My dad was email a survey from HFEC that talked about the concept of Wild Adventures (a park HFEC purchased last year). Well at the end of the survey it said that the park would be built on the current site of Celebration City. This could be CC's last season.
From what I saw in the drawings, Thunderbolt and The Stinger will be staying. I don't remember seeing Wildcat, but I'm sure it'll stay because they would have to be completely stupid to take that out. The concept art looked very promising. There will also be an aquarium right next to it should this happen as the survey said. This is by no means official, but since it was in a survey of theirs, they are definitely considering it.
I like the concept, but do not want to see CC go. I liked that concept too and believe they never let it go to it's potential. Really, it is just a glorified carnival mixed in the trees with The Wildcat, good entrance area, and a great firework show. It could have been so much more if they put the money into it like it looks like they will with Wild Adventures. Still, at least something top knotch is coming out way! Or, at least, it looks like it is coming our way!
Hmm, if they are planning on restructuring the park to be more of a collection of attractions like a zoo and aquarium then I think they're in for another round of disappointments. CC hasn't done so well so far, but it's coming back to life slowly but surely. A few more seasons with a few good additions and it'll be profiting at least.
I still disagree that it's a 'glorified carnival'. I mean, how many carnivals have such high-class theming, good restaurants, shows, and shops? Believe me, the place may not be Disneyland, but for a park it's size, it sure is a keeper.
I really don't see them downsizing the park though, unless they are sure that profit is unobtainable. At this point, the only way to success is to move forward with more new shows, shops, and family-friendly attractions, as anything less would lead to more stagnation.
Yeah, "glorfied carnival" was bad wording on my part. What I meant by that is not as good as its sister park SDC. While I do understand SDC has been around a lot longer, there's no doubt in my mind that they didn't invest in CC as much as they originally intended to. If they want SDC's draw, which I have a feeling they do, they need to put in SDC effort. The Stinger, as great as it is, dosn't compair to The Giant Swing, The Grand Exposition, or any other additions made to SDC. They could also use a few more indoor things to give people a reason to stay when it's raining. Really though, they should just invest money into CC and make it SDC level rather than build a complete new park that would also be SDC's level (and cost even more dollars to build).
Right now, its obvious that they promote and treat CC (and even White Water) secondary to SDC and they would probably be a lot more successful if they treated them all like world class parks. I mean, as you said, they aren't Disneyland, but they don't need to be another Six Flags either. I put HFEC above Six Flags and all parks like them, because I think they're better, unfortuantely CC isn't like SDC or Dollywood, but it can be if they invest in it properly.
That all said, they are definitely considering overhauling it if they are sending out surveys about it. Hopefully they don't go through with it because I like CC's era themes. Still, they are definitely considering it.
For CC or WW to get up to a SDC type level they would have to gain a lot more land. Something I know that White Water does not have. But Celebration City I am not sure about. How much more land or "growing room" does CC have?
CC has a lot. The basically own everything out to the "new" parking entrance that they never really finished
At the moment, I can only say that concept art they showed made the area look about twice the size of the current CC. For a zoo-like place, it would almost have to be. I'm not sure where people would park by looking the drawings. I will say though that it is, just that, concept art. I'll say that 100% of the time, the end product turns out to be very different from what is drawn. Not to mention, the survey only was considering it. Although, I am sure it won't get rated badly seeing how great the art looked.
I wish I had a link I could give you to the survey, but my dad never sent me a copy of the email. I'll try to see if he can find it. Although I am not sure if you can actually take the survey without being invited by HFEC.
Maybe if you could just give us a screen shot of the art-work?
My dad deleted the email and I couldn't find anything in a search, but I still continue looking. Believe me when I say that I would like to see it again myself. It was pretty late (1:30am) at night when he showed me so I wasn't thinking good enough to say "forward me the survey". I'm not sure why I didn't get the survey myself since I am on SDC's mailing list. I'm hoping some how a good Google search will pull it up, but so far I haven't had much luck. I'll keep on trying though.
Yeah, I'm their mailing list, too, and I used to get the surveys, but I haven't been sent one in AGES.
~ "Becky" Joy ~
Did no one else get the one that was just sent out over the holiday shows?
The last survey I got from them (I always take them when I get them ;D ) was asking about potential festivals for Celebration City. Obviously, the fall festival was one of them that got support. I know I'm on their list still because I got an email last week from them advertising 'The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything'.
I haven't had any luck so far finding the survey. If I find it though, I guarantee you that I'll post a link or screenshots. It seems like my dad is the only one who got it (at least that I know of). I do know he got it though, because I saw him taking it myself while I ranted how much I dislike the idea of bulldozing CC after putting all that effort in building it in the first place.
Looks like this could be true.
CC does have low attendance sometimes, but it doesn't seem like it's losing money. It does much better business than Mutton Hollow or Branson USA ever did.
Oh man, this would have been perfect for CC -> http://www.italintl.com/detail_page.php?record_id=1156
Too late now, unless they want to make it part of their new package.
Anything being passed around about the new development? I had heard earlier that they are planning to keep everything under wraps through the 2009 season, but I'm sure they've been doing some investigations into resorts, shopping, ect.
If they are reopening in the 2010/2011 season when would we hear the first announcments of the concept. Since nothing has been forthcoming- are we looking at a 2 to 3 year delay before opening.
2010 is still the stated re-opening date as far as I've heard. The concept details probably won't be announced until this summer.
However, it's all subject to the economic climate at this point. As with the other Herschend projects, they're all kind of sitting on their hands waiting to see how many people in the area get laid off this year before too much goes forward.
I would think there would have to be some heavy and costly maintenance on rides and facilities that aren't being used. Something has to happen or they will take a huge loss. Two or three years? That seems like a long time without a decision to sell, parcel, rebrand, or reopen.
If it is putting in an aquarium- I know with the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks we were talking about a lengthy project for construction and arrival of critters- I don't think you could wait until the summer to begin if one is shooting for a 2010 opening.
Anyone associated with CC or SDC doing any work at CC. What is involved with "mothballing" a park? Any general maintenance going on? Was any of the merchandise closed out and sold off. Will grass, flowers, shrubs be maintained? Any weather damage, downed tree limbs, backed up storm drains, frozen or broken pipes, etc. Just interested in how ones closes up shop, and how quickly they could open back up? Thanks
From what I have heard and observed, they have winterized the park like normal. They just won't take things back out come Spring. I would imagine that the Circus Trees will still be cared for meticulously per the agreement that they have with the Bonfantes. I imagine that for the most part all the other things will be looked after but not to the level of horticulture "show ready" as if the park was open.
Opening up an old thread here but I had a thought. I know it is probably, more like definitely, not in the Herschend's budget right now, but what if they used the CC property to build a SDC themed resort? It is in a great location, practically dying to be built and developed into something great. They could offer shuttle buses to SDC and just think how great it could be themed.
I don't think HFE wants to make the same mistake twice, so I don't see a park re-opening here. I know its not in their budget now, but in the future, 5-10 years? Could we see a SDC themed resort here?
I'm sure that ball has been thrown around already. I certainly see a resort as the perfect tool for their portfolio. I mean, they could control a families entire vacation from one spot. Visitors could be bussed from the resort to HFEC's other properties in the area - offering a huge relief from the strains of traffic, and offering all kinds of incentives to buy multi-property passes. Seems like the perfect plan to me.
At this point it seems like their plan is still to hold stay put until there's marked improvement in the area, which may be helped by SDC adding something major soon... Could be years still until they make a serious move. Maybe they'll just divide the property and sell it off, I don't think they can sit on that place forever.
Anyone know of anything going on at the place?
^No, nothing seems to be happening, but it seems like that area is a "death sentence" for businesses 'specially now with Happy Trails going belly up and selling everything off too. ???
^I think if they did things correctly, HFE could really take advantage of that spot. As we've talked about before, CC had it's problems. Maybe they could learn from their mistakes.
It would be a huge investment for them to make.
There's a great new photo TR from WA here showing off the old CC rides: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=54955
Seems pretty surreal to me that part of CC is not only gone already, but operating somewhere else. Kind of makes me wonder what will leave this year.
Wow, thanks for the interesting link! It is like watching the parts from your car being reinstalled on someone else's car.
I guess I cannot complain too much. I am grateful that these rides are still bringing smiles to faces rather than rotting away in a back lot. :)
It's great to see that HFE has really turned around this park. I hope they can continue to make it even better and it just shows what type of company they are by planting so many trees and landscaping.
So, in reference to the title of this thread, CC is not really becoming Wild Adventures - it's just moving to Wild Adventures.
Why did SDC acquire this property in the first place? Wasn't it a theme park/carnival prior to becoming CC?
One theory is that they were able to remove the competition (while at the same time hoping to turn a profit). Weren't there rumors of another company or some star power acquiring the property ahead of HFE? Anyway, in that sense, they succeeded!
It is a primo location, and we hope something major might replace or add to what is already there.