;D It was be so great for the ecomony and will boost tourism for all of NE Florida. What do you guys think?
Good idea...very tough, well-entrenched competition from other portions of the state. Considering the Six Flags I've been too in California and Colorado, a NE Florida park would have to significantly surpass the norm, in cleanliness, in aesthetics and themes, and in nearby recreation and accomodations.
I think it can be done, but somebody will have to seriously shell out ALOT of $$$.
Florida's closest thing to a real roller-coaster oriented amusement park is Busch Gardens. I think if we got a Six Flags it could hold its own. Coaster enthusiasts are a different market than the Orlando crowd. They will never generate the international crowd or attendance of Orlando's grand resorts, but certainly they have a good chance to set a stable, new market in Florida tourism.
A Charleston said, it would have to be pretty freaking good. It would have to have Cedar Point quality rides to go toe to with Orlando parks.
Great idea though. Let us hope!
And don't forget that Myrtle Beach JUST opened a brand new park (Hard Rock theme), so there's another southeast option........
My family will be going to Myrtle Beach in a couple of weeks, and we plan to check the park out. Many have said that this park will enhance and improve MB's image as a family-oriented tourist destination, making it an "Orlando of South Carolina", if you will.
Chip, that is exactly correct; an equivalent of Cedar Point or better is the only option for this idea! You also made an interesting observation about the market a Jax park could attract. Coaster enthusiasts are a rather stable, reliable market demographic, especially if you have the rides that will interest them. Maybe if the park was as good or better than Cedar Point, Jax could start seeing more hotels and resorts being built to further increase tourism, and if the Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Bureau had any foresight, they could promote the historic areas, the river, and downtown to bring in more visitors.
Imagine spending a day riding intense rides and the next day attending a Jags game, coupled with eating at some downtown restaurants, then another day riding a boat or going to the beach?
Quote from: KennyLovesJAX on June 25, 2008, 08:37:18 PM
;D It was be so great for the ecomony and will boost tourism for all of NE Florida. What do you guys think?
Great idea; and...it needs to be in Jacksonville or the Jacksonville area. The first Florida tourist attraction upon entering the State from the North...I don't think we've (Florida) ever had such a thing and this would be a first; Jax is still the Gateway to Florida and as such should get the Tourists/Northerners warmed up before heading South...especially in the not to warm winter months.
Heights Unknown
I hate to burst evryone's buble, but Six Flags has been systematically shutting down and consolidating parks. I don't see them building an entire new one anytime soon. Wild Adventures will have to do for now.
I might be wrong but hasn't there been initiatives to bring an amusement park to Jax in the past that were shot down by the city? It seems like the city leaders are usually opposed to growing tourism in this city (which sucks). Again, I'm not sure but I remember one of the bases being discussed as a possible location for a park - Cecil Field? But it was balked at by city hall. Anyone remember that?
Quote from: Dapperdan on June 26, 2008, 10:02:16 AM
I hate to burst evryone's buble, but Six Flags has been systematically shutting down and consolidating parks. I don't see them building an entire new one anytime soon. Wild Adventures will have to do for now.
That was my earlier point, Dapperdan. If Jax gets a Six Flags park (or any nationally known park for that matter), it will need to greatly surpass the normal standards for current Six Flags parks, since they're considered drastically over-priced state fairs.
Quote from: Charleston native on June 26, 2008, 11:21:27 AM
Quote from: Dapperdan on June 26, 2008, 10:02:16 AM
I hate to burst evryone's buble, but Six Flags has been systematically shutting down and consolidating parks. I don't see them building an entire new one anytime soon. Wild Adventures will have to do for now.
That was my earlier point, Dapperdan. If Jax gets a Six Flags park (or any nationally known park for that matter), it will need to greatly surpass the normal standards for current Six Flags parks, since they're considered drastically over-priced state fairs.
That's a bit harsh on six-flags. You could say that about any theme park, they're all overpriced adventure landings! Disney's just a jacked up toy store...wait isn't wild adventures valdosta literally an overpriced carnival? But back to six-flags, they have great roller-coasters, that's all most of us coaster junkies care about.
I remember when there were rumors circulating about a sixflags popping up at cecil field in the 90's...that would be great if jax could get something going for it. I'm sure people would make it part of their florida get-away if we gave them more of a reason to get off the interstate.
Quote from: David on June 26, 2008, 11:36:00 AM
That's a bit harsh on six-flags. You could say that about any theme park, they're all overpriced adventure landings! Disney's just a jacked up toy store...wait isn't wild adventures valdosta literally an overpriced carnival? But back to six-flags, they have great roller-coasters, that's all most of us coaster junkies care about...
Pardon me if I disagree. I've found Six Flags to be that way for several reasons:
- They have many dirty, trashy areas (many rides have bubblegum stuck all over their waiting areas).
- Attention to detail with themed areas is lacking, including cheaply made facades, shoddy landscaping, and chain link fencing that borders waiting line areas.
- Lack of distinct, noticeable themes. If you're going to theme an area, you need to immerse your park attendees in the theme...make them feel as if they really are in a different world.
- Price of food and concessions is ridiculously expensive. Yes, in Disney, it's also expensive, but I do feel that I get what I pay for in terms of quantity and quality. For $10.00 at Disney, I can get a filling meal: huge burger/entree, fries/fruit/other side dish, and a large drink. At the same price at Six Flags, I get a small, thin slice of pizza and a small Pepsi.
- Variety of food at Six Flags is pretty limited. I can get just about anything in a Disney park.
Sure, I'm a fan of Disney vacations, but that's because they know how to cater to their customers. Six Flags has some intense rides and a carnival feel, but that's not going to bring in huge numbers. I hate to say it, but roller coaster enthusiast market isn't a large number in comparison to the vacation family market.
This has been an occasional topic in this area, but it's 2008 and if it hasn't happened yet, well...it ain't gonna.
I remember when St. John's Co. was heaping praise on World Golf Village as being a beacon of entertainment that was more than welcome in their county as it would bring in millions upon millions of dollars in revenue. The St. John's Co. board of commissioners said that WGV attracted the "caliber" of people they would like to see in that area. They thought that a large theme park like Six Flags would bring the wrong element "down" to their area. Yeah, I know code when I hear it too. Of course Jacksonville wasn't too much better. Cecil Field was never going to be anything but an "industrial campus"...and yet they could never keep contracts there happy or attract new ones. Cecil would have been a great site, lots of infrastructure, one runway was long enough to act as an emergency landing site for the Space Shuttle even. Jacksonville, even with the beaches, is just not like the rest of tourist based Florida. What works there won't fly here, even though it could have been really cool to have a 400 ft vertical drop like Top Fuel in Cedar Point. Hmmm if only we were a Sandusky.
QuoteJacksonville, even with the beaches, is just not like the rest of tourist based Florida.
I agree with you but it doesn't have to stay that way forever. At least I hope not. You always hear people talking about Jax being perfect for this or that but as you said, it never seems to fly here. Progressive as well as aggressive thinking leaders could change that though...years from now but it has to start somewhere.
Quote from: Charleston native on June 26, 2008, 11:54:10 AM
Quote from: David on June 26, 2008, 11:36:00 AM
That's a bit harsh on six-flags. You could say that about any theme park, they're all overpriced adventure landings! Disney's just a jacked up toy store...wait isn't wild adventures valdosta literally an overpriced carnival? But back to six-flags, they have great roller-coasters, that's all most of us coaster junkies care about...
Pardon me if I disagree. I've found Six Flags to be that way for several reasons:
- They have many dirty, trashy areas (many rides have bubblegum stuck all over their waiting areas).
- Attention to detail with themed areas is lacking, including cheaply made facades, shoddy landscaping, and chain link fencing that borders waiting line areas.
- Lack of distinct, noticeable themes. If you're going to theme an area, you need to immerse your park attendees in the theme...make them feel as if they really are in a different world.
nice bulletpoint presentation there!
here's mine:
- they have good rollercoasters.
the end.
I'll let you have this round though, gaaaaadgettt. I'm not that passionate about defending sixflags compared to most amusement parks.
Six Flags over Atlanta is the only Six Flags I've been to, but I enjoy it when I go. I have yet to try the Valdosta park, but I might just do that in the next month since I'm thinking of it. I'm a huge coaster fan and Six Flags brings to the table something that our Orlando parks hasn't quite done yet. They are trying, but need some more major thrill rides.
I've heard Jax may get a Six Flags for a decade now, I don't see it happening or it would have probably happened already. First it was supposed to be out near Clay County, then it was Cecil Field... If we were to get it, we should put it in La Villa ;D Does any other downtown areas have a roller coaster? That'd be sweet!
Maybe someone should get in touch with Parc Management, located here in Jacksonville about the likelihood, or hurdles of bringing a theme park to Jacksonville might entail.
http://www.parcmanagement.com/ (http://www.parcmanagement.com/)
Wait a minute...PARC is based here?? And we don't have a single flippin' amusement park?!? LOL How's that for ironic?!! LOL! There is something very, very wrong with that.
We certainly have the land area for a theme Park. I would never say never....however, I will believe it when I see it. Seems I heard sometime ago about a second Busch Gardens theme park... that obviously never developed.
Jacksonville could really become a destination City with the addition of a Theme Park. I concur that they have been downsizing and closing some in different areas of the country.. however... something like that could do well in the "Gateway to Florida" . La Villa being the site of that?? too good to be true. LaVilla/Brooklyn? probably also a double negative and a no. but it is nice to dream.
Quote from: Charleston native on June 26, 2008, 11:54:10 AM
Pardon me if I disagree. I've found Six Flags to be that way for several reasons:
- They have many dirty, trashy areas (many rides have bubblegum stuck all over their waiting areas).
- Attention to detail with themed areas is lacking, including cheaply made facades, shoddy landscaping, and chain link fencing that borders waiting line areas.
- Lack of distinct, noticeable themes. If you're going to theme an area, you need to immerse your park attendees in the theme...make them feel as if they really are in a different world.
- Price of food and concessions is ridiculously expensive. Yes, in Disney, it's also expensive, but I do feel that I get what I pay for in terms of quantity and quality. For $10.00 at Disney, I can get a filling meal: huge burger/entree, fries/fruit/other side dish, and a large drink. At the same price at Six Flags, I get a small, thin slice of pizza and a small Pepsi.
- Variety of food at Six Flags is pretty limited. I can get just about anything in a Disney park.
On checking your list and making notes of the quality features you have outlined, I'd suggest Jacksonville sounds like the perfect place for a 6-Flags park!OCKLAWAHA
In La Villa/Brooklyn.... More than enough land area in that area.
The only problems is, that Six Flags have been closing parks over the past few years, not opening brand new ones. However an Six Flags in La Villa/Brooklyn could really change Jacksonville forever. As long as the park is successful.
I for one really believe it could be VERY successful there... For one YOU COULD NOT MISS it , traveling along I-95 either N or S , and from I-10 going north, you could see it in the approaches..
If the TOD/ Transit idea would not prove feasible, possibly incorporating the Annie Lytle Public School #4 into the park might also be an option... I don't know that Hughes Auto and the CC Dickson Company would want to move , but if they did, theres really not much else , business wise blocking the location as part of incorporating it into a park.
I think a theme park is long overdue and would work in the "gateway" to Florida.
Not that a theme park should be built here or would ever be built here. But just to entertain the thought, if it was ever built it would probably be by the airport, off I-10 on the westside or the WGV.
Not sure how many more the parks Florida can support in this economy - Legoland opens in October, though - & it's on the calendar!
Wasn't there a rumor Six Flags was in talks about opening a park here back before 9A was developed over in the Baymeadows / Gate Parkway area?
We already have a theme park in North Florida. It's called St. Augustine and it has two subsidiary parks on the outskirts called Shopping Worlds I & II.
We do have a theme park taking up much of the Downtown core......I call it "Six Flags over Jesus" ;)
Quote from: comncense on February 23, 2011, 10:04:20 AM
Wasn't there a rumor Six Flags was in talks about opening a park here back before 9A was developed over in the Baymeadows / Gate Parkway area?
I remember hearing Cecil Field years ago.
Ah yes, a theme park. The way all cities become great, like:
Jackson, NJ
Eureka, MO
Austell, GA
Gurnee, IL
Agawam, MA
Most of these Six Flags, etc places are closing, the rest are losing money. And you're not going to get a significant stream of people to one when you're only a couple hours from Orlando.
And have you guys ever been to one that wasn't run by Disney? They are, on a good day, pretty pathetic places. I like roller coasters as much as the next person, but this would not help this city. They can barely keep one afloat that is an hour from Philadelphia and New York.
QuoteThey can barely keep one afloat that is an hour from Philadelphia and New York.
Six Flags isn't a stale brand - Pretty sure that they're on the up & up since dragging bottom from '07-'09; they just hired 4000+ plus workers last week at the Jersey operation....although part time/seasonal ,that would not be a negative thing to envision for North Florida High Schoolers and/or retirees.
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/02/22/2868880/after-a-long-ride-down-six-flags.html#
http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20110210/BUSINESS/102100313/Great-Adventure-plans-2-job-fairs
If you think about it, you have like Wild Adventures that is in the middle of no-where yet it stays open... So I would think at least a park of that size could sustain itself in Jacksonville.
Quote from: blizz01 on February 23, 2011, 03:34:24 PM
QuoteThey can barely keep one afloat that is an hour from Philadelphia and New York.
Six Flags isn't a stale brand - Pretty sure that they're on the up & up since dragging bottom from '07-'09; they just hired 4000+ plus workers last week at the Jersey operation....although part time/seasonal ,that would not be a negative thing to envision for North Florida High Schoolers and/or retirees.
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/02/22/2868880/after-a-long-ride-down-six-flags.html#
http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20110210/BUSINESS/102100313/Great-Adventure-plans-2-job-fairs
I imagine you get that same hiring spree every spring. I don't think that is indicative of long-term sustainability. The rides in Jackson are awesome, however.
Quote from: blizz01 on February 23, 2011, 03:34:24 PM
QuoteThey can barely keep one afloat that is an hour from Philadelphia and New York.
Six Flags isn't a stale brand - Pretty sure that they're on the up & up since dragging bottom from '07-'09; they just hired 4000+ plus workers last week at the Jersey operation....although part time/seasonal ,that would not be a negative thing to envision for North Florida High Schoolers and/or retirees.
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/02/22/2868880/after-a-long-ride-down-six-flags.html#
http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20110210/BUSINESS/102100313/Great-Adventure-plans-2-job-fairs
Personally - I don't look at amusement parks as 'brands' except for Disney. I would rather go to a park that focuses on thrill rides to get people through the gates vs. how to rape them out of every last dollar once they're in.
All this talk about theme parks...
Since the JCC wants to put a theme park on the shipyard property, this brings up the point of how a theme park is structured. If you have something like Six Flags or Adventure Landing you're dealing with a park that is gated and you have to pay a fee to get in. With a park at the shipyards it could be an open space, with different attractions owned by different companies. Coney Island's entertainment area is basically Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, Luna Park(which was Astroland until recently), and the Cyclone roller coaster(which was part of Astroland, but is now just owned by the city). There's also the boardwalk that is lined with bars, shops, restaurants, fast food vending, outdoor seating, and stand alone games â€" like Shoot The Freak. There's also an aquarium, Cyclone's baseball field, freak show, museums, and more. You are free to walk in and out of the parks without paying an admission fee, you pay per ride.
The shipyards could also work this way. One company might construct a Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, and a building to house food vending, carnival games, bar... Another company might just build a large seafood restaurant. Another company might build a mixed use roller rink that could be used for skating, small circus events, roller derby, and music performances. So on and so on.... There's a large plot of land that just needs to have something built on it. Some people might think housing is the best idea, or office buildings. Some people really want a theme park while others only want green space.
Honestly, the best thing that could happen there is a mixed entertainment district. Hotel, residential, bars, restaurants, cinema, bowling, public park, rides, music venue, vending facing the riverwalk... None of these things will hurt that land. I don't understand why so many people on here want it to just be a large grassy park. There's Confederate Park and Klutho Park in Springfield. There's Met Park right next door to the shipyards. Jacksonville has the largest urban park system in the country. Why waste all of this land on more land with nothing built on it?
Look at the harbour in Baltimore, San Antonio River Walk, or the Grove in LA. Pedestrian entertainment districts.
During the day you have shopping, food, and relaxation. At night you have boozin', music, and more food.
Sounds like a winner to me. ;D
Sir, sounds like you have an idea to revitalize downtown Jax, now time for the hard part, getting the dream reality...
Quote from: Mattius92 on February 23, 2011, 08:50:00 PM
Sir, sounds like you have an idea to revitalize downtown Jax, now time for the hard part, getting the dream reality...
That would be a nice location for a theme park as well. If only it could come to pass..