Aviation Theme Park for Dayton, OH

This is no joke folks! The aviation foundation has proposed this idea as a means of generating tourism, (up to an additional 10 million visitors per year) to the Miami Valley, but also to educate in a fun and exciting way.

The theme park isn't the only part, but according to the article it is the biggest part for attracting tourism, (6-7 mill. per year). They say the rides would be similar in concept to Disney/Universal-style attractions. But you can read them for yourselves, here are the links:

Aviation Park backers dare to dream big!

10 proposed elements of the aviation foundations plan

Not meaning to be a downer, I believe it can happen. But don't get too excited yet, lots of money must be raised first, and even then, it'll take many years for completion.

This would no doubt be the greatest thing ever to happen in Dayton, Ohio! I just moved here 4 months ago due to a job transfer and I soon found out, there is nothing to do! Good thing PKI is all but 45mins away!

Bill

No Aviation park would be complete without Flying Scooters :)

Just a suggestion.

I hope this comes to fruition, I think people need more than PKI and with the Air Force museum and year round operation, This could be big. Really big.

6 to 7 million peeps a year? In Dayton? Yeah right. If PKI and CP do 3 to 3.6 a year, and they're established after decades, a place in Dayton isn't going to do that.

Well, they did say they're daring to dream big!

Doubling attendance on CP & PKI is definently dreaming big. I could see them drawing a couple million at the height of it's popularity, and during the week of the air show they would draw a huge amount of people beyond the regular attendance...but what you're saying Jeff is very true.

But at the same time, I want to see it successful, even though my 5-yr. old could be in college by the time it opens. One thing I found laughable though was that they actually speculated about getting Disney or Universal to run the park...I cannot see that happening...ever!

I chuckled a little bit when I saw 6-7 million people. I think this is a great idea for the Dayton area and it is great for coaster enthusiasts. The competition between this park and PKI could create some great coasters.

All day I have been coming up with ideas for this park. I hope everything works out.

6-7 million is entirely possible IMHO. Combined with the Airforce Museum, INDOOR facilities and year round operations.

Remember I-75 is second only to I-95 in interstate traffic. Also it's close to I-70, Second only to I-90 in east west traffic

Im not sure what the Air Force Museum currently draws. I know it's free and damn well worth a visit every few years. Only two places in the world can you see a XR-71 blackbird and one of the only two planes to drop a A bomb in combat The others are in the Smithsonian.

Also, The airshow is outstanding. One of the top ten in the world. There are things for this project to draw on. So it's not too far *OUT THERE*

Chuck *** Edited 3/30/2006 3:03:34 AM UTC by Charles Nungester***

What are you kidding me? I-75 as a whole might have high traffic, like all of it down to Miami, but in Ohio it's a fraction of what I-71 gets. That's why they've made I-71 three lanes almost down the entire corridor, Cleveland to Cincy, and it's still too busy. The Ohio section of 75 is not a huge draw. If it was they would've built PKI on 75 instead of 71.

And while I think the aviation museum is cool, it has never exactly packed in people any time I've been there.

There is no way in hell they're going to get that kind of crowds.

And you've obviously never been to the museum on a weekend. THAT is jammed! Although since I only live ten minutes from the museum, I can go when it's light.

I want to know where they would build this sucker.

I-71 in Ohio don't get 1/2 the traffic I-75 does.

Im sorry, but it might seem that way, but it isn't.

Jeff, I-71 from Columbus to PKI is only 2 lanes each direction. The only exception is around the Prime Outlet malls at the Jeffersonville exit. Living in Cincy and being at school at OSU, I drive this highway fairly frequently, and that is my biggest complaint: the fact that I-71 is only 2 lanes each direction most of the way. Traffic is often slowed because of semi's and the like. I-71 should be 3 lanes, all across Ohio IMO.

It always seemed to me that I-75 was more heavily trafficked south of I-70, while I-71 had more traffic north of I-70. No evidence, just how it felt to me.

In general though, driving on highways in Ohio sucks!

Well Im trying to find density maps but Im having trouble finding them.

Chuck

There's an I-75 in Ohio?

I-71 can be a joke sometimes about how packed it gets. I don't know if it's worse going through the construction or trying to dodge the 90+ cops on the way down looking for anyone who doesn't have their car washed pratically.

While I think I've been on that rural road I-75 (at least is seems rural compared to I-71) I don't see how it would be as busy as I-71.

I've only been to Dayton once or twice so I don't know much about the area. On the other hand if you do have a but load of land, and a well planned dream you can make things happen.

The I-71 project has been in motion for more than ten years. The state decided a long time ago to make it three lanes both ways, top to bottom. You'll notice that any bridge replacement in that time, even if it there aren't lanes to support it, is three lanes. In fact, there are a few just north of PKI that are three lanes wide. I saw the master plan when I was in college, working for my city. I think the final sections will be complete by 2009.

Don't kid yourself. Lima and Beaver Dam aren't exactly Ohio's thriving communities.

If this is a flull fledged, POP, outdoor seasonal theme park, the attendance goals are just stupid. If this is more like an indoor place with free admission and a few upcharge attractions then it is a bit more realistic...but still stupid. Did these people attempting to make one of the most successful amusement parks ever miss the lesson of EPCOT and the education destination? For some reason these "ideas" remind me of that webpage for the State Fun Park or whatever it was called where someone wanted money to build a huge indoor park.

Ahh, thanks Jeff, I didn't realize that there was already finalized plans to make I-71 3 lanes the whole way. That's some great news! Between Columbus and Cincinnati is always reallllly thick traffic, but it usually does move reasonably well. But it will be nice to have it opened up. I do see what you mean in all the overpasses being wide enough to accomodate 3 lanes.

The only exception, there is that bridge just north of PKI on I-71, that crosses the huge gorge. I wanna say its over the Great Miami river, but I couldn't swear on it. There is very much NOT enough room for 3 lanes each direction. I remember thinking how tight it was with 2 lanes, and very minimal shoulders. What are they going to do there?

The National Museum of the Air Force gets around 1 million people a year.

That museum is awesome....but, I'm not sure I see the project drawing too many people. Ohio would seem to be one of the toughest places to build a new park.

Bridges that aren't wide enough are replaced entirely. Most of the bridges weren't wide enough. Having done most of the ~240 miles of Ohio's I-71 over and over the last few years, I've seen it everywhere from my city's exit to those at I-76, US 30, etc. From the looks of things, they're planning to do it for I-271 as well, as they're building new supports for the bridges over the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.