Spinoff - theme parks that never got built

[bcla]

Anyone lived at (or at least remember) a place where the building of a new theme park was announced, but it just never got built? Maybe a shovel in the ground but then the plans got abandoned? Disney had quite a few. I suppose Disney's America in Virginia is the prime example, but there was also WestCOT in Anaheim or the original plans for a park in Burbank. And the Mineral King Resort in Sequoia National Forest that was supposed to be the original home of the Country Bear Jamboree, although the rest was a European style ski resort.

I understand there is often opposition to such building, whether it's due to traffic or concerns that the character of an area will be changed.

The one that I really thought of was when Marriott decided to get into the theme park business. The idea was that they would be mostly the same. Same logo, similar layout, and often the same rides (with the same names). The plan was for three parks on the west coast, midwest, and east coast. The latter (near DC) never got built due to local opposition. What did get built looked pretty much the same at both locations.

 

[soccerdad72]

For years, there was a go cart place that we used to pass by on our way to Fort Myers Beach that apparently got about 80% completed when the owners ran out of money or something. It sat there in the same unfinished state for at least 4 or 5 years. The park included a raised go cart track which looked like it would be really cool, except that since it wasn't complete, the track was never built all the way, so there was a pretty serious drop off

It finally opened a couple years ago, minus the elevated track. The new owners put in a more traditional go cart track: http://www.zoomersamusementpark.com/

 

[rastahomie]

There's a legend around St. Louis that Walt Disney was /this/ close to building Disneyland 2.0 in or near St. Louis, but it fell through because of opposition from Augustus Busch. Depending on which urban legend you believe, it was because either a) Augustus Busch withdrew his support when he learned that there was to be no alcohol (and thus, no Anheiser-Busch products) at the park; or 3) Augustus Busch personally insulted Walt Disney when he (Busch) learned that Walt didn't want alcohol (and thus, no Anheiser-Busch products) at the park. Whereupon Walt and his team packed up their briefcases and told Busch to go pound sand, and looked towards Orlando.

The real reason the park fell through in St. Louis is because of money. Long story short, there just wasn't enough. There were also climate issues (St. Louis' climate isn't really conducive to a year-round outdoor theme park).

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Dolly Parton was going to go in with Gaylord on a water park in Donelson. But it never came to be.

Disney's Westcot ended up as DCA.

 

[mjkacmom]

This has been in the works for 15 years! It's hideous!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dream_Meadowlands

 

[sailorstitch]

When I was a kid there was talk about a Garfield the Cat theme park being built in IN.

 

[bcla]

When I was a kid there was talk about a Garfield the Cat theme park being built in IN.

It's been done. I was looking up this place for another topic.

http://www.silverwoodthemepark.com/things-to-do/garfield.php

Garfield is also going to be the theme of Six Flags parks being built in China.

http://investors.sixflags.com/news-and-events/press-releases/2017/05-18-2017-150314496

I thought that at least in the US, Six Flags has a contract for Warner Brothers properties, including Looney Toons and DC Comics. Back when I was a kid, I associated Looney Toons with Great America, because that's what Marriott got in their contract.

 

[NJHOO]

We live in the community (Dominion Valley) that was planned to be Disney's Project America in Northern Virginia.

 

[Klayfish]

Yep, I lived just outside of Philadelphia when the DisneyQuest Philadelphia project was announced and moved to within 1 mile of it only months after the project was abandoned. There was SO much hype and excitement around it. When they abandoned it, there was nothing but a giant hole in the ground right smack in the middle of downtown, with a giant construction fence around it. Philadelphians were pretty salty about it for a long time.

 

[RangerPooh]

It's been done. I was looking up this place for another topic.

http://www.silverwoodthemepark.com/things-to-do/garfield.php

Garfield is also going to be the theme of Six Flags parks being built in China.

http://investors.sixflags.com/news-and-events/press-releases/2017/05-18-2017-150314496

I thought that at least in the US, Six Flags has a contract for Warner Brothers properties, including Looney Toons and DC Comics. Back when I was a kid, I associated Looney Toons with Great America, because that's what Marriott got in their contract.

Silverwood is Garfield. Growing up I remember when Great America was Hannah Barbara cartoons. It was a treat to see Yogi Bear, Scooby Doo, Huckleberry Hound, and Fred Flintstone.

 

[bcla]

Silverwood is Garfield. Growing up I remember when Great America was Hannah Barbara cartoons. It was a treat to see Yogi Bear, Scooby Doo, Huckleberry Hound, and Fred Flintstone.

I'm a bit older than you then. I remember the Marriott days.

I lived through the tail end of the Golden age of Hannah-Barbers cartoons in the 70s. That was the stuff that Harvey Birdman paid tribute too, like Superfriends. I also saw syndicated reruns of their cartoons from the 60s. That must have been around the time the city owned it and they brought in Kings Entertainment.

Of course the other park in Illinois went its own way. Whatever happened to it after Marriott? The main thing I remember was a mention in Wayne's World.

 

[RangerPooh]

I'm in my late 30s, but I vaguely recall seeing Loony Toons characters at some point at Great America. Although it could have been Marine World? I also recall when Great America was still Marriott's before becoming Paramont. Likewise when Marine World was still in Richmond, when it was still called Marine World, Africa, USA.

 

[sailorstitch]

It's been done. I was looking up this place for another topic.

http://www.silverwoodthemepark.com/things-to-do/garfield.php

Garfield is also going to be the theme of Six Flags parks being built in China.

http://investors.sixflags.com/news-and-events/press-releases/2017/05-18-2017-150314496

I thought that at least in the US, Six Flags has a contract for Warner Brothers properties, including Looney Toons and DC Comics. Back when I was a kid, I associated Looney Toons with Great America, because that's what Marriott got in their contract.

Yes, but it was never built in Indiana. It was supposed to be in Indiana because that's where Jim Davis is from. I googled it after I posted because I was curious. It never got built here due to lack of funding.

sailorstitch

 

[RangerPooh]

In 1994 (maybe as early as 93) there was a proposal to build Garlic Country USA in Gilroy, CA that would be built and operational by 1996. It was intended to be an amusement park/country music venue similar to Branson, MO. There was plenty of outrage from locals and the idea was eventually shelved. While it would have brought revenue to town it would have also eliminated loads of agricultural land. In the end another theme park was built in another part of town.

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Rally-Raises-Stink-Over-Garlic-Park-Plan-3036666.php

 

[bcla]

I'm in my late 30s, but I vaguely recall seeing Loony Toons characters at some point at Great America. Although it could have been Marine World? I also recall when Great America was still Marriott's before becoming Paramont. Likewise when Marine World was still in Richmond, when it was still called Marine World, Africa, USA.

I sort of remember how it went, but the official history is:

Great America:
1976: Opens March 21 and owned by Marriott. Begins with Looney Toons characters.
1984: City of Santa Clara agrees to buy but it gets stuck in the courts.
1985: City of Santa Clara settles and brings in Kings Entertainment. That's probably where Hanna-Barbera characters were brought in.
1992: Paramount buys Kings Entertainment. This is where lots of rides were installed with Paramount movie related names, like Top Gun and Drop Zone. I do remember a James Bond ride though.
2006: Paramount splits from CBS and CBS takes over and sells Paramount Parks to Cedar Fair. Probably where the Nickelodeon theme comes in.

I remember there was a lot of stuff in the early 80s that gone now. There was a real steam train that looped around the park like the Disneyland Railroad. Also a sky ride and a dolphin show.

Marine World never really had anything other than their safari theming until Six Flags took over operation.

Everything is on Wikipedia now:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanna-Barbera_in_amusement_parks

 

[jliehr]

There's a legend around St. Louis that Walt Disney was /this/ close to building Disneyland 2.0 in or near St. Louis, but it fell through because of opposition from Augustus Busch. Depending on which urban legend you believe, it was because either a) Augustus Busch withdrew his support when he learned that there was to be no alcohol (and thus, no Anheiser-Busch products) at the park; or 3) Augustus Busch personally insulted Walt Disney when he (Busch) learned that Walt didn't want alcohol (and thus, no Anheiser-Busch products) at the park. Whereupon Walt and his team packed up their briefcases and told Busch to go pound sand, and looked towards Orlando.

The real reason the park fell through in St. Louis is because of money. Long story short, there just wasn't enough. There were also climate issues (St. Louis' climate isn't really conducive to a year-round outdoor theme park).

Not a legend by any means, there were basic original mock-ups sold a few years back. Weather was irrelevant as it was intended to be a year round indoor park.

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-...prints-for-ldquo-walt-disney-397-c-5fd42f2bf7

Also an amazing 10 part series on it here

http://www.disneyhistoryinstitute.com/2013/03/walt-disney-and-riverfront-square-part-1.html

 

[rastahomie]

Not a legend by any means, there were basic original mock-ups sold a few years back. Weather was irrelevant as it was intended to be a year round indoor park.

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-...prints-for-ldquo-walt-disney-397-c-5fd42f2bf7

Also an amazing 10 part series on it here

http://www.disneyhistoryinstitute.com/2013/03/walt-disney-and-riverfront-square-part-1.html

I meant that the legends were about the Augustus Busch situation. I doubt he had much to do with choosing Florida over St. Louis at all.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I'm a bit older than you then. I remember the Marriott days.

I lived through the tail end of the Golden age of Hannah-Barbers cartoons in the 70s. That was the stuff that Harvey Birdman paid tribute too, like Superfriends. I also saw syndicated reruns of their cartoons from the 60s. That must have been around the time the city owned it and they brought in Kings Entertainment.

Of course the other park in Illinois went its own way. Whatever happened to it after Marriott? The main thing I remember was a mention in Wayne's World.

The park in Illinois ended up in the hands of Six Flags. It still has its Columbia double decker merry go round, logger's run, Rue De lodge bumper cars, whizzer, yankee clipper boat ride
They've tried to get rid of the whizzer but they always get a ton of flack from guests when they do.

 

[jliehr]

I meant that the legends were about the Augustus Busch situation. I doubt he had much to do with choosing Florida over St. Louis at all.

Oh, yeah, that is addressed and debunked in the feature, the project was going to have a space for adults that sold Busch products.

 

[bcla]

The park in Illinois ended up in the hands of Six Flags. It still has its Columbia double decker merry go round, logger's run, Rue De lodge bumper cars, whizzer, yankee clipper boat ride
They've tried to get rid of the whizzer but they always get a ton of flack from guests when they do.

Being facetious to some degree. I know it went to Six Flags and is still around, but for the most part it's just one Six Flags parks of many. The Wayne's World reference really happened though.

What I remember about the Whizzer is that it tended to crash a lot, culminating with one fatality. And the name was Willard's Whizzer after the founder of Marriott.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whizzer_(roller_coaster)#Troubled_beginnings