OmahaCPfan.
It doesn't matter where they build the park in Omaha, This park will still tap into lincoln. The aim of the builders is to have it close to the riverfront/downtown wich currently has plenty of area to expand as long as they get the land now and don't wait too long. The idea is attract the casino goers and their families hopefully to turn it into a family thing much like vegas. except not quite the size. However they o say that they have other areas in mind one of wich I am sure is in Council Bluffs and i do agree that the Mahoney area would be smart as well. But as for Lincoln they would still go to Omaha vice Kansas City no matter where you put the park in Omaha.
Yes as stated above Omaha May have a population of 400, 000 but the entire metro area wich consist of Bellevue, Council Bluffs, Bennington, Carter Lake, and several other smaller towns that are in the metro area you are at least talking a million people and that is without Lincoln, Freemont, Souix City, Grand Island, Norfolk wich all would benefit from this park being in Omaha Just because it would now be closer than any other major park.
The reson why peony didn't survive was because it was just what it was a city park and did not have the rides or ability to attract people from Omaha yet the surrounding areas and cities. A park like this papas park will attract not only people from the area but it will tap into the tourism of the casinos in Iowa and not to mention It is on I-80 wich could get a lot of people to stop on family vacations.
There are also plenty of prks wich are in much smaller cities but get national recogniton and survive on that recognition. I believe Holiday World has been mentioned, And I would like to throw in Wild Adventures wich is in the small town of Valdosta Georgia with a popultaion of 42,700.