Wild Escape Theme Park announced for Wheeling, WV

I wonder what the "Only In America" folks have to say about this.

^LMAO! I was wondering the same thing. ;)

-Tina

Probably pissed caused these guys probably work at Quiznos ...

Owner of Crystal Mountain, LLC says, "No really, we're actually going to build it this time."

http://www.wtov9.com/news/9595869/detail.html

Rob, your link doesn't work (at least not on my modern web browser).

Wild Escape - Wheeling IMO will be a reality, due to the way the political and tax system works in West Virginia, and the general quality of life of that area.

I have travelled to Wheeling frequently during the spring and summer to attend indoor football games, and the gambling revenue is used in lieu of overbearing taxes to fund much of the area's government funded projects.

Do this one thing...drive to downtown Wheeling...look at all the events going on every weekend, as well as all the revitalization projects that are ongoing, and get a sense of your surroundings and the safe downtown location you are part of....NOW...look across the river to the Ohio side, and tell me what you see...Bridgeport Ohio....I see houses that should be condemned, and very little activity for families to enjoy.

Wheeling WV, as well as Erie PA, are unique enough to have earned my frequent visits, because I am entertained as well as feeling extremelly safe in these communities.

I live in Wheeling and people are extremely excited about this park. There are so many things to do in Wheeling. As midwave said in a previous post, "drive to downtown Wheeling...look at all the events going on every weekend, as well as all the revitalization projects that are ongoing, and get a sense of your surroundings and the safe downtown location you are part of". That is so true. There are so many things to do in Wheeling. Even though there are large sections of downtown Wheeling that really need to be torn down, the city has been working on that for the past few years. If this theme park is built in Wheeling, it will really be an exciting place to be.

I always thought the way the political and tax system worked in WV was that your Senator Byrd brought home enough pork from the federal government to make Oscar Meyer cry uncle. Anybody know whether this park project is getting federal funding?

I know of an "entrepreneur" in PA who's attempted to build a project in what I'd call a specialized entertainment niche. He's submitted plans in several areas of the state over the past 15 years or so, and has gotten close to getting them approved. But at the last minute, something happens and the project doesn't get built.

After a few years, he pops up again looking at a new property. I've heard rumors that the guy just looks for new backers each time and lives off of their money for a few years. Then the project "fails" and the investors are told it is a risk to invest in such a project. Like the carnie shill says-- "Ya pays yer money, ya takes yer chances." Wonder if this is the same thing.

That was too weird RGB. I was thinking about "Only In America" when I started reading these posts. I, like everyone else would love another park to visit, but this just reeks of "too good to be true". Plus, don't we all know that WV could use another park...Camden is good and all, but another park would be great for them. Here's to hoping...though I'm doubting even more.

A press conference by Wild Escape officials will take place on Aug 10 according to WTOV-9 concerning more details about the park.

Part of the reason the Omaha one didn't break ground was they asked for to many extentions on the funding. Nebraska Government got fed up and wouldn't give them anymore time.

I was thinking some more about this (especially since there's a recently built Cabela's I drive past occasionally), and I realized one other thing that bothers me about this.

That's the idea that these pie in the sky outfits come along promising multi-million dollar projects and a few hundred jobs. Then the local and state governments fall all over themselves and each other to offer them all kinds of perks, tax breaks, building roads and interchanges for them, etc.

Meanwhile, we have all these little, and some not so little, parks struggling that can use some assistance and get nothing-- if they're lucky. In many places (West Mifflin, Southern Columbia School District, are you listening?), they try to concoct way to suck as much money out as they can to fill their own coffers.

If someone would come along and put one-tenth of this amount into a place like Bushkill or Williams Grove, or any other small "local" park across the country, you could have a really nice little place going. Naybe it's high time the Chambers of Commerce, Tourist Promotion Agencies, etc. stepped up to the plate and helped the little guy out. They can do it for every other industry or business, why not amusement parks?

Many of those traditional parks need help. In some places it its happening. Conneaut Lake has been getting community help. Its future is still in question but at least it has a fighting chance now to survive.

Other parks like Bushkill and Lakemont could use this kind of help as well.

One of the most far-sighted actions involving an amusement park was when Westchester County built Rye Playland. Municipal ownership is the only reason that park is still around. Otherwise it would have been torn down for development like Palasades and Rockaway's were.

As regards taxes, local communities should be barred from taxing amusement parks except for the real estate taxes. Why should tiny communities be allowed to give their taxpayers a big break just because they have a park in them. PA is considering protecting Kennywood from this type of taxation but they should do this for all of the parks, especially ones like CLP.

I got an e-mail regarding Wile Escape's opening date:
"Dear Mike,

The full Wild Escape Campus will open in 2008 with a possible earlier preview. The crystalmountainwv.com web-site is correct. It will be re-designed this summer to show updates, job postings, etc.

Thank you for your interest. We hope to see you when the park opens.

Regards,


Steve Minard"