Smaller Parks the way to go?

Taking for example Disney's California Adventure: It seems to me that this big parks really aren't worth all of their hype. I even seen better praising for parks like Holiday World and Indiana Beach. Shoot even Morey's Piers are getting rave reviews. The Great Escape with The Comet and it's laid back atmosphere. Knobels for heck, being a bargain in the middle of nowwhere.

This gives me some added confidence that the venture I am proposing can have better success. I am not proposing a major theme park. But even with that said, it's still expensive and difficult to start

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God Bless Theme Parks!

I totally agree. I read your other posts and it sounds like you have a really great idea. I like that Land of Giants idea from Huss rides as well. Good Luck with your venture!

Koppman:

Thank you very much for your support. If they are anything like I have ridden from HUSS rides, they will be a hit. Just had another idea for a topic:)

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God Bless Theme Parks!

Not sure if it is a case of large vs small parks, but rather the "corporate" mentality of the operators of the park... and this includes corporations as well.

For instance...
Physically, is there much difference in land area between Six Flags America and Dorney Park when you are talking about acerage? However the atmosphere at them differ wildly... SFA has a "cookie cutter" mass produced feel to it while Dorney has a more "traditional" feel especially in the section near the creek (the older section). Both of these are Corporate parks.

"Next door" to Dorney is Hersheypark... this park as increased its acerage in the past few years quite a bit, but yet the atmosphere here is still relaxed with out too much of a mass produced and coorporate feel.

Of course of the two examples I gave, both Dorney and Hersheypark started off as small "traditional" parks years ago.

Then of course you have places like Knoebels with its down right down homey feel.

I believe that operating philosophy and staffing have more to do with the "feel" of a park than does size.

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"I wasn't always this cynical, but then I started kindergarden..."

*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 9/7/2001. ***

Michael,

I would suggest that you go to Silverwood in Athol, ID to see another small park, and talk with the people that own it. It is a great example of what to do with a decent amount of acreage, and the use of patience. I hope that you are successful in your exploits.

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Nasai:

Good thinking, I had forgotten that park. Though I havent been west of Illinois, they must know something I don't know:)

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God Bless Theme Parks!

Haven't been west of IL? Boy...you need to get out there! Seriously, there are a surprising amount of smaller parks across this country. Even more so in Japan. How are you doing your research for this project? Don't just take Buzzers words for it!!! lol:)
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Hey is there any chance you need another partner in your venture? Or how about someone to help aid in the design processes, I would be interested to get involved in such a project. There are many small parks in my region (Boston)that provide a great atmosphere combind with excellent staff and rides including Lake Compounce and Canobie Lake.

i dont trust small park coasters i dont do why its like they where build by drunks

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http://bigtimecoasters.cjb.net Dania Beach Hurricane all the way

*sigh* here we go again with the loser kids and their very foolish comments....
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The debate between small parks vs huge chain parks is a question of Quality vs Quantity. If a park has a small number of quality rides, such as Holiday World with their two CCIs, then they can definitely 'play with the big boys'. However, a smallpark like SFEG that has only clones and a shadoow of a great woodie (Twister II) can never compete with the larger parks.
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"Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away and you have their shoes."

I can see how maybe you would like a small park over somthing like a SF park, but Busch Parks are big corporate parks, and are personally the best parks i have ever been to.

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Montu, God Of Coasters

Raging Bull, Don't Fight It, Ride It

Coastersaurus, I have to agree with you. I do definitely prefer the smaller parks, but having said that, I love the Busch parks. BGW has to be, hands down, the most beautiful park in existence, and although it can be somewhat confusing in its layout, it is an awesome experience and it has wonderful (with the DF exception) coasters. Walking through the park, you get to see everything from various "countries" to wildlife refuges, all connected by amazing forestry. Simply wonderful.
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IMO, smaller parks, like IB and HW would spend their money on good original coasters that for the most part, end up as top rides (wasn't raven or ledgend voted #1?)
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I pray that I will never see a Six Flags Conneaut Lake

While I tend to like smaller, traditional parks more than corporate ones, it's not a black and white argument. Like the rest of the world, it's grey...

At one end of the spectrum, you have Knoebels. Everything about it screams traditional family amusement park. From the food to the entertainment to the rides to the ride tickets. There's no mistake about what it is and what they're successful about doing.

At the other end, you have Six Flags. Many to most of them are victims of over-expansion, lack shade, and have generally grown too expensive in everything from food to admission.

But, as with anything in life, there are exceptions. I'm sure there are some beautifully themed, well-kept Six Flags parks out there just like there are some horribly-run, falling apart family owned parks.

That's why it's best to judge for yourself. One of the best parks I've been to is Paramount's Kings Island. It's a corporate park that's part of a larger chain of parks, yet it keeps a great family feel to it. I think it's a fantastic park everyone should check out.

"It's just important to remember that no one falls into a simple set of labels." - Lindsey Buckingham

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Matt Lynch
Co-Webmaster : Kennywood Boulevard

For me, it takes all kinds...
I love traditional parks like Knobels, Lake Compounce, and Kennywood, as well as smaller but not-so-traditional parks like Morey's Piers and Dutch Wonderland. Those parks, not being corporate parks in the Six Flags/Paramount/Cedar Fair sense, have so much character and personality, and very often, have at least one GREAT coaster that makes spending a day there a true joy.
However, theme parks like Six Flags and Cedar Point have their place. Look at a ride like Nitro, which is so big and grand, only a park like Six Flags could afford it after building Medusa and Hurricane Harbor. You can't depend on a wonderful park like Knoebels to build a ride of Nitro's caliber, so there is something to be said of the corporate giants.
Like I said, it takes all kinds.

*** This post was edited by Rob Ascough on 9/8/2001. ***

I do believe that even a smaller park could have a ride like Nitro and make it awesomely themed. It takes dedication of your park and it's patrons

That's one big thing I want on my park, TREES! SHADE!

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God Bless Theme Parks!

I'm sure that smaller parks could do it if they could afford it, but I doubt that a park like Lake Compounce can afford an expensive B&M speed coaster. Too bad, because I would much rather ride Nitro at a park like that than an overcrowded Six Flags park.

Rob Ascough said:
I'm sure that smaller parks could do it if they could afford it, but I doubt that a park like Lake Compounce can afford an expensive B&M speed coaster. Too bad, because I would much rather ride Nitro at a park like that than an overcrowded Six Flags park.

Exactly. The small parks simply don't have the money to build $10 million + rides. If they did start building them, they wouldn't be small parks anymore.

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So many coasters - so little time.

isn't silver dollar city a small park, they just built a like 14 or 15 million B&M sit-down
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Montu, God Of Coasters

Raging Bull, Don't Fight It, Ride It