Metro Jacksonville

I don't think you are right about that, in fact I think a moderate sized park is long overdue for several reasons.

VALDOSTA:

There are 134,000 people in the Valdosta, Georgia metro area.
Region has as one Air Force Base and one Marine Supply Depot
One large State Park nearby
Has regional commercial airport
Wild Adventures is in Valdosta Georgia, isolated on a back road that ends at a paper mill, and it is doing great.
Wild Adventures draws from one Interstate Highway and three U.S. Highways.
Wild Adventures is 117 miles (two hours) away from Jacksonville.
Wild Adventures is 209 miles from Orlando. ...and 234 from Atlanta. ...and 432 from Miami. and finally 693 from Cincinnati, Ohio, consistently the center of Florida Visitation on I-75.

JACKSONVILLE:

There are 1,328,144 people in Jacksonville, Florida metro area.
Region has 3 major Naval Bases, 1 Marine Corps Base, 3 Coast Guard Bases, 1 Army/Guard training Base
Has more state and national parks within an hours drive then any other city in America.
Has a BEACH and major river and international airport.
Has 4 Interstate Highways and 5 U.S. Highways
317 miles to Atlanta, 344 miles to Miami, 710 from Washington, D.C. and the Northeast Corridor.  On the route of virtually all traffic between the northeast and Florida.

Any park could be located at or near the junction of I-95 and I-295 SOUTH which would logistically catch all eastbound traffic on I-10 heading south, and all I-95 traffic, and all beltway traffic.
The local population, hungry for recreation would flood the place daily, and the Florida visitors would have a first shot at fantasyland USA.

Oh no! Theme Park in Jacksonville is all about LOGISTICS, and as long as the owner didn't try to out spent Disney, he or she would succeed beyond their wildest dreams. This is why I keep coming back to the idea of a creek side old style, family, TROLLEY PARK on Hogan's Creek.


OCKLAWAHA

I like the idea of a theme park here. We sure have a lot of room.

Another Florida theme park would need its own differentiated theme and character so it never even gives the appearance of trying to compete with something else Florida has., e.g. Disney. "Hey kids, let's go to Jaxworld and meet Ricky Rodent and Mervin Mallard!"

Winter Haven is opening Legoland in October (replacing the defunct Cypress Gardens). Now THAT's unique for Florida!

Quote from: duvaldude08 on May 24, 2011, 10:36:47 AM

Quote from: JeffreyS on May 24, 2011, 10:28:47 AM
OMG you did not just bump this thread.

Yessir it has been offically bumped!!!

What does it mean when you bump a thread?

QuoteWild Adventures is in Valdosta Georgia, isolated on a back road that ends at a paper mill, and it is doing great.

Actually it had to file for bankruptcy protection a few years ago.  I wouldn't say it is doing great.  

Quote from: comncense on May 24, 2011, 02:34:13 PM
I love the idea of a small to medium sized park here also. I guess what I wonder is do kids even have an interest in riding merry-go-round's and things like that nowadays? Merry go rounds, ferris wheels, ski ball...etc are great for nostalgia purposes but I would think a park would have to have something that offers a wide appeal for people.

Thats what I evison for the shipyards property.

Doesn't sound like it was attendance that clobbered them, it was HURRICANES.

QuoteOn September 25, 2007, Wild Adventures was sold because of bankruptcy requirements. Adventure Parks Group LLC, announced that Cypress Gardens Adventure Park in Winter Haven and Wild Adventures park in Valdosta, Ga., would be sold to the highest bidder in a private auction starting Sept. 25. The sale would fulfill requirements resulting from a Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing by Adventure Parks Group a year ago, but it does not mean the end of either theme park.

Much of the company's financial difficulties can be traced to 2004, when three hurricanes (Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Jeanne) ravaged East Polk County, Florida and left a trail of destruction at Cypress Gardens.

On September 25, 2007, The Ledger reported that Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation had purchased Wild Adventures for $34.4 million.[1]

Upon Herschend taking over the park, they had the Gauntlet removed and indicated that they do not plan on opening the Shaka Zula River Adventure log flume ride. However, Herchend did bring in the new ride, The Rattler, the first new ride in three years, which opened March 21, 2008.[2] It is a Huss Frisbee type flat-ride manufactured by Moser Rides of Italy. Also, in 2008, the Tiger Terror rollercoaster was sold and moved to Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida and renamed to "Tasmanian Tiger".

In February 2009, the American post-apocalyptic zombie comedy Zombieland was partly filmed at Wild Adventures.

Before the 2010 season, the largest number of rides have been added and removed. The Gold Rush rollercoaster had been removed. The Mystery Maze had been removed. The Viking Voyage roller coaster had been added along with two new flat rides, Whirling Wildcats and Falcon Flyers. All three rides were from the now defunct Celebration City in Branson, Missouri. In 2010, The Bug Out rollercoaster was renamed to "Go Bananas". The S&S Doubleshot was renamed to "Firecracker"

Splash Island Water Park
Splash Island Entrance

QuoteSplash Island is a Polynesian themed water park and is free with admission into Wild Adventures. It takes up 27 acres (110,000 m2) of the 177-acre (0.72 km2) park with 7 rides, and 5 shops. Splash Island first opened in 2003 being Wild Adventures largest expansion since rides were introduced in 1999.

When Splash Island was opened it had no themeing and looked more like a community pool center. In 2008, Wild Adventures announced that Splash Island would undergo a 4 million dollar renovation turning the park into a Polynesian themed paradise. Wild Adventures also announced their intent to build a new ride, the Wahee Cyclone.
[edit] Rides

   * Bonzai Pipeline

   3 Inter-twined slides featuring the tallest slides in Georgia built in 2004

   * Catchawave bay

   A large 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m2) wave pool built in 2003

   * Hakini Rapids

   A 5-Story "Family Sized" water slide with unexpected turns and drops built in 2011

   * Kalani Blasters

   2 Medium sized inter-twined slides built in 2003

   * Kona Cliffs

   A giant, "Family Sized" speed slide with three drops built in 2011

   * Paradise River

   A relaxing "lazy river" through the water park built in 2003

   * Polynesian Adventure

   A giant 4 story water fortress built in 2003

   * Wahee Cyclone

   A large 5 story water tornado built in 2009

   * Sea Turtle Cove

   A small water play area for younger children built in 2006

OCKLAWAHA

i have believed for years that a larger wave surfpark would be perfect for jax tourism. If done properly and designed (generally) for the sport of surfing, it would be the only one of its kind.
Surfers (particularly of our atlantic coast) are irritated by inconsistancy of surfing waves.
Large wavepark+ consistant surf+ only one of its kind= $$$

Quote from: hillary supporter on May 24, 2011, 03:16:44 PM
i have believed for years that a larger wave surfpark would be perfect for jax tourism. If done properly and designed (generally) for the sport of surfing, it would be the only one of its kind.
Surfers (particularly of our atlantic coast) are irritated by inconsistancy of surfing waves.
Large wavepark+ consistant surf+ only one of its kind= $$$

There were plans a few years ago for a Ron Jon Surfpark in Orlando.  It actually broke ground but had all kinds of issues and now it is not happening.

A Ron Jon Surfpark  on the Fair grounds if they are moving.

if we enhanced some of what we have i.e. an aquarium addition to the MOSH- it would go great with the new fountain. rebuild the Southbank Riverwlk with actual amenities (more fountains, artwork, boat docks for boaters and for bigger ships for tours) add a naval ship to the shipyards, and proceed with plans for a theme park there. Have sally Industries put a few dark rides in the Landing, along with a T Rex or other theme restaurants. Then you connect these together with river taxis and the skyway (and what the hell a streetcar or two). That sure sounds like fun, and unlike any other place in Florida, or beyond. 

Quote from: cline on May 24, 2011, 03:22:52 PM

There were plans a few years ago for a Ron Jon Surfpark in Orlando.  It actually broke ground but had all kinds of issues and now it is not happening.

Quote from: JeffreyS on May 24, 2011, 04:33:15 PM
A Ron Jon Surfpark  on the Fair grounds if they are moving.

Exactly...perhaps if we would be aggressive, and find out those drawbacks, we could take advantage. To compete against Orlando is one difficult task. We must have some thing they dont!
Surfing is bigtime, those punks are movers and shakers today. And its a versatile sport one that can be accessible for everyone. The waves can be adjustable to a schedule. Yes the Fair Grounds would be perfect!  

A Theme Park in Jacksonville doesn't NEED to compete with anyone in central Florida or the gulf coast.  A small park can be profitable AND entertaining.  My hometown had Waldameer Park and Water World (check out the website http://www.waldameer.com/) Erie PA only has 120,000 people yet it supported this small but entertaining park for a hundred years.  Something like this in Jacksonville COULD pull in people from St. Augustine and Savannah but fully be supported by only the city of Jax if needed.  Now we just need someone to fund it......

Best.

Still a more unique attraction wouldn't hurt.  All of the suffers in Florida who like like to catch an 8 foot wave every so often.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-srTtMf2RI
This could be paired down a bit as with a retractable dome, ect.
And could accommodate Yossarianlives thoughts

Toss this attraction intoour vision of a Old Fashioned Trolley Park in downtown...

First imangineer you are able to EXPERIENCE JACKSONVILLE in 1920...


600' pier, with arcades, canoe rentals, boat supplies, food and container lodging... toss a small aerial tram in from land side to near the end of the pier. Simply MUST HAVE dancing and dining on the pier.

THINK STEAMBOAT or GINGERBREAD with a mix of PRAIRIE SCHOOL and ART DECO for a village look.

scatter rides, shopping, arcades, gallery's, high quality theaters, along Hogan's Creek.

Add educational paddles, wetlands micro-zoo, river life experiences, walks, rides.

Plop down one standard 6 story resort hotel with several dining options.

and top off the park with a dynamite roller coaster.

Fill in the voids with traditional rides and a few wild hair zingers like the surf park, and decorate them to look absolutely permanent with the architecture models listed above.

Add one standard American Bandstand and classic picnic grounds.

Some REALLY great carnival food joints.

A couple of park clowns... I'd personally go for the HOBO look to highlight the 1920's theme.

Connect to huge Southbank Parking lot via Skyway on Bay Street.


and add the grand star of the show, connecting the Terminal, Gateway Mall, Riverside, Brooklyn parking to DOWNTOWN and the THEME PARK via real VINTAGE STREETCARS collected from around the world via a Beaver Street (Alignment) -A.P. Randolph - Duval Street - Newnan Street 'turn-around' Loop.

Lastly make an effort (a non monetary one) to recruit IKEA-BASS PRO to the Shipyards site, as both already have waterfront marina stores it would be a natural fit and they don't have to rely on local customer convenience to make it, their customers will find them even traveling hundreds of miles to shop there. While not necessary to the success of the Trolley Park, it would be the coup d'état of a new downtown.

OCKLAWAHA

Quote from: duvaldude08 on May 24, 2011, 02:50:11 PM

Quote from: comncense on May 24, 2011, 02:34:13 PM
I love the idea of a small to medium sized park here also. I guess what I wonder is do kids even have an interest in riding merry-go-round's and things like that nowadays? Merry go rounds, ferris wheels, ski ball...etc are great for nostalgia purposes but I would think a park would have to have something that offers a wide appeal for people.

Thats what I evison for the shipyards property.

Or Brooklyn or La Villa .   All have the land area.  all are mostly vacant

Quote from: Timkin on May 24, 2011, 05:34:51 PM

Quote from: duvaldude08 on May 24, 2011, 02:50:11 PM

Quote from: comncense on May 24, 2011, 02:34:13 PM
I love the idea of a small to medium sized park here also. I guess what I wonder is do kids even have an interest in riding merry-go-round's and things like that nowadays? Merry go rounds, ferris wheels, ski ball...etc are great for nostalgia purposes but I would think a park would have to have something that offers a wide appeal for people.

Thats what I evison for the shipyards property.

Or Brooklyn or La Villa .   All have the land area.  all are mostly vacant

I don't think there should be a park built in the middle of La Villa or Brooklyn. The shipyards maybe, but not La Villa Brooklyn. These areas are historical areas that should be filled with businesses and houses. A park like that would just make it harder for people to move in the area. And something like that would definitely remove the little street grid that is in place now.

All of downtown is historical..  While I understand your point, mine is that both of these areas  WERE neighborhoods, they were almost totally destroyed and vacant blocks for miles replace both.  About the only reason why I would side with the shipyards site, is that is water front.

Brooklyn  was supposed to have a great development of a mixture of homes and commercial.. in fact that is why most of it was leveled.    almost 10 years later, I am still looking at blighted vacant land .

Quote from: Timkin on May 24, 2011, 05:46:44 PM
All of downtown is historical..  While I understand your point, mine is that both of these areas  WERE neighborhoods, they were almost totally destroyed and vacant blocks for miles replace both.  About the only reason why I would side with the shipyards site, is that is water front.

Brooklyn  was supposed to have a great development of a mixture of homes and commercial.. in fact that is why most of it was leveled.    almost 10 years later, I am still looking at blighted vacant land .

I understand what you're saying but with a park like that, you would see the same thing. If any park was ever proposed, any land they needed would get leveled, but it would probably never get built. Brooklyn or La Villa have a better chance of becoming vibrant again with residential and commercial than a park like that.

If we continue on the same course as the last 50 years, IMarvin, its not going to happen anyway.

I really cannot believe we leveled Brooklyn to replace it with what we now see.  Huge waste of money.  Much  like downtown..  Everything that was really beautiful or significant ,or as you deemed it, Historic ( and you are VERY right)  was leveled to be replaced with ugly glass Hi-rise buildings, most of which are sitting mostly vacant,  Parking garages (economically a big money-loser, ugly as hell, and certainly not an attraction for downtown) and blighted vacant lots, or the foundations of historic structures.  Our past leaders, councils , and mentality have called all of this part of the Master plan ......some master plan.. with that plan in place, and continuing on course with that, you can pick your spot for a theme-park because there will soon be nothing left.. other than these mostly vacant hi rises

Sounds like a great idea.  So, who's going to put down the money to build one?

exactly.. the same people who were going to build Brooklyn Park ..:)

Quote from: Timkin on May 24, 2011, 06:01:49 PM
If we continue on the same course as the last 50 years, IMarvin, its not going to happen anyway.

You're right about that.

Quote from: Timkin on May 24, 2011, 06:01:49 PM
I really cannot believe we leveled Brooklyn to replace it with what we now see.  Huge waste of money.  Much  like downtown..  Everything that was really beautiful or significant ,or as you deemed it, Historic ( and you are VERY right)  was leveled to be replaced with ugly glass Hi-rise buildings, most of which are sitting mostly vacant,  Parking garages (economically a big money-loser, ugly as hell, and certainly not an attraction for downtown) and blighted vacant lots, or the foundations of historic structures.  Our past leaders, councils , and mentality have called all of this part of the Master plan ......some master plan.. with that plan in place, and continuing on course with that, you can pick your spot for a theme-park because there will soon be nothing left.. other than these mostly vacant hi rises

I never have, and probably never will, understand why some of our past leaders and councils have done the things they've done. There's no reason to level neighborhoods and buildings like they're nothing.

gosh I wish i could find a money source to save even one landmark building.. The idea of a Theme park or rebuilding an entire area that was wiped out ,for the sake of making something ultra-modern that never got off the ground (well, except the demolition part.. that went great) , just seems so out of reach.  We are just tossing ideas around here, and mine was simply to replace this vacant blight with something.  Replace it with residential /commercial  if you like, but I don't see how we can build ANYTHING with nothing.  Seems to me we have an abundance of vacant or forclosed on , or abandoned realestate and homes.   a Theme park is something we do not have.  I would support the idea. I just do not know if our economy would allow us to support it.

To me ,revitalizing downtown would mean , turning it back to what WORKED.  When we changed that , it was ruined, and has never recovered.  We had Dixieland Park.. it was NOT downtown but adjacent to,  sort of like  LaVilla or Brooklyn.    These places WERE Historic.. now they are vacant blocks and blocks and blocks of nothing , so the only thing historic about them are the memories.. there is nothing left..  Brooklyn has very little fabric and LaVilla has even less.   The Notion that the Shipyards property would become viable with a theme park , I would have to see similar examples to see how they worked out. I mean it all sounds good in theory... but no one is going to plunk down a multimillion dollar  venture like that without pretty good assurance that it would return the investment..   

Quote from: Timkin on May 24, 2011, 06:31:10 PM

gosh I wish i could find a money source to save even one landmark building.. The idea of a Theme park or rebuilding an entire area that was wiped out ,for the sake of making something ultra-modern that never got off the ground (well, except the demolition part.. that went great) , just seems so out of reach.  We are just tossing ideas around here, and mine was simply to replace this vacant blight with something.  Replace it with residential /commercial  if you like, but I don't see how we can build ANYTHING with nothing.  Seems to me we have an abundance of vacant or forclosed on , or abandoned realestate and homes.   a Theme park is something we do not have.  I would support the idea. I just do not know if our economy would allow us to support it.

To me ,revitalizing downtown would mean , turning it back to what WORKED.  When we changed that , it was ruined, and has never recovered.  We had Dixieland Park.. it was NOT downtown but adjacent to,  sort of like  LaVilla or Brooklyn.    These places WERE Historic.. now they are vacant blocks and blocks and blocks of nothing , so the only thing historic about them are the memories.. there is nothing left..  Brooklyn has very little fabric and LaVilla has even less.   The Notion that the Shipyards property would become viable with a theme park , I would have to see similar examples to see how they worked out. I mean it all sounds good in theory... but no one is going to plunk down a multimillion dollar  venture like that without pretty good assurance that it would return the investment..   

I completely understand what you're saying. Instead of empty blocks of land, why not put something there that will bring people down there? It's no longer anything historic about it since all of the buildings are gone. But in this economy, no one will build anything without completely knowing they will make a profit.

yes sir

hmmm idk...

     Before anyone drops millions into more downtown entertainment venues, shouldn't we try to get rid of the aggressive bums and Midnight Massers? Isn't the useless Skyway enough of a carnival ride. Especially when there is the possibility of random assault? Can't wait to see how much the COJ would gouge people for parking at a theme park for god's sake...

^ Haven't been downtown much I guess.

Quote from: cayohueso on May 25, 2011, 01:22:45 AM
     Before anyone drops millions into more downtown entertainment venues, shouldn't we try to get rid of the aggressive bums and Midnight Massers? Isn't the useless Skyway enough of a carnival ride. Especially when there is the possibility of random assault? Can't wait to see how much the COJ would gouge people for parking at a theme park for god's sake...

Who said we were dropping millions? And you have been assualted Downtown? Just asking  ???

No one's dropping millions. Just from my experience of having worked downtown for 12 years, so yeah...I've been downtown quite a bit. Lived in West Riverside and actually rode a bike downtown to work. Got mugged once riding to work back in the early 1990's so yeah...assaulted. I do enjoy the assests we have there, seen quite a few Suns games all the way back to when Randy Johnson was here so I frequent the area. A theme park downtown though? Please. Try Cecil Field.

Quote from: cayohueso on May 25, 2011, 01:22:45 AM
     Before anyone drops millions into more downtown entertainment venues, shouldn't we try to get rid of the aggressive bums and Midnight Massers? Isn't the useless Skyway enough of a carnival ride. Especially when there is the possibility of random assault? Can't wait to see how much the COJ would gouge people for parking at a theme park for god's sake...

It's always a pleasant experience to hear from the optimist in our community... BTW, parked at Disney lately?


OCKLAWAHA

Quote from: duvaldude08 on May 25, 2011, 09:27:35 AM

Quote from: cayohueso on May 25, 2011, 01:22:45 AM
     Before anyone drops millions into more downtown entertainment venues, shouldn't we try to get rid of the aggressive bums and Midnight Massers? Isn't the useless Skyway enough of a carnival ride. Especially when there is the possibility of random assault? Can't wait to see how much the COJ would gouge people for parking at a theme park for god's sake...

Who said we were dropping millions? And you have been assualted Downtown? Just asking  ???

Millions? check out 2010-675. Legislation on the USS Adams. One Finance amendment.

My concern and I hope that legislation is immediately forthcoming that if the Theme Park flex space plan is persued with the creation of a total govt. takeover by a DIA,DDA,DEA that the Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier 2010-604 is separate and outside the control of this yet to be created and voted on Independent Authority.

Ock you Rock. Lets paddle Hogans Creek. I've got some awesome news on rail that I'd like to share with you and get your input. Lets Make it Happen.

Quote from: Ocklawaha on May 29, 2011, 05:10:36 AM

Quote from: cayohueso on May 25, 2011, 01:22:45 AM
     Before anyone drops millions into more downtown entertainment venues, shouldn't we try to get rid of the aggressive bums and Midnight Massers? Isn't the useless Skyway enough of a carnival ride. Especially when there is the possibility of random assault? Can't wait to see how much the COJ would gouge people for parking at a theme park for god's sake...

It's always a pleasant experience to hear from the optimist in our community... BTW, parked at Disney lately?


OCKLAWAHA

Yawn...boondoggle.

You sound as though you equate 'theme park' with Disney proportions. Do you even know what a 'trolley park' was? To develop such a thing downtown would be about the equal to San Antonio's River Walk with a few carnival rides tossed into the mix. Not a place to spend hundreds of dollars and 3 days, but more like a nice little place where twenty bucks would get you a enjoyable afternoon. Gouge you for parking? By definition a trolley park is accessed by... TROLLEY. What a novel thought.  Think Boone Park on steroids.

Homelessness by the way is not the illness that holds back downtown, rather it is a symptom of a society of do nothing people who fear ideas and loathe changes.  Jacksonville, A diamond that wants to remain coal, with citizens more concerned with investing a nickle then earning a dollar.

OCKLAWAHA  ;)

There are some times where I want to post that "Be an optimist prime, not a negatron" pic in every post here!

I believe Jacksonville WANTS things like this, and there is a market for them.

Agree. And for those of us who would love to see a concept like this be reality, there will always be the group who will be against it. 

Its sort of like the recent Mayoral race.  We have to get the numbers to win :)

Quote from: Ocklawaha on June 02, 2011, 09:13:51 PM
You sound as though you equate 'theme park' with Disney proportions. Do you even know what a 'trolley park' was? To develop such a thing downtown would be about the equal to San Antonio's River Walk with a few carnival rides tossed into the mix. Not a place to spend hundreds of dollars and 3 days, but more like a nice little place where twenty bucks would get you a enjoyable afternoon. Gouge you for parking? By definition a trolley park is accessed by... TROLLEY. What a novel thought.  Think Boone Park on steroids.

Homelessness by the way is not the illness that holds back downtown, rather it is a symptom of a society of do nothing people who fear ideas and loathe changes.  Jacksonville, A diamond that wants to remain coal, with citizens more concerned with investing a nickle then earning a dollar.

OCKLAWAHA  ;)

Agreed

Quote from: duvaldude08 on June 02, 2011, 10:43:48 PM

Quote from: Ocklawaha on June 02, 2011, 09:13:51 PM
You sound as though you equate 'theme park' with Disney proportions. Do you even know what a 'trolley park' was? To develop such a thing downtown would be about the equal to San Antonio's River Walk with a few carnival rides tossed into the mix. Not a place to spend hundreds of dollars and 3 days, but more like a nice little place where twenty bucks would get you a enjoyable afternoon. Gouge you for parking? By definition a trolley park is accessed by... TROLLEY. What a novel thought.  Think Boone Park on steroids.

Homelessness by the way is not the illness that holds back downtown, rather it is a symptom of a society of do nothing people who fear ideas and loathe changes.  Jacksonville, A diamond that wants to remain coal, with citizens more concerned with investing a nickle then earning a dollar.

OCKLAWAHA   ;)

Agreed

Agreed +1.

Ock, Can anyone confirm or deny that a trolley pole is right there next to Hogans Creek behind the old St. Lukes hospital. Anybody? The railroad ties that are there too. Dr. Wayne Wood, Emily Lisska, Anybody from Springfield? Where did the audio tour thread go? Dr. Wayne Wood was on it. Did anyone hear what he had to say about Jacksonville?   

Quote from: Noone on June 03, 2011, 12:26:25 AM
Agreed +1.

Ock, Can anyone confirm or deny that a trolley pole is right there next to Hogans Creek behind the old St. Lukes hospital. Anybody? The railroad ties that are there too. Dr. Wayne Wood, Emily Lisska, Anybody from Springfield? Where did the audio tour thread go? Dr. Wayne Wood was on it. Did anyone hear what he had to say about Jacksonville?   

Noone, it could be, but it's doubtful as Duval was completely rebuilt with a new viaduct/bridge over Hogans Creek which widened the road and took out the old trolley line poles. The tracks that once ran under that same viaduct in a north-south alignment to Maxwell House and Jax Shipyards belonged to two freight railroads and no trolley line poles would have been along their right-of-ways. I do know about the tracks and ties that are in the bushes there, in fact one of the old switch stands sat on my back porch until I finally figured out that a 300 pound chunk of round metal couldn't exactly be used for anything else. LOL. I didn't bring it to WGV and God help the poor guy that decided to move it from the old place!

The amazing thing and the point we need to keep pounding home is that streetcars ARE TRAINS, and they operate on TRAIN TRACK, meaning that they could operate on CSX except for safety rules. Seems the Federal Railroad Administration has some trouble with a 59,000 pound/40 mph  streetcar running on the same track as a 400,000 pound/90 mph  Amtrak Locomotive... no sense of humor?  But the principal remains the same and for that reason, any old trackage that we obtain, CAN BE USED for streetcar if we want it to. Also streetcar can often run on the same right-of-way just on a separated track from the freight railroads. Thus the old line that shoots north of Maxwell House all the way to Gateway Mall is a golden opportunity for a 100% private right of way streetcar/interurban type line.


OCKLAWAHA

Maybe I just missed this article, but a theme park is actually being considered. This is a article from February.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=532919

DD, your call for the shipyards is starting to sound like Noone's call for the waterways.  ;)

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on June 08, 2011, 03:19:15 PM
DD, your call for the shipyards is starting to sound like Noone's call for the waterways.  ;)

WHHHATTEEVVERR! lol No but really I just stumble across the article and never knew it exsisted. I just found it stranger weve been on here going around and around about it, and its actually being dicussed in reality. That's all. Im not to sure if Im fond of the idea. Not exactly picturing how it would fit its surroundings. I have noticed that most Theme parks are built in the middle of no where. Wild Aventures, Lego Land Florida and heck Orlando was quite remote and country when Disney came to town. It just seems a " entertainment park" Just wouldnt look right at the Shipyards.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on June 08, 2011, 04:18:40 PM
WHHHATTEEVVERR! lol No but really I just stumble across the article and never knew it exsisted. I just found it stranger weve been on here going around and around about it, and its actually being dicussed in reality. That's all. Im not to sure if Im fond of the idea. Not exactly picturing how it would fit its surroundings. I have noticed that most Theme parks are built in the middle of no where. Wild Aventures, Lego Land Florida and heck Orlando was quite remote and country when Disney came to town. It just seems a " entertainment park" Just wouldnt look right at the Shipyards.

Sounds like the themepark plan is for something on the small side. If there was a large theme park in Jacksonville, it would need to go somewhere else for sure, and like I said further up, such a large theme park should have a very distinct theme for it, not coming across as an attempted copy of Disney or Universal.

QuoteHe referred to the Wave Waterpark near San Diego and the Celebrations restaurant and club center in Myrtle Beach, S.C., as examples of what might work.

“They are little mini amusement parks with retail and restaurants. It’s really pretty cool,” he said. “I don’t think it’s going to be more than $20 million, but you get a lot of bang for your buck.”

http://www.thewavewaterpark.com/

http://www.celebrationsnitelife.com/

The Wave waterpark looks like a hit!
I hope it moves forward, this seems like the right idea for DT and the city.

That does sound pretty awesome. I wonder if any progress has been made with those 'talks' since February. The mix of a water park, nightclub, restaurants... would be a HUGE shot in the arm for Bay Street becoming a true entertainment district. It's something weird but cool about having a water park right on the river.

This is easy, unique theme and park + all city, no limits....

How?

Take one vintage 1912 streetcar system, add carbarn/restoration shop - museum, with store and cafe
Explore adding the fire museum from Metropolitan Park, and some vintage stores.



toss in

One vintage 1929 idea for "The Jacksonville Quay" a purposely gritty wharf atmosphere with fish market, farm market, crab and charter boats tying up, rounded out by every import locally grown "Pier One" type place, nautical antiques and freight surplus... stack the crates in the floor boys.


add

A smaller version of "DIXIELAND PARK" an "electric park" of the trolley era, brilliantly lit, with coaster, flume ride, the classic traditional park rides all decorated in gingerbread and steamboat motifs.


Connect it to

The Main Street-Water Street-Riverside streetcar line
The Beaver Street - Gateway Mall "interurban light rail line"


Sprinkle liberally with Hogan's Creek and a San Antonio style "creek walk" addition to the Riverwalk, heavy on the canopy of big trees, CCC style stone work, canal boats. Location for NOONES outfitters...


Tie in the Landing with the addition of the SCHWEEB human powered monorail ride/transit.


Blend in a Riverwalk with lifesize "Jacksonville Stars" from Babe Hardy to Machine Gun Kelly to Ray Charles and the Jacksonville Red Caps team, write their story in tinted bronze.


Finally allow some big dogs like BASS PRO, IKEA, and another premium hotelier in on the game.


Shake - Never Stir an Aquarium into the mix...

BLEND INGREDIENTS TURN THEM ON HIGH FOR THE DURATION.

JUMP BACK AND WATCH DOWNTOWN EXPLODE.


OCKLAWAHA