Grant's Farm

I pass this place just about every day and last weekend I was thinking "What if Grant's Farm builds a Coaster?" That would be so awesome, they have the money too. Just think of all the money they can pull in. Just make a bigger parking lot! This place can become a land animal version of Sea World!

I can dream, can't I ? Hahaha! = P *** Edited 12/9/2004 12:09:37 AM UTC by SFSTLsteven***

I highly doubt that because it is more of an historical place rather than a theme park.

I know, but that would be AWESOME! = D

Sounds like if they do something like this they'll have problems with the neighbors like Alton Towers been having.

I assume from the screennames posting here that Grant's Farm is in the St Louis area?

Yes, it's about 10 miles north of SFSL. Nice park, they have a ton of land, around 300 extra acres, enough for a Busch Gardens........

-Cal

How about one that goes through the new stadium! That would be way cooler. It could go to the river and have this huge turn around through the Arch!

That new stadium is going to be sweet despite what all the ne-sayers are saying. (They are saying ne.) It doesn't need a retractable roof with waterslides comming through it and such to be a good park. Busch is out-dated, much like Wrigley, but Chicago will never get rid of Wrigley.

*** Edited 12/9/2004 2:38:55 AM UTC by Word***

Not as sweet as one with a coaster inside. ;-)

Grant's Farm is, if I remember correctly, Busch's gardens. :)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Grant's Farm is owned and operated by A-B. It has lots of exotic animals as well as a petting zoo. There is a Hospitality House there like at all Busch parks and it is just a really neat place to visit. It's FREE!

-D

A bit off topic but thought I'd post it anyhow, Wrigley Stadium has been in need of replacement for so long that it actually has come back in style. I can't wait for the new stadium to get finished (btw, I'm a St Louis transplant here in Kentucky)

I guess it's more of a fantasy wish for Grants Farm to add something like a coaster. It's such a nice place to take kids to get in touch with animals that I think a coaster would take away from that. Don't get me wrong, if they built a coaster there that was worthy, I'd pay it a visit to see what the fuss was all about but I really think the focus is more on children/animal interaction.

Grant's Farm used to be the actual home for the Busch family (they moved West beyond SFSL many years ago). The family collected exotic animals and put them in a park setting, allowing guests to ride trams around the property. No admission was charged with only reservations requested.

Between 1965-1975 they added a hospitality center (i.e., free beer), an interactive petting zoo, bird show, elephant show, and put on display their large collection of horse-drawn carriages.

After visiting the hospitality area the tram tour takes you around the property (only a sharp eye will catch a glipse of the Busch castle-like home). During the tour one may find horses, water buffalo, bison, giraffe, zebra, mountain goats, long horn sheep and other hoofed animals.

The historic Clydesdales were for a long time only bred in Ireland, with the domestic versions not getting to the size required by the Budweiser show wagons. But after many years the Grant's Farm nursery solved their problems and is now the home for all of the Clydesdales you find throughout the A-B system (excluding a few born at BGW & BGT).

On the property is also the cabin of President Grant (which was relocated from across the road). It has now been restored.

During the Christmas season A-B often shows a holiday commercials showing the wagon being pulled through the gates of Grants Farm (big wroght iron gates with an A-B Eagle used only for commercials). This gate is not used by the public, but is right on Gravois Road.

As the park is located deep in a residential area it won't become much more than it is. As of my last visit a year ago the only charge was for parking which from the web site still appears to be the only required fee.

http://www.grantsfarm.com/

(from a long-time neighbor)

I don't think it's too far out of the realm of possibility for a small kiddie coaster to be installed. Nothing bigger than a Rollerskater, but something like that could fit without interfering with the overall theme of the place. Especially if it has a train themed to animals.

Hay, you know what else would be cool, if the clydesdales had jetpacks to fly around on. A coaster, just like jetpacks is not going to happen. If they wanted it to be a theme park, they would have already built a coaster by now. I am personally sending my letters to the Nascar speedpark at St. Louis Mills in hopes that they get a coaster. But the chances of that happening are probably just as likely as the whole jetpack thing mentioned earlier.

PS: It is pretty obvious that St. Louis is starving for a new coaster. Just look at the number of threads in the last few months dealing with that. *HINT HINT* If you are an investor, and would like to be rich beyond your wildest dreams, build a moderate sized family park somewhere in the metro east, then you can start using hundred dollar bills as bathroom tissue. *** Edited 12/9/2004 10:12:38 PM UTC by CoasterMatt***

Wow I havent posted in while. You know I was thinking about this and I agree with coastermatt; we definitley NEED a coaster for St. Louis. I have daydremt about how great it would be if Grant's Farm made a huge capital investment and produced some rides for that place. It would be so great plus it would be like 10 minutes from my house. What's even better is that there could even be a waterpark for it as well hah ha. The Crestwood public pool is right down the street no more than 2 minutes away. Oh the possiblities!

But now that dream is over as Grant's farm is located in the quiet suburbia of South St. Louis County and the noise would definitley be a problem as it is all residential area there. Great Idea though!

I am defnitley longing for the 2005 season with my new position at SFSL, Ive been getting emails from my managers about what is going on. Looks as if a whole lot of new internal training has been changed. By the way for anyone who works operations at the park such as coastermatt, they now have a website for us: www.sixflagsstlouis.net

Yup, WE NEED ALOT MORE COASTERS RIGHT AWAY! I was only saying "what if?" I know it wont happen tho! Oh well, I still enjoy Grant's Farm. Have any of you been in Grant's old house? I have, luckily I went when they gave tours in there.

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CoasterMatt said:

Build a moderate sized family park somewhere in the metro east, then you can start using hundred dollar bills as bathroom tissue.

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In my best Cleveland impression - "Now you're just talkin crazy."

*** Edited 12/10/2004 3:30:52 AM UTC by Word***

All right!

I'm curious as to when adding one or two rides has suddenly created a theme park? First of all Grant's Farm is a "theme" "park". It's themed to animals and is definately a park.

So to reiterate my first question, since when does adding one or two rides constitue an amusement park? The zoo in Indianapolis has a small coaster, does that make it an amusement park? How about the Merry-Go-Round at the Columbus Zoo, is that an amusement park? No!

I think Grant's Farm is perfect the way it is. It's geared towards families and a relaxing environment. But the topic is about the possibility of Grant's Farm adding a coaster. Do they need it? No. Could they build anything big? No. Would one fit into the park without hindering the experience that currently exists? Possibly. Adding a small coaster isn't a crazy idea. I'm not saying it will happen but a small coaster themed to animals would fit with the aura of the park. A Merry-Go-Round would fit in nicely as well.

Now once again, I'll reiterate that I don't think anything like this will occur. But it's certainly something that could be considered.

I also used to drive by the park almost every day. I had to pass it to get to LHSS. I always loved it when some of the animals were near the road.