Jon Sabo Posted May 24, 2006 Posted May 24, 2006 A local newspaper reports that a possible new 'animal' themepark may enter the Florida market. Jim Fowler (from the Wild Kingdom shows-Mutual of Omaha is reportedly with the planning/development behind this project. Here is the link: http://www.wmbb.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WMBB/MGArticle/MBB_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137836278274&path Strange as this seems, he (Fowler) has also been linked to a project here in Hawaii regarding a possible themepark (Oahu or Kauai). Steven Speilberg has been linked (in the past) on building a Jurassic Park-theme on the island of Kaua'i, but may have plans now for it to be located on Oahu (near HWAP-Kapolei). Also, the music-theme park is in planning stages around the Florida location (but haven't heard anything recent because an issue with zoning and financial backing). Any local FL. resident heard anything else?
Jon Sabo Posted May 25, 2006 Author Posted May 25, 2006 The only way I found this article (posted yesterday even) was because the proposed developers were here in Hawaii regarding a proposed park in the islands...lol I'm currently on a development committee in proposing a themepark here in Hawaii as well as a transportation committee in bringing a mass-rail system (Disney-type) monorail for Oahu & Maui. I actually was doing some research on the Fl. parks and somehow came across that article. Go figure..lol
DerekRx Posted May 25, 2006 Posted May 25, 2006 I hope if they are seriously planning on adding new parks to the Florida theme park market, they come up with some originality and offer the guests something exciting that they'll actually want. Florida has enough parks suffering because they don't offer tourists anything that Disney and the others don't already supply. Not too many people care about nature and stuff anymore, thus Cypress Garden's whole closing down thing a few years ago. Same with the other struggling places down there, many of which have been around for longer than Disney has.
Jon Sabo Posted May 25, 2006 Author Posted May 25, 2006 ^ not only that, but I can't really see them really adding anything unique that hasn't been done already. BGT- Disney-AK Sea World All 3 are some type of zoo with educational experiences and so on. It's becoming a saturated market in FL. and 'assuming' it DOES create new jobs how is the operation going to survive (such as your point made about CG). Isn't that religious themepark located in Fl also? I believe they are having a hard time with its current operations even if it is a bit unique.
jarmor Posted May 25, 2006 Posted May 25, 2006 Add a "good" goliath clone, an intamin rocket coaster (custom), and a thunderhead/voyage love child wooden coaster and im there! Jarvis "throw in a topple tower and an acrophobia style tower" Morant!
JT3000 Posted May 25, 2006 Posted May 25, 2006 I hope they fail for trying to enter such a saturated market with something we already have.
Jon Sabo Posted May 26, 2006 Author Posted May 26, 2006 Here is a PDF file-link regarding the proposal of the new park: http://haas.uwf.edu/pdfFiles/impactStudies/Holmes%20County%20Report.pdf
rollermonkey Posted May 26, 2006 Posted May 26, 2006 Add a "good" goliath clone, an intamin rocket coaster (custom), and a thunderhead/voyage love child wooden coaster and im there! Jarvis "throw in a topple tower and an acrophobia style tower" Morant! Wow, Jarmor, It doesn't take much to get you to go to a park! More Florida parks means more reasons to bring me and the wife there! Agreed, keep us posted!
cygnusx2112 Posted May 27, 2006 Posted May 27, 2006 the one thing florida needs is a six flags ... i heard of a rumor (that must've spent years working its way through the grapevine) that there was talks of building one in "Orlampa" (the stretch of I4 between Tampa and Orlando) gahh i want a six flags !!!
beachmouse Posted May 28, 2006 Posted May 28, 2006 Bonifay's a good five hour drive to the Orlando/Tampa area depending on how much you're willing to speed on I-10/I-75. The location choice isn't going to compete with Orlando/Tampa. With where they are, the owners are going after the tourists already driving down to Panama City Beach or Destin, not the people who would be heading to the peninsula parks and beaches. It could work. The nearest something similar would be Wild Adventures in Georgia, and they seem to be lasting well enough without the kind of already existing tourist base the Bonifay park would have, and the small marine parks and zoos in the Panhandle area are popular with both tourists and locals. The down side is the weather. It can definitely get cool on January and February in these parts. We'll even get the odd snowflake every four years or so, even if it doesn't stick.
tinflowers Posted June 1, 2006 Posted June 1, 2006 With Miracle Strip gone, it could definately work. Think how many folks hit the Panama City beaches during spring break even. I'm wondering though, could we get a coaster out of this? One that is not a ready made boomerang or something similar... Check the links for more info. http://www.wtvynews4.com/news/headlines/2908891.html
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