According to a semi-plausible rumor on frontiercity411.com and screamscape, HFEC has put in a bid on Frontier City in OKC. FC's current operator, PARC, is being booted from managing a large slew of theme parks and entertainment properties owned by a holding company. It's kind of a shame, because PARC did a relatively OK job for a company that formed only a couple of years ago. They did some good work in fixing up FC with much needed refurbishments and a couple of new rides.
HFEC has actually bid on the park before, if I recall correctly. When a slew of US Six Flags parks where up for sale around 2006-7 or so, HFEC apparently put in a bid for several of them including FC and WWB, but they ended up pulling out or were outbid by CNL.
HFEC running FC would be a dream come true for me. After seeing the crowds come out for the park's meager fright fest this year, there's obviously a ton of potential here, the place just needs a few more noticeable changes to break through the stereotypes that have built up against the place over the years of mismanagement. HFEC could easily double or triple the park's attendance within a couple of years with their superior operations and marketing capabilities. I'd love to see a major new ride in Oklahoma at last. The last major, non-family oriented ride that's been built here was the drop tower at the now non-existent Bell's in 2004.
How awesome would that be. I've always felt like FC could be another SDC. The theming is already in place. Eruption is a cool ride but seriously out of theme. Steel lasso has a kinda weak theme but at least it's kinda there.
PARC did ok. I understand that the summer before they took over, FC declared bankruptcy and lots of employees didn't get paid the last couple weeks they worked.
That could be a very nice purchase for the company. Would be great for the Oklahoma and surrounding areas.
I'm interested in seeing how this comes out. Could be a good addition to the stable for the company.
I just went in a checked FC website.. MAN!! if you didn't know better it could a SDC website!.
country based shows,
trains,
country cooking,
water rides,
street shows.
Could be a twin!
That would be a great addition, But i wonder if HFEC did purchase it, Could it possibly hurt attendance at SDC in a year or 2?
^Don't be fooled; it is most definitely NOT a twin. The potential for theming is there, but FC is far from being appropriately themed and never will be. It is more a twin for CC than SDC. That being said, FC could easily be something like Wild Adventures for the chain, but I'm not sure how land-locked it is. It would certainly be another good outlet for the rides from CC. An HFE makeover would be fantastic.
It's theming is much more cartoonish, but that could be corrected rather easily.
At one time FC was themed pretty well. There are still some really nice areas of the park, some wooded areas even. If only the place wasn't chock full of outrageous carny games and dilapidated "restaurants", it would be really nice.
It's a far cry from being a twin to SDC though. If they really built the place up, it might be able to compete a little, but mostly it would attract those who are too cheap to drive to Branson or Dallas. Right now the park's main demographic is local teenagers and fairly poor locals.
It's kind of land-locked, but I know they have a lot of land across the street. If HFEC has long term plans for the place, I could see them building a bridge over the road and expanding there. There's also the possibility of expanding into the existing parking lot, and moving the parking to the land across the street.
I have had passes there the past few years. I think they could do a lot with the fort area, and improve the wild west stunt show. Maybe use that area for a better show.
Here is my trip report from earlier this year of Frontier City for those who are not familiar with the park
http://www.midwestinfoguide.com/migcrew/2010/FC/
swoosh! great info and pics! nite and day between the 2 parks. But I think it would make a great addition to the company. I think with a little modification, maintenece and maybe some upgrades, this park could be a nice one. an be competitve in its local market.
it IS the local market. There is nothing else like it within a 4 hour drive
Looks like PARC is officially out of the picture now: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1261159/000119312510268859/dex991.htm
The article states that their lease has been terminated early. CNL has already lined someone else up to run the FEC's, but are now looking for operators for the theme parks. It doesn't sound like they're planning to sell off anything though. I doubt HFEC would take an operator role with a park as drab as FC unless they were given a major deal, and I doubt CNL will sell at this point even if they are given a competitive bid from HFEC.
Oh well, at least a change of hands might mean something new could come to the park soon. I could see them adding a new coaster in 2012, since PARC has already done a lot of the refurbishment work and has added 2 family rides already.
released in screamscapr today:
Amusement Management Partners - (12/2/10) Amusement Management Partners (AMP) has announced that as of December 1st, they have taken over as the management for eight amusement properties from CNL: Camelot Park (Bakersfield, CA), Mountasia (N. Richland Hills, TX), Fiddlesticks (Tempe, AZ), Funtastics (Tucson, AZ), and the Zuma Fun Centers in Charlotte, NC / Knoxville, TN / Houston, TX.
Nothing about frontier city yet.
I'll see if the park has comment on Saturday
I was told earlier that the rumors regarding HFEC looking into Frontier City were overblown if not completely made up, but now Screamscape is reporting that HFEC is one of the parties involved in bidding for the management contracts. However, HFEC might be more interested in Darien Lake than FC.
I guess that makes some sense, as Darien Lake has a much larger reach and more potential, plus it's a new market area for HFEC.
Gary Story and Kieran Burke seem to be most interested in taking over FC... I'm not sure how I feel about that just yet. The only thing I know about those two is that they are former SF execs who were ousted when Snyder took over. They current run an investment group that runs a small waterpark in Nashville. Considering how horribly SF neglected FC when Burke was in control, I wonder why he's interested in the park now? Would Burke/Story actually invest in the park or just squeeze it for profit like SF did?
I'm starting to miss PARC... You've got to admit, they really did a lot of good for every single park they managed.
http://www.newsok.com/article/3519314
Don't know about any sale, but looks like they already have an agreement on who's gonna manage the park.
yep! looks like that is the end of that rumor... ;D
That article is wrong. AMP is only taking the contracts for the FEC's. The parks are still up for grabs.
GREAT!!! :o :o Rumor is back on! ;D ;D