Celebration City Closes, Possible Redevelopment Planned

[HollyAnn]

The name of the church is Woodland Hills Family Church.  I have a friend who goes there.  Here is their web site if you want to check it out.  As far as I know they only use the castle.  www.woodhills.org

[tinmann620]

Same here, Rube...

[rubedugans]

Great Minds think alike...yet again tinman! I am a churchgoer, my dedication to attending some sort of service on Sundays is fairly strong be it my church or my wifes church, And being in town I was tempted to attend this one for a service, but would have felt guilty knowing that I only attended to see the inside of that castle, not for the Lord. So I went to the Wilderness Church instead!

[SteamFreak]

While Moving to Branson I'm sure it's one church we'll "try out". The website looks like it would fit us pretty well.

[rubedugans]

Here is a HUGE panoramic of the entrance to CC from this weekend. It measure 48''x23 1/4".It was pieced together using 15-16 individual photos.

[History Buff]

I was told by a friend that everything at CC is for sale - all the rides, etc.  I can't confirm this, but he got the news from a friend of his.  He has contacts who have contracted with the Herschends on multi-million-dollar jobs in the past.

Are there signs?  Articles in the area?  Can anyone confirm?  With the Wild Adventures survey Steve mentioned in another thread, it sounds like CC as we know it is a memory.

[Swoosh]

There are a lot of games at Dollywood that came from CC that debuted this year.

[shavethewhales]

Everything seems to be pointing to the immediate break up of the park as we know it, which is pretty much what we all saw coming. The games and equipment have been taken to the other properties, some of the family rides sound like they're on their way to WA, and it sounds like Roaring Falls is coming to SDC.

The question is: what will happen to OzCat? It will either be destroyed or some how be roped into the new developments as an add on. It's a $4 million ride, but HFEC doesn't seem to care anymore. Still, it's conceivable that it and the ferris wheel could anchor a retail development. It'd give them an edge over other shopping centers.

[History Buff]

^And the carousel.  I see most of the upgrades made by HFE possibly staying.

[U Smell Smoke]

Just curious if there is any news on the redevelpment of Celebration City? Has anyone heard anything?

[rubedugans]

The security guard last week said he heard again about the aquarium scenario, and personally felt that most things/rides would be moved/sold off including the OzCat.

[shavethewhales]

The trains from OzCat were sent to WA, in case you missed that news bit. Seems like pretty damning evidence to me 

Somehow I don't think we'll have much to look forward to with the CC property at this point in time. It seems like they're deciding against making the same mistake twice, from what I can tell. I kind of expect to see the land parceled and sold off, if not sold off all at once to another big outlet.

[rubedugans]

I agree. Renting buildings oout on the property, and selling off rides is more than likely the last step for this high trafficked area. I am sure the land is fairly valuable, even though you could drive the strip and see several vacant locations already.

[Firstvisit1967]

This area seems like a great place to be but...............it has never worked.  No matter who tried to make it go.  I think it is a bad location.  People are either getting off the strip and glad to be out of traffic, or getting on and excited to be heading towards the destination.  In all the years I do not ever think of CC as a destination area.  SDC, Shep of the Hills, the Dam, Showboat, the shows, downtown Branson. 

It is a shame but it seems that Branson is taking a few hits, the Palace, CC, several areas not looking all that great.  I hope this thing gets turned around.

[Joy]

Maybe they should try something completely new and different from all the previous developments in that area. It seems as though people think it's meant to be a theme park area. But maybe it isn't.

I could almost see it being completely reworked as perhaps a nightlife kinda place, similar to Disney's Pleasure Island. Less shops, more dining and clubs. Maybe more towards a Legends type place atmosphere-wise... Basically, here's a list of things that I think put together would make a really awesome place to hang out in Branson where CC currently is:

1) A nice modern movie theater, perhaps like the Legends 14, or maybe like AMC's new Mainstreet Theater (which I hear is pretty neat, especially those butt-rumble seats & getting to pick your seat in advance)

2) A few nice restaurants (grill&bars, fancy stuff, Japanese steakhouse, seafood grill, Mexican, etc)

3) Some nightclubs (perhaps a nice country dance club or something)

4) A themed restaurant like Rainforest Cafe or T-Rex, but with a Wild West theme

5) A cool bowling alley (maybe a Lucky Strike; I've seen pics, and it looks pretty awesome)

6) Keep the go-karts & mini-golf; or, in fact, maybe build something like a mix of Powerplay (http://powerplaykc.com/ratesattractions.php) and Zonkers (http://www.zonkers.com/dnn/Rides/tabid/53/Default.aspx). It'd give them a chance to keep some rides and stuff but do it in a new way.

7) A stage or theater perhaps like the Midland at KC's Power&Light? A venue to make up for the Grand Palace being closed...?

8 ) And last, but the thing I'd like to see most: Dave & Busters. It would provide late-night entertainment with a casino-like atmosphere but without the gambling, but also provide entertainment to all ages, since kids are allowed when accompanied by adults. D&B is really fun, and it'd be cool if they got one in Branson.

So, basically, make it something like a mix of Legends, Power & Light, and Great Mall of the Great Plains. And they could still add an aquarium, too. That'd make it even more unique.

I dunno... I just think there need to be more nightlife options in Branson beyond go-kart tracks and mini-golf.

Joy