Please... Arizona needs a Theme Park!
Considering Phoenix just went 5 months without any precipitation at all, I don't think a water park, or a park with a lot of water features (or even grass) is a good idea, and might not fly with the local government.
And with temps regularly in the 110 degree range, Dippin' Dots don't stand a chance. Why kind of park would it be without Dippin' Dots???
J-Reimer said:
According to the 2000 census, Phoenix, AZ is the 6th largest city in the United States with 1,321,045 people, and growing. Pittsburgh, PA is 51st with 334,563
The population of a city has more than one way it can be measured. You used statistics that show what the population that resides within the actual city limits is. What about the suburbs? I would think that they would count.
A more accurate representation of a city's population is it's Metropolitan Area. There are some good arguments as to why this isn't always the best measurement either, but it gives us an idea of what kind of population an amusement park could draw from.
Just look at the differences of some cities vs. their metro area rankings (Columbus, OH is a GREAT example & my hometown, St. Louis, doesn't even show up on the 50 largest cities but it's the 18th largest metro area):
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0763098.html
http://www.demographia.com/db-usmet2000.htm
So population definately isn't the problem with a park in Pheonix. Population demographics, as previously mentioned, could play a huge role in it. But I agree with the others that the oppresive heat has the most to do with the lack of any large park in Arizona
On the other side of this spectrum, look at HW. The closest decent sized city to HW is Evansville and it only has a population of 300,000. Yet they draw quite well. More than just population alone dictate the success, or lack thereof, of amusement parks.
The heat may also have something to do with it. Heck, they have to air-condition the baseball stadium before anyone will come to the games.
Another thing: Phoenix is in the middle of nowhere. Holiday World or Knoebel's may be in the boonies, but they're only an hour or two from several major metro areas. How far is Phoenix from the next nearest city? I don't even know what it is - Vegas, maybe, or Salt Lake City? Probably a day's drive, anyway.
You've got about 2 million peeps living in the Salt Lake-Ogden-Provo Metro Area. After that it's quite a while to the next decent sized town (Grand Junction?). So being in a city that is isolated doesn't mean that a park can't survive.
While I agree that Pheonix does have it's share of retirees, it is by no means a retirement community only. There are plenty of people/families to support a local park (numbers wise).
I think it has to be the weather as the number one reason why there isn't a bigger amusement park in Phoenix.
Den said:
Phoenix is in the middle of nowhere. Holiday World or Knoebel's may be in the boonies, but they're only an hour or two from several major metro areas. How far is Phoenix from the next nearest city? I don't even know what it is - Vegas, maybe, or Salt Lake City? Probably a day's drive, anyway.
Phoenix is 287 miles from Vegas and 372 from L.A.
Not exactly a day's drive, but not exactly close either. :)
*** Edited 5/8/2006 8:30:07 PM UTC by Lord Gonchar***
The Phoenix area including suburbs has approx. 4 million people and it growing at a very large rate. If you add Tucson in which is about a 90 minute drive away you have another million. There are only 10 days on the average that hit 110 degrees or above. We do have 89 days of 100 degrees or above but the rest of the year is quite suitable for year round amusement parks. The average wage for the Phoenix area has jumped quite a bit in the past year as well as most of the housing doubling in price in the past couple years. We have one of the lower unemployment rates in the country. There is no reason why it cannot support a major amusement park.
There are plans in the works for an indoor amusement park in the west valley. See http://www.gcnae.com/home.html
We had a small Santa's Christmas Park that was open for 2 months on the Gila River Indian Reservation which is on the southeast side of Phoenix heading towards Tucson on I-10. There is talk about this becoming a permanent amusement park in a couple years. Rawhide, which is a western themed park, is found in the same area.
Jim
Sure it might be milder the rest of the year, but if school is in session, who is going to be at the parks? So at best an amusement park in Arizona would be open weekdays in the hottest months of the year and then weekends only the remainder of the year.
How can the heat not play a role in the success of an amusement park in Phoenix?
At least you've got something, right?
*** Edited 5/8/2006 9:08:20 PM UTC by Incidentalist***
Also I think that if the new Rawhide location become poulare enough than they wight start making carnival rides of small roller coasters. I also can see the Rawhide park with it's Feris Wheel out there a night from my house.
The only problem that Rawhide might run into is that they are on or next to Indian Reservation. But Rawhide is also in prime tourist visiting area. It is right next to Firebird Raceway and Gila River Casion and Resort.
Hamster Boy said:
Most people that live here in Pheonix can take the 100+ heat. (Right now I am wereing pants in 90+ weather) Also Pheonix does have really nice winter, sipring, and fall seasons 60 to 80 degrees.
Where the hell is Pheonix? Is that the Bizarro World version of Phoenix?
I can see making a typo or two (lord knows I make enough of them), but to consistently spell your own city name wrong isn't exactly impressive.
--Greg
"You seem healthy. So much for voodoo."
I have to agree with Greg, Hamster Boy. In order to be taken seriously here you really need to watch your spelling. An occasional goof is not the same as constant errors, and I can't recall a single post of yours that didn't have a spelling error.
Phoenix [the city] has, as far as I know, never had a wooden coaster. But it was *thisclose* to having Venice CA's old Sea Serpent woodie. It was relocated to Legend City in 1968 after the park bought it at auction for - get this: $2,750!! It was put in storage but the park closed before it could be built.
*** Edited 5/9/2006 3:43:50 AM UTC by Mamoosh***
RatherGoodBear said:
If they build an amusement park in Arizona, will they name their first coaster "Elysburg?"
ROFLMAO!!! :) Good one and I agree. ;)
Main Entry: an·cient
1 : having had an existence of many years
2 : of or relating to a remote period, to a time early in history, or to those living in such a period or time.
Main Entry: ac·ci·den·tal
1 : arising from extrinsic causes :
2 a : occurring unexpectedly or by chance
I think you meant the second.
*** Edited 5/9/2006 4:27:58 AM UTC by Mamoosh***
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