What do you want in a themepark?

Mamoosh, I'll admit being 35, I still do dream of what I'd do if I'd hit the Powerball lottery that's advertised everytime I go down to Baltimore City via 95 to 395. When I see the numbers up into three digits, I'll admit that one of the first things that comes to mind is buying Six Flags America and putting in all the stuff that I think would fill the park out nicely. We'd finally have a mine train to rival the one at Fiesta Texas, a wild mouse, a Sally darkride and lots of flat rides from the Huss and KMG catalogs. And if I were really nice, I'd finally add that B&M that BatwingFanSFA wants so bad. Then I snap back to reality and realize that I don't play the lottery and that I'd have to fight Dan Synder for control. No thanks.

Bah, if I won that much money I'd have no interest in buying or building a park. I could pretty much travel to any park in the world I wanted to on a whim, which I think would be more than enough for me!

There is ONE thing I need to have in a themepark....ME! All else is optional... :)

In my park I want a 220'-250' TGG woodie with 7500'-8500' feet of track. At least 25 spots & 30 seconds of airtime. A 220'+ 77-80 degree first drop and at least 9 tunnels. I also want a 300-500 foot tall custom built park model Maurer Soehne (sp?) Xtended Power Tower, a Huss Land of the Giants, several water and flat rides and a few other coasters.

My dream is for a new theme park for Houston. These are the features:

6 to 8 themed areas based upon Texas history and traditions.

At least 8 coasters to start with 2 to 3 more added later. Two should be family oriented (junior, mine train, etc.). Both wood and steel should be included with good variety. A hypercoaster and a B&M inverted should be among the initial coasters along with a reconstruction of the Texas Cyclone.

A tall 250 ft. plus drop tower with a second of a different style added later

A good assortment of flat rides, properly themed, including both family and thrill rides.

An interactive dark ride with a second one added later.

One or two virtual reality rides.

Several transport rides (trains, skyride, etc.)

At least 4 water rides (flume, whitewater rapids, etc.). This is very important because of the hot summer weather in the area.

A large, first-class waterpark similar to Schlitterbahn.

A good, well-themed children's area along with children's characters throught the park.

A variety of shows (musical, magic, cinematic, acrobatic). There should also be some roving enterteiners.

Good park food at moderate prices.

Lots of trees and landscaping. Numerous fountains, pools and misters. Fans in queue areas.

A strong emphasis on cleanliness, service, and reliable, safe operation.

Location: south Piney woods near Conroe (north of Houston) -- This area has reasonably priced land, varied terrain and lots of woods that can add to the park's atmosphere and help keep it comfortable on hot summer days. It is also far enough from the city to prevent the kind of problems that SFAW had.

Cost: Approximately $300,000,000 to $400,000,000

Projected initial attendance: Initally 1.5 to 2 million with projected growth to 2.5 to 3 million as park expands. (1.5 million was the approximate SFAW attendance during the last several years before closing.

Pricing: Match SFOT's admission charge but not more than $50. The usual types of discounts would be made available. Two day and season passes would also be available. Reduced prices for seniors (over 60) and children too small to ride the big coasters and thrill rides. Parking $8 to $10 (definitely not $15). Food prices somewhere between KW-KB pricing and Six Flags pricing (high enough to maintain a decent profit given the cost of the park but low enough to prevent guests from feeling ripped off)

Operating season: Daily from Memorial Day through mid August (school in Texas generally starts in mid-August). Weekends from mid March through Thanksgiving weekend. Also open on holidays and during spring break. Special Christmas openings evenings ahd weekends in December. Waterpark open from April through October.

The park would be marketed primarily in the Houston, Corpus Christi and Beaumont areas but would also be promoted in Dallas-Ft. Worth, Austin, and San Antonio (as an alternative to the Six Flags parks.) This is a big market, much of which is not properly served at present.

Now the problem is to get some investors in Houston to build it. Remember that the Houston Texans cost much than this for the franchise and the stadium. If no local investor is forthcoming, than Cedar Fair probably is the best possibility in about five years after their debt is reduced. I just hope that they become more receptive to good theming than they are at present. *** Edited 6/5/2006 11:44:39 AM UTC by Arthur Bahl***

Arthur I will become one of your investers if I win the next record breaking Powerball jackpot but we have to outdo The Voyage for airtime AND rebuild the original TC with buzzbars. The drop tower should be like the one I decribed in my post. The area you are talking about happens to be the area I wanted to build my dream park. LaMarque southeast of Houston a town that wanted to see a park built is too flat but looking on Google Earth I also found out that the NW area looks like it has some terrain to build a record breaking TGG woodie outdoing the Voyage. The park also need to be open at least 9 months of the year.

Pink Floyd Fanatic

There would be a second wood coaster much like Voyage and using the terrain to some extent. The Texas Cyclone rebuild would attempt to have cars similar to the original ones (even if this means 52" to 54" minimum height and 2 to a seat required (KW's Thunderbolt does all right with this). There would definitely be no "coffin cars".

A 500' rocket coaster would be considered in the future (for the space themed area) but only if the bugs can be worked out in such coasters. I don't want any rides breaking down all of the time like TTD and KK.

Now for the matter of upcharge rides--not too many. A twin Skycoaster and a Go-cart track would be included plus possibly another extreme attraction.

The flats in the park would include a 4 abreast carousel with a real band organ. Hopefully it could be similar to the charming Dentzels at KW and the Texas State Fair even if it had to be made anew.

Recipe for an A$$Kicking Theme Park.

Take One Magic Kingdom

Add One Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Mix in One Holiday World

Serves MILLIONS of Coaster Fans!

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

^One more ingredient, CP. Without them you dont have a single park with any good steel.

I would luv it to be a combination. the rides of magic mountain and the atomosphere of busch garden willamsburg.

Silverwoodies + SFNE RoS + PCW flats + BGW landscaping + Disney operations + HW friendliness and cleanliness + Knoebels' food (and birch beer) + IB's setting = <3

Sort of a word problem, I'm tricky like that... :)

I know what I don't want in a themepark: Gator! lol ;)

^ :(

;)

:)

I personally don't need fictional characters to get me on a ride that is already great to begin with.

And to me, theming is just another way for the gp to get their bearings of where they are in the park. WOF has the continents, HW has the holidays, etc.

I like parks to be about the rides themselves. Let the rides be thier own characters (most cases we already do).

I'll admit back when Batman The Ride first opened at Gurnee, I was blown away by the theming. But over the years as I return to SFGAm, alot of the original alure dissapeared (grafitti is gone, no junk in the empty lot before the sewer, less effects on the squad car). Now I just want to get on it and ride.

I will continue this rant at another time.

I want a park without enthusiasses, and free Great Lakes Brewery beers!

;)

-Tambo

^GREAT IDEA about the beer.
Great Lakes Brewery is awesome.