New amusement park planned for Eastern Ontario town

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

The Eastern Ontario town of Smiths Falls will soon be home to a massive $30-million water and amusement park. The project, unveiled by town councillors at a special meeting Friday, is expected to create as many as 250 jobs and generate millions of dollars for the area which is bracing for the closure of its two major employers, a Hershey chocolate factory and a home for people with severe developmental disabilities.

Read more from The Canadian Press.

Sounds nice, especially since my job often takes me to Toronto a few times a year.

Just so everyone is aware, Smith's Fall is actually 3.5 hours east of Toronto. It is closer to the Quebec Border.

I would guess it is Ottawa (45 minutes or so away) they are aiming for.

I guess there won't be any costumed candy bars roaming this park, will there? :)

While the greater Ottawa region (population ~1 million) lacks roller coasters, it's not lacking other summer attractions. There are 4-6 small ski hills just north of city (in the Gatineau Hills) that have each added water slides, mountain bike trails, or golf courses to attract year-round visitors. These locations are 25-60 minutes from downtown Ottawa. Smith Falls is 45 minutes the other direction.

There are some booming suburbs on the south and west sides of Ottawa. Those residents might go to Smith Falls rather than fight traffic into the city and across a bridge to reach other tourist destinations in Quebec. But I think the majority of the population would rather go to established attractions in Quebec's picturesque Gatineau Hills, rather than go to something unproven in relatively unattractive Smith Falls.

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