SDCFans - The Unofficial Fan Site For Silver Dollar City
General Category => Other Parks => Topic started by: Junior on May 14, 2010, 11:04:24 AM
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This is something I have not addressed yet at SDCfans.com, but several months ago there were a few items in the local papers discussing how DISNEY a few years ago bought a large parcel of land in Benton County, Arkansas somewhere between Bentonville and Pea Ridge. Allegedly, plans were being made for some kind of Disney park or resort. The local officials at the courthouse were quoted, saying Disney indeed does own some large acreage in the county. Then, a couple of years ago, the economy crashed. Nothing being done about a park or resort now. Anybody have any knowledge or input on this? SDC is a two hour commute from my house, but if Disney built some kind of themed park within five miles of my house, you bet I would apply for a job! The land, from my understanding, would be several miles away from the Pea Ridge Military Park, so I don't think that would be a problem after some theme park company, maybe Disney, was going to build a park near a Civil War site somewhere in the east a few years ago. Outcry over spoiling the historic site killed the park.
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Ok. Now let's all try to say this with a straight face.
Disney in Arkansas. :D LOL :D LOL :D LMAO
I'm sorry, I'm calling BS on this. Arkansas is honestly at the bottom or near the bottom of the list on places that Disney wants to build. I mean let's be honest, no one ever says "hey let's go to Arkansas for our family vacation except those that live in Arkansas or some place worse -- and those people (here's looking at you kansas and Oklahoma) go to Branson on their vacations.
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Ok, be nice, some of us enjoy weekend vacations on the Buffalo River! Disney? No, will never happen, but Disney does promote/suggest a Dude Ranch for vacation get-aways on the Buffalo, near Jasper...
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Would a Disney complex of some kind two hours from Branson hurt or kill Branson? YES. Why did Disney purchase land in Benton County. Like I said at the top of the thread, the newspapers in the area quoted courthouse officials that deal with deeds for property, and they did say Disney owns a tract of land in Benton County, Arkansas. Why would a major entertainment company purchase a large tract of land and not develop it eventually.
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Why would a major entertainment company purchase a large tract of land and not develop it eventually.
As an executive retreat area for its higher powered officials.
Not completely unheard of.
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Every couple of years we hear of Disney supposedly planning a mid-america park, but every time it is eventually revealed to be nothing more than a scam to drive up real estate prices. If Disney wanted to build a mid-america park, it wouldn't be in AR. If they do indeed own land there it isn't for a park development.
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If you are not familiar with Benton County, Arkansas, let me give you a short profile:
1) Combined population of Bella Vista/Bentonville/Rogers/Springdale/Fayetteville exceeds that of the Springfield,
Missouri area.
2) Located at/near the boarders of Oklahoma/Arkansas/Missouri/Kansas
3) Home to Wal-Mart, biggest retailer on the planet, as well as Tyson, largest meat producer in the USA, and
JB Hunt, and the old Jones Trucking empire. Wal-Mart issued a decree a few years ago ordering all their
vendors to put offices in the area. Thousands working for or servicing Wal-Mart moved to the area.
4) Even with the economic downturn, most things around here slowed down a bit, that's all. In the last few
months the major housing and construction projects have started rolling again.
5) There is alot of money hiding out around here. When my wife and I lived in Rogers, we were less than four
miles away from a gated subdivision where the millionaires live with their families. Reportedly there are
folks in that neighborhood that have original works by Piccasso hanging on the wall.
6) If Disney opened up a theme park or resort in the area, it's location close to Branson could potentially
seriously hurt the Branson economy. Disney in Arkansas could be a draw for people from Tulsa, OK City,
Witchita, Little Rock, Dallas.
7) Northwest Arkansas fastest growing area of the state. Predicted to surpass Little Rock in terms of
population in less than 10 years.
Throw out everything I said above about Arkansas, and put "Joplin" in it's place. Same thing, isn't it? ;)
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Thing is, these rumors have been around for a very long time, and so far there's no indication that Disney plans to do anything down there. Even Jim Hill addressed the rumors the last time they surfaced. (I'll see if I can find the link)
However, Disney would have to bite the bullet and offer competitive prices or it really wouldn't affect Branson/SDC. In act, seeing as how Universal/IoA co-exist with WDW, and Knott's & Magic Mountain with DL, it's possible that having a Disney park could actually *help* Branson/SDC.
I still don't think Disney's anywhere near doing anything in the MidWest.
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I think a "Midwest Disneyland" is a good idea...no matter where in the heartland they place it. I'm a middle class guy, and for my wife and I, the trip we made with our daughter to Disneyworld in '96 was a once in a lifetime thing. If Disney had something closer, say less than a day's drive, we would go to it from time to time. If they really did build something in my neck of the woods, I'd apply for a job...I'd be first in line to do so, as well.
Regarding Disney in Arkansas...remember the site in Florida in the 1960's and 1970's was nothing more than thousands of acres of unusable swampland in the middle of nowhere before Disneyworld was built. I think it's possible they could build a Disney park here, and that people from OK, MO, TX, AR, KA and other states in the region would come in droves. In time, it would be a destination for people from all over the world like the Florida and California parks are now.
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^^^In fact, just a few years ago, this was a rumor in Joplin. The media made quick work of exposing the supposed land-buys, and the buyers retreated. They couldn't secretly buy up land to put in a first-class park any more even if they wanted to. I don't think anyone was ever able to debunk the rumors that it was Disney.
Additionally, Disney is rumored to own land between Branson and Springfield, too. The time-share ilk love to promote their facilities with these rumors.
And personally, I would love to have seen what Disney would have done with the property adjacent to a Civil War site. They really might have promoted the history and tourism of the place, and I doubt it would have been tasteless or degrading to the "holy ground".
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Well, there *was* "Disney's America" that never got off the ground...
http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2008/03/disneys-america-theme-park-project.html
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The rumor of Disney in the Ozarks seems to surface at least once a year.
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While we were waiting in the theatre to watch a movie, last fall, a guy sitting beside us was "confirming" to his friends that the new terminal at Springfield & added lanes to 65 were all for the upcoming Disney project. I silently rolled my eyes, simply because I've heard the rumor once a year, for a good 23 years...
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god i heard that rumor when i lived in lake ozark .. disney was goin in up there
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Disney in MO/ARK you ask? Well, Ask and you shall receive.
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/washu.jpg)
A Postcard I have had for a year or two here, I didn't think much of it at first, and passed on it, luckily I had a second thought and went back and splurged and spent $1 for the Disney/Branson Item...Rare? I have no clue!!!!! But it makes this discussion a whole lot more real then huh?......Your welcome!
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^Kind of strange, since the Transcontinental Railroad did not cross Missouri and especially not the Branson area. That would have drastically changed Ozarks history.
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^^Wow, where'd you find that postcard? You have everything!
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^Kind of strange, since the Transcontinental Railroad did not cross Missouri and especially not the Branson area. That would have drastically changed Ozarks history.
It didn't really cross the whole continent, either. ;)
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I pick up things EVERYWHERE...a few on ebay, most at antique stores, estate sales, friends, gifts etc. This one came from a store selling a bit of everything, I tend to gravitate towards paper first, the look towards glass/ceramic etc. There is no date on the reverse-it is unused- but I really wonder what it was to become.
I can only imagine what the park would have said!
"Now lissen' up y'all. Mickey and his kin are a' comin' to tha hills fer a whootin' hollerin' good time. Join Mickey, PLuto and all the other Folks fer a family reunion Ozark style!"
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Back in the late 60's and early 70's, Disney own a 20,000 acre ranch in Southeast Missouri near Ellsinore, Pop. 432, which they later sold to an Arab, which was later sold to a group that include one of the University of MO basketball stars.
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WOW, REALLY? If they own the property, could someone post the county where, check the tax rolls, and if it's true, see how many acres? I'm sure the number of acres involved would determine if a park would be possible. Without some sort of proof, just a rumor!
But imagine the possibilities. There are a number of successful parks in and around Orlando. Couldn't SDC and Disney park compliment each other? Since HFEC has grown to become a entertainment company with properties nationwide, I would think SDC would receive a lot of reinvestment by the company. It would be great for the Branson area, it too could experience a another rebirth of sorts. Come on Disney!!
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I should have added this at the top of this thread, but there were always rumors during the time I lived in Branson in the 70s and 80s that Disney was gonna buy out SDC and make SDC into "Frontierland" in the new midwest Disneyland park. Never happened, did it? The rumor still pops up every now and then. In the 90's, I heard the rumor again, and was convinced by the person that told me...a family member...that it was true. I was bummed out for weeks. But again, never happened, did it? I don't know how or why the rumors get started. However, I will stand by what I initially wrote at the top of the thread. Newspaper reports say Disney owns a large tract of land in Benton County, Arkansas between Bentonville and Pea Ridge. What happens with the property is anybody's guess. Maybe they will hang on to it for a while, then sell it. Maybe they will develop it with something. Only time will tell.
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Warehousing? Printing? Manufacturing? Offices to work with WalMart? Who knows?
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Northwest Arkansas is a perfect location for a Disney Park, especially since the trend of Disney Parks are now micro parks or vacation destinations based on nature, exisiting infrastructure, etc.....not another Magic Kingdom. With that being said, I can say with MUCH confidence that there are no plans for a Disney destination.
The land everyone has heard about is more than likely an off-site Wal-Mart location for warehouses or production. Wal-Mart has a standard that all company's that do business with them must have an executive level person residing in Benton County (true!) and there are positions posted internally here at Disney in Florida for positions in Arkansas.
Northwest Arkansas is just as beautiful as the Branson area, in fact, there is no difference between the two locations from a recreational perspective. I loved growing up in both areas and consider both of them "home"
While I would love a Disney destination closer to home, I have it on extremely good information that it isn't happening. However, I have rubbed elbows with quite a few people who make a lot of planning decisions so if they do then expect me to be on the opening team! Hahaha
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Just found the board a few days ago; first post.
As a Bentonville resident, I was informed about this back in the early 2000's by an individual who at the time was involved in city planning. "Disney Consumer Products" had purchased a large parcel of land northwest of town, somewhere near J St and Price Coffee Rd (North of I-540).
No one really though anything about it at the time because just about every Fortune 500 has some sort of presence in Benton County due to the Wal-Mart factor. (Not to mention that it's hard to imagine Bentonville realistically as a DVC destination.)
I just did a quick search on the Benton County Circuit Court deed records and found 4 records pertaining to "Disney Consumer Products International" dating back as early as 2003.
Now, in regards to that rumor that Disney has held hundreds of acres on the north shore of Table Rock since the '80's.....
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Betamike and Joecorn, thanks for the input here. Interesting. Oh, yeah...I heard the rumor about Disney owning land on the north side of Table Rock, too. Not much happening there, either, is there? :)
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Ok.....*scratches head*....THIS got my attention being I lived in Benton Co. Ark! Ummm.....do they still own this property at this moment? And why would Disney buy and hold something that sits stagnate (sp)?! Have they sold it by now? Umm.... :o any update I can get here would be helpful!
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Far as I know, they do own the property...it makes sense they would have some real estate at Bentonville for purposes of serving Wal-Mart. I don't know if they have built there or not. However, Wal-Mart issued an order a few years ago that if vendors wanted to sell to them, they better get an office in Bentonville, so if Wal-Mart needs someone from their company at a moments notice, they are right there. I know some companies...like Rubbermade...sell the bulk of their product to Wal-Mart...so it only makes sense Disney would want to have property at Bentonville available to put in a warehouse or office to better serve the largest retailer in the world. (Secretly, I wish they would open a themed complex around here, I'd try to get a job!)
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My husband used to survey land down in mac county in AR and he did a survey for NASCAR. Ha. I dont think it got built or nothin but go figure!
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New life to an old rumor...a realtor associate claims to have been a part in the handling of Disney buying several hundred acres in northern Arkansas, to build a "Disney Midwest", claiming that's why the improvements to 65, Branson airport, & the new lanes to Harrison. Allegedly the first phase will be complete by 2018. (I heard a random person discussing the same project, while waiting for a movie to start this past summer) Got to love rumors...
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??? ???
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New life to an old rumor...a realtor associate claims to have been a part in the handling of Disney buying several hundred acres in northern Arkansas, to build a "Disney Midwest", claiming that's why the improvements to 65, Branson airport, & the new lanes to Harrison. Allegedly the first phase will be complete by 2018. (I heard a random person discussing the same project, while waiting for a movie to start this past summer) Got to love rumors...
So basically it's all one big conspiracy, and the government is performing all of these miraculous improvements just so Disney can finally build their theme park in Arkansas? You're right, I do love rumors! :D
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LOL!!! good one!! government? ??? conspiracy? :-\ NO WAY!!!!!! :o :D I dont believe it!!! ;D
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I'll believe it when I see it. If they do build, I hope it's right here in my backyard...I'll be first in line to apply for a job on park!