Wild Escape plans going nowhere in West Virginia

Posted | Contributed by Jason Hammond

Ohio County officials promised in July 2006 that local residents soon would be able to experience a “wild escape” at The Highlands. Now, 18 months later, the proposed Wild Escape theme park seems no closer to reality than it was that summer day when officials announced the project — and judging by the process to date, that may not change anytime soon.

Read more from The Wheeling News-Register.

Maybe they can merge with that park they're "building" over by the Pittsburgh Airport. I hear that's were they are going to hold the release party for the long anticipated PC game Duke Nukem Forever.

Hands for those who are shocked by this news? Anybody?...anybody? It's unfortunate for West Virginia though.

A park built somewhere between Huntington and Charleston would probably be very successful! It doesn't need to be a HUGE megapark or anything. There is a lot of traffic around here.

A hillbilly theme would be fascinating!!! lol.

I've been excited to go to this park in Wheeling for a long time now. My excitement has stopped growing.

Clean Water Act violations? Corps of Engineers? Pardon the technical language, but they're f***ed.

I'd love to use the county's excuse when I apply for permits-- "I didn't hear from you for so long I assumed I could start the work." Even if they get the permits, I don't know if it's a good idea to cover up streams. There's a reason why they're there-- it's where water naturally flows to. Fighting nature is an expensive and usually a losing proposition.

On the bright side, we can try guessing what rides Minard has hidden and where they're stored.

http://www.news-register.net/page/content.detail/id/505242.html?nav=515

Here is a an interview with the park owner, says he already has coasters. Very funny read in my opinion.

He has "ordered" coasters and had them fabricated, and has them in storage? Come on, who the hell does business like this? And how much does this cost?

I particularly liked the parts where he said he comes up with the concepts for the rides, and how he "test rides" everything before he buys it. Isn't that just another way of saying he goes to parks and rides coasters? I guess we're all test riders here then.

snake oil salesman and the monorail episode of Simpsons comes to mind with this whole thing. I'm sure his funding sources, if they really exists, will grow weary of waiting for the permits so I'm not expecting this thing to ever materialize unfortunately.

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