A Florida Six Flags?
A large plot of land has apparently been bought up down in Port Richey/Hudson. Rumors are that a Six Flags will be built there.
Not sure if this has been addressed in the past, but I figure I may as well open it up again, seeing as how the rumors are reaching a boiling point. Our newspapers down here have poked at the news that someone's looking to buy up the land that belonged to a huge plot of land already belonging to a flea market.
Mostly, they figured that the plot of land would go to hotels/condos/apartments/whatever, but they also noted that there's been a lot of rumors flying around about a potential Six Flags park being built on that same plot of land.
Makes some sense, since the plot of land they were talking about is a considerable chunk of land that extends not just through the original flea market, but past that and all the way to the beach. I've never actually been out past the flea market except to actually visit THE flea market, so I couldn't tell you how far this would stretch.
Considering it sits on the west side of US 19, with the beach not that far away, I can imagine that it probably gets pretty close.
Anyway, anyone heard any rumors? Anything official yet? I'm just curious, and I figured I'd spread the word. Since I live no more than two or three miles from the place, and all.
The only way I could see another Six Flags park being built anywhere (given the company's current capital situation) is if it followed the Dubai model: a third-party builds and manages the park, licensing the "Six Flags" name from the company.
But, given what just happened to the backers of Hard Rock theme park, which followed the same model, I can't believe that any investors would be moving toward doing something like that with any theme park brand, in this market.
I don't think Six Flags will do it because they are having enough problems in today's economy. Their stock is in the tank and they are losing lots of money. I mean look your the right hand side of this discussion, Great Adventure and Great America are the top two Six Flags parks and they are 19 and 20!
Six Flags is pretty much broke as it is, and perhaps facing an even bigger financial crisis next year. There is no way that they would sanely think about building right now while their stock is 40 cents a share and their debt is so much.
Quite honestly, if I were a developer, Six Flags would have to pay me to license their name at this time. Maybe some day that won't be the case, but that day is not today.
With the economy, and Six Flag's financial situation, not for awhile my friend. HRP learned that lesson the hard way.
Probably not, but based on the information below, where would YOU put a park (assuming you can afford to build one)?
(7 of the Top 10)
Total attendance in 2007:
1 Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort Lake Buena Vista, FLORIDA, USA 2007 17,060,000
2 Disneyland Anaheim, California, USA 2007 14,870,000
3 Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort Lake Buena Vista, FLORIDA, USA 2007 10,930,000
4 Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort Lake Buena Vista, FLORIDA, USA 2007 9,600,000
5 Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort Lake Buena Vista, FLORIDA, USA 2007 9,510,000
6 Universal Studios Florida at Universal Orlando Resort Orlando, FLORIDA, USA 2007 6,200,000
7 SeaWorld Orlando Orlando, FLORIDA, USA 2007 5,800,000
8 Disney's California Adventure Anaheim, California, USA 2007 5,680,000
9 Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort Orlando, FLORIDA, USA 2007 5,430,000
10 Universal Studios Hollywood Universal City, California, USA 2007 4,700,000
From Sal Zicari
Posted January 22, 2009 at 9:51 PM
I am a resident of Hudson/Port Richey, I live not even a mile from the rumored/proposed site. Three years ago I heard talk from several reliable sources that Six Flags was coming to Florida on the gulf coast somewhere between Hernando county and Pasco County. I was advised from a friend whom is a real estate attorney to buy some property in the next few years. When i asked him why he stated to me that Six flags was coming also. I cant give too many details because the more I divulge could reveal my sources. As far as the plans of what six flags may do in Pasco County or as far as when due to the story with the economy. The economy is going to rebound and things are going to get strong again. Now as far as my observations of the area. Since I bought my house I have seen things in the area change. They are building hotels like there is no tomorrow. They just opened one hotel a few months ago, there is one being stucco'ed now. There is another that was just broke ground on, there are apartment buildings going up on SR52. There is rumor of a HardRock Cafe hotel coming as well. Currently there are 4-5 other hotels in the area. So this brings the question, Why???? This area is not that great of an area, Weeki Wachee doesnt need all these hotels, Busch Gardens is too far for it to be an impact. Congo River Golf just opened but it is not that big of an attraction to have the demand of all these hotels. So I think there is a reality of Six Flags coming. But i feels it is gonna be a few years before they break ground. Oh something else, they may be closing the local publix and they just opened a new one 3 miles away and i heard the one in the proposed site area is moving too. when you look on the map the site is the same size as Busch Gardens property.
The only reason I can see as to why Six Flags may have bought land in Florida is because the current economic crisis has forced the price of the land down. Even if in possesion of the land I don't see Six Flags even thinking about building until there is some stability in the economy. They simply aren't in a fit financial state to do so.
We are so glad to have found this website. My wife and I have owned our house for close to 8 years and we both are from Florida and have our Real Estate Lic. We bought up in this area when we were told 54 would be turning into 6 lanes and the growth it would bring. I am not sure as to where I had 1st heared about Six Flags but started asking around and recently got some pretty good confirmation, when I talked to the owner of Westshore Pizza on little Rd. he said the construction guys that come into eat that are working behind the Mitchell Plaza on Little and 54 building the new Trinity Hospital are set to start construction on the new Six Flags once they are finished with the Hospital. Just today we took a drive up towards the Flea Market to take a look a see if we could fine the spot. We did not see an exact spot, but yes a ridiculous amount of brand new hotels going up. This area is almost right on the water. I can only imagine this area must be the cheapest water front property around for purchase, special with the way housing prices have fallen. Hope it is true and that a Six Flags will start turning this area around. Buy Now!!!!
Quick! Someone give me a loan so I can move back to Florida buy something! ARGGH! I better make some money fast, haha.
This is exciting...only thing is...would people still fly into Orlando and drive there? Is it practical to drive that far for a Six Flags? How far from Busch would that be?
From steve lee
Posted January 26, 2009 at 3:33 PM
People must start these rumors in a desperate attempt to raise their property values.
You'd be better off sending your money to Madoff.
First off, rumors we told the information on exact people & location of these people. 2nd we just ment that if anyone can by anything in this potential area they should go for it. I am talking about pushing you into a loan that you can not afford and take out 2nd mtgs and home lines of credit so you can appear to have the lifestyle you are "pre approved for". For those of us who can manage our money & did not take loans for things we knew we could not afford, we are doing just fine. But to answer you qs it would be about an hour from Bush Gardens to the new Six Flags area. We also go to Orlando often we have Sea World Pass and always get a Fun card every year from Bush Gardens. If any one out their knows that a Six Flags is NOT going up please let me know & tell me why all this brand new hotels are being built in Pasco County????
From steve lee
Posted January 26, 2009 at 8:34 PM
No one can answer the hotel question, but it's already been stated numerous times that Six Flags has no capital whatsoever. None. They still have a few parks that are probably on the chopping block because they need to get some money somewhere (looking at you, Kentucky Kingdom). Their stock is currently at 34 cents a share. This is NOT a company that has any money to go dumping 200 to 300 million on a new property.
Factor in how parks have performed recently. Not great. To top that off, the last new park that opened in the United States lasted less than six months (while this is primarily due to poor management, the economy most certainly helped christen the dumpster that Hard Rock Park currently resides in). This was a warning shot for the industry.
I don't disagree with the concept of a new park in Florida, but I just can't see SFI having any major stake in it right now (oh, and let's not forget what's happened to Cypress Gardens). As someone mentioned earlier in the thread, there is a chance of another company footing the bill, much like what's happening in Dubai, but a larger question is why would another company want to do that considering the current economy? Certainly the economy will get better, but companies can get awful short-sighted when it comes to return on investments.
And my final reason? This is a rumor that won't die. It's been rolling around for years, and no one's heard a single concrete detail. There's a lot of loose lipped people in the industry and this isn't the sort of thing that could be kept top secret for this long a period of time.
But, if for some reason this all turns out to be incorrect and Six Flags does wind up building a park in Florida, I'll be the first to say I was wrong. But I think that particular crow will have died of old age before I'm required to eat it.
Six Flags is just crazy. Here we are talking about their debts and how they need to make the parks they already have stronger and not build a new park in Florida when they are being stupid and going over to build two parks in Asia!
Look guys i am 36 and I have lived in Hudson since the age 5. There is something going on in this area of talks about Six Flags. Did anyone ever think it could be another park? This is Hudson, these hotel developers are not going to waste their money on cranking out these nice hotels in the middle of Port Richey/Hudson. Trust me there is no demand for these hotels at ALL, no one comes to this area. Second of all if you were going to build a park this would be the area to get the cheapest land. If you are at the Publix on the corner and go due north there is 88 acres currently for sale, and come on a Congo River Golf? Aren't these places only built around theme parks? The developers of these hotels and such get future data analysis before they even buy. All I am saying is this is Pasco, seriously. lol. There is something going on that we don't know about. One of these hotels is a nice Hilton. Like I said I know this area, my moneys on green!! I also don't know if you guys know, a little history lesson for you: Walt Disney was going to originally build his park here. But was turned down by the people, but his first choice was this area. Not that it has anything to do with this I just thought I would throw that out there.
There may have been some activity at one time involving Six Flags, and they may even own some land in the area. but I'm telling you, they aren't building anything anytime soon. Last stock price...14 cents a share. It was at one time 40 dollars. They are hanging on by a thread right now, and when bills come due at the end of the season, it may be all she wrote for Six Flags corporation.
Spending a couple hundred million dollars to build in an overdeveloped, saturated marketplace that has seen a colossal drop in land value is likely last thing on their mind. They would be out of their mind to build in Florida...as would most other companies. We've all seen what has happened to the little guys in Florida. Boardwalk and Baseball....closed, Cypress Gardens, having a really hard time staying open.
The only way a new amusement park would survive in Florida is if the developers spent big money and went all out on design and rides. I'm talking everything here...coasters, thrill and water rides, a big investment in family/kid attractions, a water park, a good number of shows/games and a wide variety to eat...kind of like picking up a Cedar Point or Kings Island and setting it down in Florida. They would have to open a fully mature park with tons of attractions and the broadest of appeals. They would then have a chance if they could keep the admission under 50 bucks, the season pass under $100, and undercut the Orlando parks on in park items while maintaining quality and providing the best customer service...not to mention have a good line of credit for operational purposes. It's not an impossible task, but I don't think any of the major companies want (or need) the challenge. The current Six Flags model would be financial suicide, because their parks don't appeal to a wide enough audience. While I think that the Orlando parks spend too much money, charge guests too much, and sometimes have more style than substance, there is no denying that the theme park is absolute king in Florida.
That being said, land in Florida is pretty cheap right now, and that would be one of the biggest problems solved....less money for real estate means more money on development....I would probably be eccentric enough to really look into it, and possibly crazy enough to try if I were a very rich man and had money to burn.
From steve lee
Posted March 16, 2009 at 6:42 PM
I heard they're going to relocate Hard Rock Park there.
What the heck - it's not like anything else makes sense at this point.
i am not saying that it could just be Six Flags. i am saying Any Theme park at sense. Look I know this area really really well There is something going on. The electric company had even moved. There is no demand for the Hotels they are currently building at all. And just another comment on Six Flags all theme parks shares would be down during this economic fall. But it is not going to stay that way and any body Knows that. Besides that. It does not stop any major corporation from spending money, company's file chapter 11 and still spend money. Mabe they can get there stimulus check lol.
From Don Neal
Posted March 17, 2009 at 10:36 AM
They have been talking about Wet-n-Wild moving for a couple of years and I haven't heard anything in a while. Could it be a new Water Park?
Im an employee for one of the hotels across the street from the flea market in port richey and im hearing all kinds of different stories of what is going on over there. One has been that there were talks of placing a new six flags park there but with that park brand not doing to well that may not be true. Second has been talks of some type of water park going in there and it being part of the disney brand. Third has been talks of placing a big casino along with some other hotels that would have there own casino inside. Also with the Hilton hotel down the street being built makes me think something big is coming cause I have heard that Hilton hotels will not build a new hotel in any area without knowing that something there will bring in money so with that said why would they build that hotel here in port richey where there average room rate will probably be around $110 to $120 and no one around here will pay that knowing they can go to either the hotel I work at or others for almost half the price. Something big is coming I think and Hilton must know something about it. Also there is a Hampton in being built across from them and a third getting ready to go up with no name as of yet. And the Congo river putt putt out in the middle of no where is confusing too. I have had contractors staying here at my hotel saying that they have been called to possibly start working on something over there as well but there not sure on what too. So with all these pieces starting to come together I think we will see something started here within this year.
From Mike P
Posted April 10, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Something is bound to happen soon. The Publix on the corner of 19 and 52 has its last day of business May 2nd of next month. So they will be the next ones to be out of there. Plus the rest of point Plaza i believe was also bought in addition to the Publix space. We might get some answers here sooner than we think....
From Gareth H
Posted April 10, 2009 at 2:52 PM
My money's on a Casino. Right location, maybe a little goverment grant to some Native Americans, buy the land cheap and get it built as quick as you can. Don't discount a waterpark if thats the case, but sure won't be Wet'N'Wild, Universal's Wet'N'Wild is still too close (Even if it does close and relocate 2010 as rumoured).
I'll put it all on red for Casino!
From Tony Duda
Posted April 10, 2009 at 4:34 PM
I've been watching this for years also and have no idea what really will happen. All the motels being built is weird. I went to the county appraiser's web site and looked at who owns what and I couldn't see a pattern. Publix's closing probably due to the new Wal-Mart super store almost across the highway. As for an Indian casino, they just can't buy land and *poof* it becomes a reservation, just as I can't buy land in France and make it part of the USA.
From Gareth H
Posted April 10, 2009 at 6:27 PM
With certain rights and allowances you can. A goverment can buy land in France and *Poof* it becomes part of the USA.(read on) Any embassy abroad is classed as the country it represents, not the country its in. And how is this done? By the Goverment coming to certain agreements.
Hard Rock Casino in Tampa wasn't an Indian Reservation, allowances were made to have the Casino placed there, a few laws were, lets say, Tweaked and a few restrictions were added, and its there.
It could easily happen elsewhere in Florida.
From Gareth H
Posted April 10, 2009 at 5:21 PM
And take into account Port Richey is also a Casino Boat departure point.
http://www.portricheycasino.com/
From Tony Duda
Posted April 10, 2009 at 9:13 PM
I am unsure about the details of the Hard Rock casino but that land was Indian land, Seminole tribe, for a long time and they had large stakes bingo and sold tax-free cigarettes. The Seminole tribe made a deal with Hard Rock to build several casinos in several places in Florida that they had their land. I think recently, the Seminoles actually bought Hard Rock Casinos outright so they run it all partner-less. A few years ago in New Jersey, some tribe tried to buy Atlantic City area land and declare it a reservation. Couldn't be done. Interesting fact, there is no Indian reservation land in New Jersey. As for embassies, I know quite well about those arrangements but Indians buying land and declaring it a reservation is a quite different transaction. Port Richey only has a dock for boats to take gamblers out past the jurisdictional boundaries where the floating casinos are. Nice day trip but once you are there no way to leave before the next boat, and nothing to do but continue gambling. Just how they want you.
From Gareth H
Posted April 10, 2009 at 10:14 PM
There are so many laws in Florida regarding Native American Trible laws. I just say take a look and see what right these people have.
With the economy in the state it is, Florida will do what it can to create additional income!
From Jane Hall
Posted April 17, 2009 at 4:57 AM
The latest is a rumor that a casino is going to be built.
From Tony Duda
Posted April 17, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Just great. I'll be only 15 minutes from a casino instead of an hour. That hour (and traffic) has kept me save so far. I'm doomed.
From Gareth H
Posted April 17, 2009 at 7:32 PM
Cough cough, and what did I say?
Phew, this topic has been necroposted quite a bit.
Anyway, since I stopped working with the St. Pete Times, I've pretty much not heard anything. Considering Six Flag's state, I wouldn't doubt that there's a casino going up there. Which is unfortunate, because I really liked the flea market out there. It had a certain charm to it, as most places do that sell crap that's way past a theoretical expiration date.
Anyway, having a casino out there may not be so bad, either. I'd pop in and play a few rounds of Blackjack with some friends.
From Tony Duda
Posted April 26, 2009 at 3:16 PM
Finally, the St. Pete Times investigated this rumor and found, wait for it, NO TRUTH TO THE RUMOR OF A SIX FLAGS PARK OR A CASINO. The link to the story is
http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article995349.ece
In summary, no upper range motels were in the area so several were built. Six Flags is broke. U.S. Federal law says only Indian lands in existence before 1988 can have casinos built on them and Seminole tribe spokesman Gary Bittner said "It ain't happening".
The only speculation going on is for more retail development in the area.
I think we all just need to wait and see what is going to happen at this point. Just because the paper was told no rumors were true. Does not mean nothing is going on at all. There is still alot of unfinished questions for the future of Pasco County and this area. And from what i heard what is going is a hush hush situation. It does not have to be a theme park or casino. At this point But we will see!
From Mike P
Posted April 30, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Yep definitely a hush, hush situation going on over here. I've also heard six flags supposedly will be all constructed within a couple years. Lots of different stories out there. Truth will come out soon enough. One thing is for sure... These new hotels will not make any profit whatsoever over here if nothing big is built. I'm 10 mins from the proposed land for six flags and there is no draw whatsoever for high class hotels over here like the hilton for example. Zero. So this will be interesting to say the least.
Yeah the paper can ask all they want it does not mean nothing is going on.From what i heard it was all suppose to be under wraps. The Demographic does not support these hotels such as High class Hilton what so ever. Someone Knows something they are not talking though. Where do you ever see 2 Hotels being built at the same time. I have lived here to long. They cant fill the motels and hotels they currently have lol.
From Al Riley
Posted May 4, 2009 at 11:12 AM
I can't believe after all these years people are still determined six-flags is coming to Pasco County. It's not. Go downtown and check, it's all public records, everything recorded in black and white. BTW, no casino either. The new owner of the property on the corner of 52 and 19 is DDR a company based in Ohio, the transaction was completed in December 2008. If you don't want to make the trip downtown you can pull all the records up online. It's against the law to falsify official records so there are NO secrets. The flea market isn't going anywhere either, it's expanding. Someone please start a new rumor, this one's already going to make the Guinness Book.
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