2. The theme park business is primarily family-driven, with top seasons coinciding with school breaks. Arizona's never been a top summer tourist destination, due to the desert heat.
3. Six Flags' implosion could be scaring investment money away from local and regional theme parks.
So, with uncertain capital availability and SoCal luring the families while Vegas grabs the young adults and empty-nesters, there's not much left for Arizona to develop. An Arizona park must provide enough quality at a reasonable enough price that it would make a local resident forego the trip to SoCal or Vegas, despite the powerful advantages those destinations currently offer. And even then, if a Arizona park grabs over 50 percent of its market share, is that enough visits from those locals to support the capital investment?
It's just so much easier to make money developing residential real estate in the Valley instead.
Also, Rawhide is supposed to re-open on the Gila River Indian Reservation December 1st. It was bought by the Indians and has been reconstructed near Chandler and I-10 near the Raceway. 300 acres has been reserved for the new Rawhide and other related developments near the tribe's casino and hotel.
Maybe this could be the start of the needed theme park for Arizona. I heard that a log flume may be added in the near future. Obviously there is enough room to eventually build out a major park, if the Indians decided to do so.
Yes, a major ride park would be expensive, but I still think it is possible to do a park near south Phoenix for around $200 million. Anything with a few sizeable rides would be an improvement over low-key Old Tucson, Rawhide and smallish Castle's & Coasters which can't expand.
Legoland opened in California in 1998 cost $100 million, so figure doubling that with some big rides added which that park wasn't allowed to do due to development restrictions.
Yes, rides can operate in heat, maybe not a good idea to ride though, if it is 118 degrees in mid-afternoon. It is just common sense. But Castles & Coasters operates ALL year long something not possible in the northern USA.
Arizona does have a great future with tourism growth and is less expensive to live than California. So, it is only a matter of time until someone takes the chance to open a mid-size park that later can be expanded to Six Flags scale, or better, Busch Gardens in my opinion.
I don't think it is a good idea to try and create a theme park near the Grand Canyon area. It is too far from Phoenix/Tucson for locals and it is folly to think that tourists flocking to the Grand Canyon will be interested in a theme park. They are there to see the Canyon. Where are the hotels, shopping centers, etc. Maybe a name like Disney could pull them in, but Disney would likely never build a resort so close to Anaheim. It would be dumb.
A park near Phoenix would also draw underserved locals from Tucson, Albuquerque, El Paso, Las Vegas (with no park) and Denver. Who wouldn't want to visit Phoenix in the Fall, Winter and Spring when many other theme park are closed around the country?
I say it is possible for a Arizona park, if properly done and promoted, could draw 2 million in its first year, opening in 2009/10 timeframe.
There have been many attempts to put a park here. All attempts have been squashed for some reason. Arizona Governor, Napolitano wrote a bill with incentives to bring a park here knowing it will add to our tax base. So why no park?? I think maybe someone in government dosen't want it here, maybe (SPECULATION) someone in government is being paid not to allow it here. Why?? This Valley's population doubles every Winter with Snowbirds (Winter Visitors). These folks come here to wait out the cold and bask in our beutiful pleasant Winter weather here. Snowbirds have more leasure income as they can afford homes in two places. Where do they go for amusement rides? California!
The Hot Weather issue is a cop out. Six Flags, Dallas Texas gets almost as hot as this valley. Infact they add humidity factor too and it's uncomfortable. Shaded quere lines and misting systems would circumvent the heat factor here.
A big Amusement park is being kept out of here for a reason... There is no reason why we can't have a park here. Infact a park here would have an extended operational season with our mild weather. Our big thrill here is the State Fair once a year and they do a fantastic job every year.
A big park is doable...
In Las Vegas, Circus Circus Hotel & Casino operates an Indoor Five Acre Amusement Park called Adventure Dome.
Why not add something like this to one of the Casinos on the reservation here... Casino Arizona here at McKellips & the 101 would be a perfect location. There is plenty of available land around the Casino. It is next to the 101 Highway and relatively centrally located in the Valley. The fastest growing Valley in the U.S. I might add. They could very easily drop in a ten acre domed amusement park adjacent to the Casino. Think about the benefits, the parents can drop the kids off at the park while they go gamble the nest egg. The State would gain part of the entertainments taxes. The revenue would help the Native American Community. Everyone wins!
http://www.grandcanyon-northlandthemepark.com/thanks.php
No pork barrel in his state!LOL
I am guessing because its probably too hot and the park is expected to stay open all year round which, lets face it, in this economy, nobody will be able to build and take on this park's business.
Another reason probably is that it is too close to CA (ok, not really, but the market)
