Indoor waterpark in Columbus?

Looks like fun!

Incedentalist - The collection you mentioned would cost a fortune, especially for a crowd that has probably been to CP. That, to me, is like building a K-mart next to an established Super Wall-Mart, only on a much larger scale.

This water park sounds perfect for the Columbus market, but trying to go the coasters and thrills route seems a little like something SF would try there.

Actually, Having worked @ Both K-Mart and Wal-Mart in my youth, K-mart often builds near Wal-Mart, and vice versa;).

Now that K-mart and Sears are becoming one, I'm sure we'll be seeing alot more of a change, and threat to Wallyworld(yay).

Columbus was too congested for me. Thats the only trouble spot I had in getting to Geagua Lake, but that was because of the sucky directions I had. Next time I'll know how to get there.

I'm not talking about the past. NOW K-mart doesn't stand a chance near a Wall-Mart, which is why many are going out of business. I'm glad to hear of the Sears merger as K-mart surely would have become the next Venture.

To answer the earlier question earlier of "who would want to visit Columbus in the winter?", the same people who visit Sandusky in the winter :)

Living in Cleveland, i'd rather go to Columbus for an indoor waterpark than Sandusky. There is a lot more to do in columbus in the winter than Sandusky. Mad River Ski resort is around there somewhere. could be a nice combo for a weekend. hit the slopes/hit the chutes...,

---

FLYINGSCOOTER said:
I went to columbus a few years ago on business. that's one crowded city. the pop is like 2 to 3 times cleveland...

---

Not really. Columbus annexed much of the surrounding area to the city. Cleveland's core city has less population than Columbus for that reason. Cleveland has dozens of suburbs surrounding it. The Cleveland metro area is considerably larger than Columbus, with 2.9 million in the Cleveland metro area and 1.5 million in the Columbus metro area.

Mad River Mountain is about an hour to the west in Bellfontaine. There's a lot more to do in town if you really wanted to visit. I'd recommend:

-Easton
-art museum
-COSI
-Columbus Zoo (home of Jack Hanna)
-for food, Schmidt's (German) or M (really expensive but the best food I've ever had -- in the ground floor of the condos downtown with the curved roof)
-Park of Roses (might suck during the winter, though :))
-OSU campus area
-Arena Grand movie theater downtown

The city population/area of Columbus definitely grew through the annexation of surrounding townships. It was somewhat far sighted of city leadership (an unusual feat in and of itself...) to prevent the city from becoming land locked. However, the Columbus metro area (MSA) hasn't really changed in (area) size, but the population has increased dramatically. Between 1970 and 2000, the Columbus MSA population increased by nearly 43%.

Cleveland's MSA has a significantly higher population, but also covers a lot of ground (pretty much the whole northeast quadrant of the state). A comparable land size, would be if the Cincinnati metro area expanded to claim Dayton, Springfield, Middletown, etc. In comparision, the Cleveland MSA decreased in population by 7% during 1970-2000. Of the three fastest growing counties 2000-2003, two were in the Columbus MSA (Delaware and Union), and one was in metro Cincinnati (Warren--the home of PKI).

With the population trends, I can see why developers would think Columbus could support and indoor waterpark/hotel complex, or even an expanded traditional waterpark. Waterparks tend to draw mostly from the local population (which is why many cities have more than one), as opposed to theme parks which need to attract from an entire region. That being said, I doubt if Columbus could support much of a traditional "ride" park, with two of the best being so close. If it wasn't for the Sea Dragon, I think Wyandot would do well to get rid of the dry rides all together, and expand/improve the watepark.

Does anyone have any information on Busch's long ago plans to build a park in Columbus? My understanding was what eventually became BGW, was originally proposed for Columbus in the late 60s, but couldn't strike a deal with Franklin county. Apparently, both Busch and Taft were planning their parks at roughly the same time, with the knowledge that only one major regional park could come to fruition. (And, we all know who won that race...) However, all my info on this is third hand...I've never been able to find any detailed info.

Joel

A water park is being Constructed at the Holiday Inn. It will cost 32million and will be finished my oct. 2005. Ground breaking is in january. This Info comes froma local bussiness magazine. I would also love to know info on this Busch Park. I have never heard anything about this.

The plans to build in Columbus were abandonned a long, long, long time ago.