Why no SF Florida Parks?

I live in the south east and there are some great theme parks here. I'm certainly not complaining, but I'm just curious - does anyone know why Six Flags decided not to put a park in Florida, it being one of the largest amusement areas in the world?

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Grit your teeth, bare the load, enjoy your headache on Thunder Road.

*** This post was edited by RollerJunkie on 11/18/2002. ***

Because then people spend a day at IOA, a day at BGT, a day at Disney then a day at Six Flags?!?

I'm not a SF basher, but SF just could not compete with those three parks I don't think. Although they would still do good I'm sure, due to the massive amounts of tourism.

SF can compete with any park. It is all a matter of location. But who's to say they havn't looked into the idea. You say, "Why didn't Six Flags decide to put a park in Florida?" It's not like they opened all their parks at once. They are continuosly buying parks so who knows. Keep in mind that SF usually buys other parks, rarley do they start them from scratch. And I really can't see SF buying out ANY of those three parks stated.

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...but SF *did* have a "park" in FL at one time, the ill-fated SF Atlantis....I'll throw that little tidbit out, and let those who really KNOW something about the placve say more about it...

I believe this is the park rollergator is talking about. Remember that this venture happened when the Six Flags chain was owned by Balley, not the current team.

LOL,they actually had a waterpark with the acronym of SFA (six flags atlantis) too bad they didn't have much success with it however.

As for SF building a park in Florida you can forget about that happening anytime soon,they're having enough financial difficulties managing the parks they already have & with the recent purchase of Jazzland it's not going to make things any easier for them that's for sure.

i cant see SF having a park in FL....

just too much competition that SF cant handle. besides, who needs a SF park when you got Busch, Universal, and Disney?

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#1-MF #2-Apollo's Chariot #3-S:RoS

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Take a look at California. Six Flags has competition with 2 Disney parks and a Cedar Fair park in So. Cali. They also have competition from a Paramount Park in No. Cali.

They can easily survive in Florida if given the chance.

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2 superheroes in Gurnee next season? Oh the humanity. :)

Having a SF "Thrill" park in Florida isn't a bad idea. But history (remember Circus World/Boardwalks and Baseball?) hasn't been kind to more traditional parks.

There was a rumor a while back that SF had bought some land in South West FL, near FT. Myers. That area is far enough away from Orlando that direct competition may be a little less fierce. However, more seniors that thrill seekers.

SF could do well with an AFFORDABLE destination resort just outside of Orlando. A place where the rooms were less that $100 a pop, and admission was under $50. Orlando really is the family Las Vegas. You show up with a thick wallet, and leave with big credit card bills, sunburn, and some decent memories.

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"She said to me oh I love it when you're mean,
don't you know it's boring when it's quiet and serene.
I said to her no way baby, life ain't what it seems,
Well don't you know baby that life is a scream!" - Gordon Gano

Thanks, bk....:)

coasterdude04 said: "who needs a SF park when you got Busch, Universal, and Disney"?

ummm, let's see here....;). Would they happen to be bringing any "good wood", perhaps some Intamin steel....WHERE to build is the truly tough question. Of course, add in the fact that SFI is probably a little "strapped" right now for the kind of cash it would take to build a park *from scratch*, AND that's not something they've got a lot of experience in anyway.......but, if you're asking me if *I* would like for SFI to put a "bajillion" coasters to go in somewhere *nearby*, the answer is SURE, why not...

bill, thinking that CoasterDad64 and Atlatis104 would probably agree....

Bill I dont think I could of put it much better. But I do wish there was a park in South Florida I'm getting sick of the drive every other weekend.

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Joey Ciborek, Florida Coaster Club, Member
"WE RIDE ALL YEAR!!!" www.FloridaCoasterClub.com , www.CoasterJoe.com
"It's like an addiction" Me, The Discovery Channel, Ultimate Guide: Roller Coasters 5/27/02

I heard a rumor, from a friend who knew a real estate agent, that they owned land in Kissammee. I don't know if it is true or not. Wouldn't that be a nice place for a SF park? Maybe if it where on the other side of Kissammee that Disney was.

I would love to see six flags buy Cypress Gardens or Silver Springs. Boomers in Dania might be a good park for them to buy as well, even though it is very small.

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I regret to inform you that Lakemont Park is my homepark.

Back in 1996 the Orlanado Business Journal ran a quick article on the SF rumor. Keep in mind that this info is 6+ years old.

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/1996/06/17/newscolumn1.html

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"She said to me oh I love it when you're mean,
don't you know it's boring when it's quiet and serene.
I said to her no way baby, life ain't what it seems,
Well don't you know baby that life is a scream!" - Gordon Gano

*** This post was edited by CoasterDad64 on 11/18/2002. ***

They should open a park in the Miami / West Palm Beach area.

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Wooden: 1) Beast 2) Raven 3) Son of Beast 4) The Boss 5) Timber Wolf
Steel: 1) Raging Bull 2) Millennium Force 3) V2 4) Wild Thing 5) Mr. Freeze
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Cedar Fair should open another "amusement" park near cocoa/canaveral. 20 mins across from the whole busy kissimmee area, CF could build rides called "the launchpad" and not have to worry about a customer base. CF runs their parks better than SF and could do well, like they do in other markets, attracting the more daring and more excitable vacation traveler. Not to mention those poor people of Florida who have to become tourists to ride on record breakers. (FL have some kind of law against tall rides cause of the hurricanes or something?)

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Take Time to be Kind

SF doesn't start many parks on its own. Now you tell me what park in Florida would SF even care to buy out?

I know that SF could easily compete with any of the parks there, but they do not want to start from scratch to do so. And they certainly aren't going to buy out Busch, Disney, or IOA.

A park like WBMW in Madrid would deliver some competition. The only down side of that people would think its similar to Universal Studios, but with all the coasters and wood they got, it can probably be better. I will like to see a park like that in the U.S.

Even if Six Flags bought out or created a brand new park in Florida, how in the world are they going to compete with Orlando (Disney, Universal, Sea World, etc) or with Busch Gardens in Tampa. Their going to need something that is very well themed. I don't think just an amusement park will work in Florida.

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Catching the wonderfull disease of Mono in September, my off-season started 2 months and two weeks ago plus. But don't feel sorry for me, my summer Rocked! I really can't complain.

South Florida should be the place to be for a major amusement park company. The problem is available land at an acceptable cost. There have been lots of "almost". Wayne Huzienga, former owner of the Marlins once owned (actually started) Blockbuster Video. He built a small Blockbuster F.E.C. that was a concept he had intended to expand throughout the country.

It was relatively successful so good old Wayne decided he wanted to build a major theme park (Blockbuster of course) in Miramar, Florida (in between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami). Well, Miramar wasn't ready to become a Kissimmee so they nixed the idea. Wayne went on to win the World Series with the Marlins only to dismantle the team the next season. Theme park lovers are probably lucky his Blockbuster park didn't go through.

The second largest tourist attraction in all of Florida is in South Florida. Sawgrass Mills Outlet Mall is second only to Disney in number of visitors so you would think Miami would be ready for a big park, especially if it catered toward the South American population.

*** This post was edited by wahoo skipper on 11/18/2002. ***

A quick word on Six Flags Atlantis:

It was a pretty good park and I knew a bunch of people that ran it. The problem was their land was worth a fortune and the park wasn't generating near the revenue something else could have.

The area is now a major commercial/retail area and is most recognizable as having a Dave and Buster's.