New Oklahoma theme park

Things that will never happen as drawn for $2,000

https://blooloop.com/theme-...newsletter

Agreed. This is a total pipe dream. I mean, if you had $2 billion and wanted to go into the amusement park industry, it would be easier to just buy SIX or FUN outright.

But this does bring up an interesting question of if you wanted to build a Top 10 Coaster Park (we'll leave out the Disneys and Universals), what is the consensus on what it would cost to build from scratch?

This was all over news sites. I passed.

What they say they can build in 3 years:

What they will actually build in 3 years:

I’d like to follow this story but I’m too busy, still waiting for that “Bigger than Kings Island” theme park to open up off I-71 in Delaware, Ohio.
And now the rumor is that Buc-ee’s has their eye on that corner and I’d be perfectly fine with that.

The concept art looks like it originated from a teenager's coaster Planet designs.

I would love to see this happen, but when you get old like some of us, you see it over and over again. It rarely ever happens. This park is supposed to be built in the middle of nowhere. Who's going to work there, yet alone visit as a guest.

According to their website, the supposed creators of this new resort, Mansion Entertainment Group, owns a venue in Branson. It also talks about animation that has not been released yet, and their "unparalleled expertise across film, television, animation, music, theatre, and family immersive entertainment experiences." And yet, they can't list anything they've ever worked on...

https://www.mansionentertai...group.com/

Plus, that two billion number seems kind of outrageous. Universal's Epic Universe is estimated to cost one billion. Maybe they could tame it down a little and create a more reasonable park.

Sick looking log flume though.

RCMAC:

but I’m too busy, still waiting for that “Bigger than Kings Island” theme park to open up off I-71 in Delaware, Ohio.

I'm still waiting for Garfield's American Adventure to open in Indiana. Let's carpool to both once they open!

Weird flex by this Mansion company.

Vinita Ok? Really? There’s nothing’s there.

I guess land was cheap….

Not sure where all the cynicism is coming from. Were you all saying "never gonna happen" to the Hard Rock Park?

I'd say Hard Rock Park is a significant source of the cynicism.

I'm honestly not sure, what is the most recent example of a successful new "from the ground up" amusement park to open and succeed that is not a Disney, Universal or SEAS property or in an area like Orlando.

Remember a few years ago when there was a group that announced new parks in Fort Worth, TX and Muscle Shoals, AL called Dreamvision? It was just big ideas with no money trolling for investors. This is the same thing. I’ve seen different executives quoted in every article I’ve read. When you Google the CEO’s name, the only results are related to this release. That’s a big red flag.

eChameleon:

Were you all saying "never gonna happen" to the Hard Rock Park?

In hindsight Hard Rock Park never should have happened.

There was also a story in Texas of a 20-something announcing a park. She said with a Texas theme, it night might not even need rides

BrettV:

I'm honestly not sure, what is the most recent example of a successful new "from the ground up" amusement park to open and succeed that is not a Disney, Universal or SEAS property or in an area like Orlando.

Does Jazzland/Six Flags New Orleans count? I mean, it would most likely still be there if not for Katrina.

Lost Island is trying to break the streak but I can’t say I’ve seen a photo where it isn’t deserted.

Time for our annual pipedream park announcement that never goes anywhere. Still waiting for that Polercoaster!

I've seen in other articles that they expect to draw 4.5 million visitors annually. At industry standard margins and per capita spending, they aren't going to see a return on investment for twenty years. And that is assuming they actually get 4.5 million a year, which as others have pointed out, is a dubious claim. Lost Island, a beautiful new theme park in Iowa, is going to bring in less than 100,000 guests this year.

The numbers just don't work on this project and investors should run.

As a fan, it's a shame that the barriers to entry are so high. But the cold hard truth is that the market for regional parks is mature and not friendly to investment right now.

BrettV:
what is the most recent example of a successful new "from the ground up" amusement park to open

Someone may correct me if I'm wrong on this, but I'd have to maybe venture that Canada's Wonderland might be your answer, opening in 1981 (i.e. 40 years ago or so). You might also be able to answer Mt. Olympus, but that kind of has morphed up to an amusement park from being a go kart track.

Since then we have had Celebration City (really nice park done in by the recession), Hard Rock Park, Miracle Strip at Pier Park, Wild West World, Jazzland / Six Flags New Orleans, Six Flags Power Plant, Six Flags Autoworld, Branson USA, Hydro Adventures, MGM Grand Adventures, and maybe a few others.

Walt S:

Canada's Wonderland

The Toronto metro area alone has 2 million more people than the entire state of Oklahoma give or take. I guess crazier things have happened.

Jeff:

There was also a story in Texas of a 20-something announcing a park. She said with a Texas theme, it night might not even need rides

And remember, she’s not building because it will make money. She’s building it because Houston deserves it.

SFNO/Jazzland is another example of a wide eyed goofball with no money getting years of media mileage out of his plans to reopen the park.