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The commericals for Tunica make it look like it's a giant strip where all the casinos are located, ala Vegas. But in fact, they're mostly in groups of about 3, and each group may be several miles from the other. So considering how much open flat land there, there's definately room for the largest park you could possibly want to build. Why are there no trees there though?
A lot of people from here drive to Tunica. Though I've only been once, I have friends here that go every couple months.
There's no more info on thrillopolis to the GP, just a new website. See this thread.
CobraRoller said:
I am confused, what the hell happened to Atlantic City? And now we are talking about Tuniwhat?
I live here in Milwaukee, and driving all the way down to Mississippi for some theme park doesn't sound like all that great of an idea. Unless it has extremely unique rides, the only 6+ hour drive I am willing to take is to Cedar Point.
Just remember, Chris, part of the reason people like parks is because of their history. If you are going to blast in some mega rides to this WCUSA thingamabob, don't forget about the old Arrow Looper and the Classic Out and Back wooden coaster.
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Well if you don't want to drive down to Tunica then don't. No one said that you would have to drive to Tunica to go to an amusement park. That's pretty dumb. Go to an amusement park near your own city. If they did build a park in Tunica, I'm sure it'll still do just fine without you visiting.
And why did you even mention Atlantic City? That's in New Jersey, we're talking about Mississippi. And why would Atlantic City build a park; Six Flags Great Adventure and Morey's Piers are too close for them to build another big amusement park.
Well, you know, now that I think about it, talking about this topic in this forum isn't going to get an amusement park built here in Mississippi.
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The Rebellion @ Libertyland "The Midsouth's Scariest Thrillride"
Libertyland: "The Midsouth's Only Amusement Park"
Chris Godsey said:
"Post 9-11, more families are packing up the cars and driving to the regional theme park and making a vacation out of it. Chains like Disney and Universal are the ones hurting because of this. Regional parks are the ones making money and it will continue to be that way for at least until this time next year. Before 9-11, the travelling radius for most regional parks was right at 8 hours. Now, that radius has grown tremendously. People do drive 10 hours+ to go to a great park. Look at Cedar Point or Busch Gardens"
You mention the Busch Parks and Cedar Point being able to survive despite being "Destination Parks". While it's true that they are destination parks, each of them have a healty local (<~3hours away) base to tide them over during the lean times. Is a Tunica park guaranteed this 'captive audience'? Now if it can be proven (or I should say reasonably expected) that a park in Tunica can live of off the locals and the regular gambling crowd, then I say all for it! But if you're expecting a significant portion of guests to be driving in from 5 and 6+ hours away...well I'd say that's a gamble in and of itself!
lata,
jeremy
--who really enjoys seeing the way Chris G thinks...
Valleyfair Fan said:
What's Iowa's population and how many parks does it have?
Not much and they both survive. Of course, Arnold's Park fell on hard times and Adventureland advertises itself as Iowa's largest tourist destination.
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Off with the trims!
My fellow Americans; Let's Roll!
Woodencoaster.com
Well, since the first casino opened 11 years ago, we have seen 13 more with all 13 having hotel rooms.... ALL of them full ALL of the time.One of them has the tallest building in all of Mississppi at 31 stories! Its literally impossible to get a room on a weekend without being comped by the casino. Also, the city of Memphis has estimated that they lose over 1 million dollars a DAY to the tunica casinos... Now, thats just one city... one of many within 6 hours of the casinos.
If you could only come down here and stand on HWY 61 and count the cars that are on that road on a Saturday. In 1991, there was Splash casino and nothing else. Now, we have 14 casinos, an outlet mall, many other chain hotels, an airport expansion to allow medium passenger jets to land, an aquarium under construction and many many casino projects such as golf courses, hotels, spas, etc. This place is growing like gangbusters. It basically reminds me of those documentaries of vegas that show how the town grew in the 50s. There is so much potential here its ridiculous!
I know of so many familes that have to find baby sitters while they go to the casinos cause their kids cant go. Now, if someone were to build even a small park with a couple of coasters, go karts, and other flats, there would be a reason for the parents to bring their kids.. the SAME reason why casinos added family attractions in the vegas area. They knew they were missing out on the families and now they are cashing in. If these casinos can be packed every weekend, I think a seasonal park could easily survive. I have done studies on this area and a 100 acre park with several coasters could potentially bring in 1-1.5 million in attendance the first year. Smaller sized parks in rural areas dont even come close to 1 million, with a few exceptions.
Jeremy, glad to see someone on here actually likes to hear what I have to say. I talk like someone in the industry, and that pisses alot of enthusiasts off because I bring them down to earth.... ;)
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WCUSA-The World's largest theme park is coming!
Theme parks will NEVER be the same!
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The ice age killed the dinosaurs, we killed ourselves.
Chris Godsey said:
Well, since the first casino opened 11 years ago, we have seen 13 more with all 13 having hotel rooms.... ALL of them full ALL of the time.One of them has the tallest building in all of Mississppi at 31 stories! Its literally impossible to get a room on a weekend without being comped by the casino. Also, the city of Memphis has estimated that they lose over 1 million dollars a DAY to the tunica casinos... Now, thats just one city... one of many within 6 hours of the casinos.
If you could only come down here and stand on HWY 61 and count the cars that are on that road on a Saturday. In 1991, there was Splash casino and nothing else. Now, we have 14 casinos, an outlet mall, many other chain hotels, an airport expansion to allow medium passenger jets to land, an aquarium under construction and many many casino projects such as golf courses, hotels, spas, etc. This place is growing like gangbusters. It basically reminds me of those documentaries of vegas that show how the town grew in the 50s. There is so much potential here its ridiculous!
I know of so many familes that have to find baby sitters while they go to the casinos cause their kids cant go. Now, if someone were to build even a small park with a couple of coasters, go karts, and other flats, there would be a reason for the parents to bring their kids.. the SAME reason why casinos added family attractions in the vegas area. They knew they were missing out on the families and now they are cashing in. If these casinos can be packed every weekend, I think a seasonal park could easily survive. I have done studies on this area and a 100 acre park with several coasters could potentially bring in 1-1.5 million in attendance the first year. Smaller sized parks in rural areas dont even come close to 1 million, with a few exceptions.
Jeremy, glad to see someone on here actually likes to hear what I have to say. I talk like someone in the industry, and that pisses alot of enthusiasts off because I bring them down to earth....
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WCUSA-The World's largest theme park is coming!
Theme parks will NEVER be the same!
Hey, thanks for standing up for the mid-south. But, I must say that you were wrong about some of that stuff. Tunica has 10 casinos and the building with 31 stories, the Gold Strike Casino Hotel, IS the tallest building in Mississippi, which isn't really anything to brag about. But thanks for giving all those other facts and good reasons of why they should build a theme park here, because I totally agree with you. I mean tons of people visit Mississippi!!!! We have over 30 casinos in the whole state, people love to eat our specialty foods (like catfish), and in my home town, Tupelo, 2,000 came here to visit the Elvis Presley Birthplace to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his death today. And our city, Tupelo, has about 40,000 people living here, and about 65,000 people come here every day during the weekend. In fact lunch hour in Tupelo is Rush Hour, I mean traffic is horrible!!! Worse than I've seen in some big cities. Our hotels are always full, we have the largest non-metropolitan hospital in the U.S., the largest mall between Memphis and Birmingham, and the busiest intersection along Highway 78, which is a major highway in Southeast U.S. Now who says and amusement park can't be built here in TUPELO OR TUNICA MISSISSIPPI?
Yeah, currently there are 10 open, but 3 of those 10 had different names at one point and over the last 11 years, there have been 13 different casinos.. I guess I should have clarified that.. my bad.
But, the area is still growing and I believe there are plans for more casinos over the next 2-5 years. A park with an annual attendance over 1 million is very feasible here. If it wasnt, my client wouldnt have bought land to build here, period!
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WCUSA-The World's largest theme park is coming!
Theme parks will NEVER be the same!
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Coaster Count -23-
-Around The World Theme Park/Coaster Trip-
.......Still Planning!
I have been instructed by the park owner not to go into any specifics regarding any of the attractions... sorry. But I will tell you the one thing holding up the final land purchase should be complete by the fall. Once the land is all purchased, plans can proceed. It would be a moot point to announce anything before all of the land purchases were finalized right???? I know lots of people on here dont realize whyan announcement hasnt happened yet, but if they only knew what has to go into a park of that size and cost, they would understand. Plans have been working on since 1998. Bankruptcies have caused some of the attractions to be re-designed, but the park overall will remain the same.
Early attendance estimates are in the1.75 to 2 million range and the possibility of year round operation of a portion of the park is being considered.
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WCUSA-The World's largest theme park is coming!
Theme parks will NEVER be the same!
*** This post was edited by Chris Godsey on 8/10/2002. ***
Hey Chris, where will WCUSA be? (Memphis, Tuncia, Tupelo?) WCUSA stands for WildCountry USA right? Wow that would be so great to have a MAJOR park so close to home. But I imagine that it will be a while before the park opens - didn't you say that they haven't even found the land to build it on yet? Because I know that the few parks that are under construction or undergoing renovations this year aren't opening untill 2005. I hope we don't have to wait that long!
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I hear a train a comin'
Comin' round the bend :P
TR2k3....GET READY!
*** This post was edited by Chris Godsey on 8/10/2002. ***
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