Main Street America 1800 Acre Park in Michigan

michguy, I agree with you that this is still definately a long shot, but it is interesting to see that it is being thought of at all.

I have to say that Michigan's Adventure's potential (because of location) might actually be less than this proposed park. Michigan's Adventure is located all the way to one side of Michigan. It is close to Grand Rapids and other west side of the state places, but it is actually a long way from most parts of Michigan. This park, located almost smack dab in the middle of the state, on 75 and near 27, is a much closer location for most of Michigan to access.

Also, I don't think that the season is that big of a deal. I read somewhere that they hope for 1 million people to visit the park yearly. That wouldn't be an easy number to hit out of the gate, but it certainly isn't impossible in that location. There are several other tourist destinations around Michigan that do.

I said before that this park would definately be a risk, but I do believe that it is possible. Like you, I hope for the best because I love the thought of having a park located less than 2 hours from my home (instead of CP which is about 6 hours away and Michigan's Adventure which is about 4 hours away.)

I think this could be disastrous but, obviously the investors have looked at the population charts for the surrounding area. Also the park will bring business by itself if it is built, so there will eventually be a relatively decent sized population over time.

Michigans adventure also pulls a lot of people in from the chicago area as well. I was thinking of doing a michigans adventure trip this weekend, but I-96 is under some really bad construction and would take me another hour to get to the park.

For those of you who say that this location is in the middle of nowhere. That may be true. But, being from Michigan, and nowing that northern Michigan is a huge mecca for tourists, this will be just another reason for people to come.

Michigan's Adventure is in Muskegon, which is also in the middle of nowhere. yet, over 600,000 people visited the park last year, and the only Major metro area to MA is Grand Rapids.

Grayling, (if this is where the park will be located) is on a major highway, which is also traveled by people going to and from Canada. And, with Mackinac Island drawing close to 1 million people every summer, and Mackinac sity just a short drive away, it could become one heck of a tourist draw.

Saginaw, Flint, Midland, and bay City, also have a combined population of several hundred thousand. So, the park depending on people coming from Detroit is not necessary.

Most people who end up in northern Michigan in the summer, are not even state residents. A lot of people come here from Chicago. I know, because I have met tons of people from Chicago while camping.

It is more of a regional thing. people from Major cities in Ohio and Indiana also end up in northern Michigan. Trust me, not everyone wants to go to Cedar Point.

I've lived in northern Michigan my entire life and I believe enough support exist for a park this size. I've traveled I-75 north from Clare almost every weekend during the summer to our cottage near Mackinaw. The amount of people traveling north is amazing sometimes, and I think the majority would add this park to their plans. Too bad we might finally get a decent park in Michigan, and I'm leaving for college in Daytona Beach this fall.

Deer acres has been around for almost 50 years, and they are in the middle of nowhere Michigan as well.

Look here...

http://www.deeracres.com/map.htm

Granted it's a small park, but it is doing well.

That is exactly the differences between THIS proposed park and the ones actually already there. The ones already there are relatively small. THIS proposed park will rival SFGAdv in terms of property. Do they have enough locals to support it IF the tourists don't come in droves? No. Hence why I think this is a bad location for the park....the park itself is a great idea. But it is afterall only an idea at this point. I see this being scaled back greatly when they realize they are biting off more than they can chew.

Focus on the motor-sports. World-class race auto and and snowmobile racing facilities will bring regional customers with deep pockets willing to put up the cash for a resort weekend 2-4 times per year per family.

As for the theme park, it will only be a distraction. Nothing more elaborate than what you find at other destinations like the Wisconsin Dell's, Las Vegas, or Seattle. Virtually no one travels to these destinations for the theme parks, but some will sample the coasters when visiting for other reasons.

Didn't Disneyland Paris remind the industry that that winter-season attendance at year-round parks is abysmal, despite world-class attractions. (And Parisian winters are much more pleasant than Michigan's.)

*** Edited 6/4/2007 7:03:33 PM UTC by greatwhitenorth*** *** Edited 6/4/2007 7:13:58 PM UTC by greatwhitenorth***

Again....

People travel to cedarpoint and Holiday world. And they are in small towns. If you build a world class attraction, people will come.

If they do end up building it, I hope it remains true to their vision and is world class. What I'd hate to see, as it has been mentioned, is something that starts off with grandiose plans and elaborately themed stuff, much like Great Adventure, and ends up just being meh. Granted, we haven't seen too many images of what they're planning...yet.

All plans get scaled back in one way or another. The pictures that were in the video were just concept art.

Some more new news.

http://www.tv7-4.com/Global/story.asp?S=6870194&nav=1vrj

Looks like we may have a new park in michigan in a few years. (:

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crazy horse said:Look what they did with only 30 million when they built wild west world.

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What? Close down after two months! :(

That wasnt Wild West Worlds fault completly, it was the weather.

^after only two months?

Weather played a part, management/ownership did the rest by not having the money to run it.