Bay Area's 2 parks?

[Vmarc1279]

Why does the bay area have 2 major theme parks, being SFDK and CGA? I really don't think this area needs and even deserves TWO parks while major cities much bigger than the bay area still do not have real theme parks, such as Houston, Phoenix, and Miami. I honestly feel bad for Houston. 3rd biggest city in US, still no rollercoasters to be ridden.

[DirkFunk]

Why does the bay area have 2 major theme parks, being SFDK and CGA?

 

CGA was the only purpose built theme park in the Bay Area. Discovery Kingdom is essentially a zoo converted to theme park.

 

I really don't think this area needs and even deserves TWO parks while major cities much bigger than the bay area still do not have real theme parks, such as Houston, Phoenix, and Miami. I honestly feel bad for Houston. 3rd biggest city in US, still no rollercoasters to be ridden.

 

Greater Houston has two parks now - Kemah and Galveston Pleasure Pier. Apparently it will get another theme park soon enough to replace the one that was stupidly torn down in Six Flags' attempt to generate immediate cash. Phoenix has an inhospitable climate for an outdoor theme park for most of the year. Why Miami has a multitude of zoos and no amusement or theme park is a long discussion. My guess is that with Orlando not far away, regional theme parks nearby would be at a decided disadvantage. There's also issues with where one would put the park and how easy it would be to maintain in that climate. Cities don't always end up with the amusement parks they deserve, and maybe Miami's in that boat. It seems to me though that they don't necessarily have a shortage of alternative recreation there.

[singemfrc]

What are you suggesting, tearing down an entire park and moving it to another city? It sucks that Houston doesn't have a decent park but why blame that on the bay area? How do the bay area parks (owned by two different competing companies) have anything to do with Houston's lack of one? Are you suggesting that Astroworld was closed in order to fund Discovery Kingdom?

[DirkFunk]

Are you suggesting that Astroworld was closed in order to fund Discovery Kingdom?

 

Well, that's kinda what happened. I mean, it is a gross oversimplification of the events but it isn't entirely untrue as a statement.

[cal1br3tto]

I honestly feel bad for Houston. 3rd biggest city in US, still no rollercoasters to be ridden.

Thanks, we appreciate your kind thoughts.

 

With liberal stretching of the imagination, you could say there are something like 4 amusement park proposals in the Houston area that could at least marginally be considered 'live.' Not that I would put money on any more than two of those happening, max.

[KBrylczyk]

I really don't think this area needs and even deserves TWO parks...

 

Um, seven million people live in the bay area. Do you just not like NoCal? Tell us your feelings on LA having four major theme parks with a population of 3.85 million.

 

...while major cities much bigger than the bay area still do not have real theme parks, such as Houston, Phoenix, and Miami.

 

Houston had one, Six Flags in their infinite wisdom demolished it. Meanwhile, as DirkFunk said, they have the boardwalk and pier, plus a 3 hour drive to Fiesta Texas and 4 hour drive to Over Texas. That's hardly a stretch considering I have to go at least four hours for a decent park (live in Vegas).

 

Phoenix is a friggin' ghost town. That place may claim to have people living there, but spend a day in that city and try telling me that again. I have no idea how that place even exists. The downtown area is spectacular! Well laid out, nice architecture, clean, etc, but the streets are empty! Half of the stores are closed, not because they're out of business, but just because. If a theme park opened there it would prosper for a month before the people of that area would go back into hiding. I'd swear they're half cockroach. (Apologies to anyone who lives in Phoenix, but seriously, WHERE ARE YOU?!)

 

Miami wouldn't stand a chance. Orlando is only four hours away with the two biggest and baddest companies in the business. The best they could hope for is a Six Flags dumpster that gets overrun by the gangbanger wannabe teenagers in Miami.

 

Long story short, you can't always get what you want.

[cfc]

In addition, CGA's and SFDK's visitors come not just from the Bay Area, but also from the Central Valley. That's a good-sized customer base.

[laqueefa]

Why does the bay area have 2 major theme parks, being SFDK and CGA? I really don't think this area needs and even deserves TWO parks while major cities much bigger than the bay area still do not have real theme parks, such as Houston, Phoenix, and Miami. I honestly feel bad for Houston. 3rd biggest city in US, still no rollercoasters to be ridden.