great Wolf Lodge that was planned out that way?

[carolinacaniac]

The entertainment complex might be what would set this place apart from the NorCal park counter parts, but it seems that many of these experiences already exist elsewhere in the area. There would have to be something that would make it TRULY different than anything else for it to succeed, and I havn't really seen it.

 

-Gary

[texcoaster]

Crunch time for Rogers is Sept. 20, when the exclusive right to negotiate expires. He must satisfy all Tracy's requirements by then.

 

It seems that there's a deadline that looms. If he doesn't show them the money, we can put this in the SFNO pile.

[lake]

http://qkme.me/3qlvq5

^Click since it's not letting me post the picture.

 

Anyways, there seems to be some concept art on KCRA's website.

http://www.kcra.com/news/local-news/news-stockton/Theme-park-bigger-than-Disneyland-heading-to-Tracy/-/12969936/16227102/-/gyvgbpz/-/index.html

Starts at 17 seconds.

 

And by the way, in the video they mention a development he built in Roseville. Actually it is in Citrus Heights but it doesn't matter. A quick search shows that the development is half built and in the middle of a Sams Club, Walmart, Costco, and ghetto shopping center. This man really has an eye for great locations.

[singemfrc]

"Because, it would be fun, and you could get on rides."

 

Well, I'm sold.

[cal1br3tto]

I don't mean to pick on you specifically, it justs seems a lot of people have developed a selective reading problem.

 

I understand. Again, my comments were really not much more than an extrapolation upon the sarcastic grumblings of Cal1br3tto and Mrlittle. I think I was just misunderstood (or perhaps a victim of "selective reading" on your part? )

Sorry about that, guys. I just have to give him a hard time about being Texan. Not saying I looked over everything and deemed Portland was a better location than Tracy.

 

I asked my mom about Tracy and she told me what I was expecting after reading this thread. Not a desirable place, but just kind of there. She did say I probably went through there on the way to WCB, though I don't recall this.

[singemfrc]

I probably went through there, though I don't recall this.

That's pretty much the best way to describe Tracy.

[SLUSHIE]

Speaking as a Bay Area person and lived here my whole life, it is very seldom that I ever visit Tracy.

 

The article, and the man with the plan already noted this. The whole point of this idea (in his mind) is to make the area a destination. They are fully aware that the area isn't one already.

 

To me this whole thing kinda sounds very DCA and I don't mean just the name, I mean in the sense that they want to build things that already exist relatively locally and already have good reputation.

 

Amusement Park-

As we all know, SFDK and CGA are super close. They mention wanting to be the Disneyland of NorCal, but I'm pretty sure they just mean that in the overall sense of bringing in money, not that this place is going to necessarily be Disney quality. Since it would be brand new, that alone would give it a different feel than those existing parks, but how the actual experience and what types of rides they will build remains to be seen.

 

Casino-

NorCal already runs rampant with casinos. We have Cache Creek, Thunder Valley, Jackson Rancheria, Black Oak, and hundreds of smaller ones all over the place. I personally have never been a fan of gambling and have only been out to Thunder Valley a couple times and only actually gambled once, even though I currently live like 5 mins from it. Obviously some people do it but I think what mainly gets people to go are the other forms of entertainment they have like concerts n stuff. But if someone wants to go to a casino to gamble I'd assume they would just go to whats closest.

 

Race Track-

When I first read the words race track I assumed horse racing, but it's pretty clear I think they mean an auto circuit. The two biggest tracks in CA are Sonoma, which hosts NASCAR and Indy races among other things, and Laguna Seca which is a circuit known for being one of the best in the world. Laguna Seca hosts the US Motorcycle GP, American Le Mans Series, and is associated with one of the biggest and most renown car shows on the planet, Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance which is actually going on right now. The success of a race track is hugely dependent on what races occur there, and it seems like there isn't much left for it, unless they somehow manage to steal NASCAR or Indy away from Sonoma.

 

Wine-Tasting Center-

Don't think I need to get into this much. Why would anyone want to spend time at a wine tasting center when the real deal isn't much more than an hour away in Napa.

 

Convention Center-

Not sure what kind of scale they mean on this project. Whether they mean like full blown convention center, or just the type that you see at a number of hotels. I think large scale convention centers that hold large events benefit greatly from being in cities. Any large event would surely choose SF over this place.

 

Delta marina-

Don't know what to say here, I know nothing about them and what makes someone want to keep their boat there.

 

I fail to see which of these things will be what makes people actually want to go there.

 

And by the way, in the video they mention a development he built in Roseville. Actually it is in Citrus Heights but it doesn't matter. A quick search shows that the development is half built and in the middle of a Sams Club, Walmart, Costco, and ghetto shopping center. This man really has an eye for great locations.

 

I looked this up and Vintage Oaks appears to be an Senior Apartment complex. Uh, yeah.

[cfc]

I asked my mom about Tracy and she told me what I was expecting after reading this thread. Not a desirable place, but just kind of there. She did say I probably went through there on the way to WCB, though I don't recall this.

 

If you went south on I-5, you went past the exit for Tracy. And for Vernalis, Westley, Patterson, Los Banos . . .

 

Not the most exciting drive in the world.

Edited August 24, 2012 by cfc

[154bmag]

As of now I live in the Bay Area, but I lived in Tracy until I was 13, It always was, and probably will be a town with noting interesting...at all. I'm glad to see some something happening there, but I can't see it taking off, after all it is Tracy. A town in the middle of beautiful nowhere. I just hope things turn out for the best.

[ginzo]

When I first read the words race track I assumed horse racing, but it's pretty clear I think they mean an auto circuit.

 

Apparently there is a "synergy" between NASCAR and wine.

[Double0Kevin]

The two biggest tracks in CA are Sonoma, which hosts NASCAR and Indy races among other things, and Laguna Seca which is a circuit known for being one of the best in the world.

 

There is also California Speedway (or whatever it's called now) in Fontana, which also hosts Nascar and Indy. That speedway is only 3-4 hours from Las Vegas Motor Speedway and they both do fine with hosting similar racing circuits. Not to mention that you can practically walk between tracks in the South. Being close together isn't that big of a factor. Nascar only comes once a year and Sonoma has been known to sell out with it's 102,000 capacity for the sunday race plus the roughly 100,000 over the other 2 days, so it's not unthinkable that they could both host events with large crowds as there is an obvious interest. Plus race tracks can operate fine without huge events, like the one at WDW.

 

I'm not arguing that this thing will happen based on the above, but it's proximity to Sonoma doesn't seem like it would be a viable argument for it's failure.

[DBJ]

Maybe if he said that his goal was to aspire to be like Legoland instead of Disneyalnd it would be more plausible sounding?

Legoland proved it is possible to open a new theme park in California in a region dominated by major theme park brands and still succeed. But to go in and try to recreate the Disneyland experience?

 

However, I think anyone on this board could rattle off a series of attractions and coasters that easily eclipse what is offered locally in NorCal that could be built within his target budget.

[Double0Kevin]

I think comparing to Disneyland is smart. You don't aim to be mid-range, you aim to be the best. That's what investors want to hear. If this somehow did happen, the end product likely wouldn't be Disneyland, but it might be able to credit Disney as an inspiration for it.