Lately, things haven't been all that much cheaper on the Canadian side. A couple of years ago (back in the glory days), the Canadian dollar was going for like $1.60 for every American Dollar... so you exchange 100 dollars for Canadian change, and you got yourself $160.00. I'll take their GST & PST taxes because what you're getting is still a great deal.
Now, it's like what? $1.22 on the American Dollar, if that? That's pitiful.
The Canadian Side was indeed very park like. It was a lot like Niagara-on-the-Lake was, and didn't have all this industry or commercial. It was very undeveloped, and just quiet. Niagara USA instead goes ahead & installs all these factories & dirty industries which not only polluted the river, but also made the American side just plain fugly! Today, there's still a lot of ugly industry there... but they have paid for their mistakes.
Problem is... is it too little, too late? NF Canada just has so much money, it's pouring out of their pockets! They cannot spend it fast enough!! NF USA is scraping the bottom of the barrel, depending on the Indians for hand-outs from the casino revenue, or hotel revenue... many planned projects, many failed projects, and many stupid projects (Falls Street Fare, anyone? Indoor amusement park went kaputz!).
If Wheatfield, NY beats out the other locations that are planned, I sure hope they are choosing it based on potential attendance & revenue based upon surrounding areas versus the acrage (we're only offering 800 vs. 1000 I think in Tenneessee or somewhere).... I mean how much land do you need to build a damn park?
Unless they really think that they can build a Disney-esque park for under 1 billion.... fat chance!