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4 U.S. cities that need a major theme park
A glance at a map of the United States makes my theme park-addicted mind flag the states and cities with theme parks. To me, the states without theme parks look like big holes in the map. I figured I'd list the cities that I feel could use a major theme park. I'm going to preface this list by admitting that I have a completely outsider's view of these cities. I'm going mainly on the population, so feel free to inform me of any local issues or reasons why theme parks aren't there. And by theme park, I mean a 100-acre or more amusement park with roller coasters, thrill rides, and the typical attractions people associate with these parks.A theme park developer once told me during an interview that the U.S. market is already pretty saturated and that it was unlikely that we would see new large theme parks. I'm no theme park businessman, but I find that a little hard to believe. Here are the cities that I feel need a theme park.
4 - Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville was recently the center of what looks to be at worst a hoax, and at best a well-meaning, but unlikely new project. Last month a developer unveiled plans for a $750 million theme park in nearby Spring Hill, TN. Since the announcement a number of questions have arisen around the developers background. There are about 1.2 million people in the Nashville metro area and around 600,000 in the city itself. There are two great smaller parks, Holiday World and Dollywood, that are about 3 hours away, but I'd still like to see Nashville with its own major theme park.
3 - Phoenix, Arizona
AZ Central recently recounted the proposed Phoenix area theme parks and attractions that for one reason or another haven't made it off the ground. They included an indoor ski park, Decades Theme Park, and the Mesa Waveyard. Aside from the climate, AZ Central goes on to point out the competition area attractions would have. A theme park would have to compete with a little attraction known as the Grand Canyon and the area's other natural points of interest. The latest proposed project is an indoor theme park that would include a ski area and a water park. With 1.4 million in the city and 4 million in the metro area, the city definitely has the population to support a major theme park.
2 - New Orleans, Louisianna
After Hurricane Katrina flooded Six Flags New Orleans in 2005, the park remained abandoned for years. There were a few plans to re-open the park, but they fell through. Even as recent as last summer, the park looked like it was left in such dissaray (see video) that you'd think an apocalyptic event had happened. Something that removed the patrons and workers, but left the rides to rot and merchandise to lay out in the streets. New Orleans has over a million people and no competing major parks that are relatively close. The new park should probably be placed further away from the coastline or lake, but New Orleans seems like a city where a theme park could thrive.
1 - Houston, Texas
With a population of 2.1 million people and a warm climate, I can't imagine why there isn't a major theme park in Houston. Since the city lost Six Flags AstroWorld back in 2005, theme park fans have had to trek to San Antonio or Dallas to visit a large theme park. An eco theme park, called EarthQuest Adventures has been planned for the Houston area for a few years now. According to news from last summer, the new park is slated to open in 2013 in New Caney, Texas about 25 miles north of Houston. However, I couldn't find an official opening date on the park's website.
What city would you say needs a theme park? Do you know a reason why one of these cities shouldn't get a theme park?
Photo Credit: Intamin10
AZ Central recently recounted the proposed Phoenix area theme parks and attractions that for one reason or another haven't made it off the ground. They included an indoor ski park, Decades Theme Park, and the Mesa Waveyard. Aside from the climate, AZ Central goes on to point out the competition area attractions would have. A theme park would have to compete with a little attraction known as the Grand Canyon and the area's other natural points of interest. The latest proposed project is an indoor theme park that would include a ski area and a water park. With 1.4 million in the city and 4 million in the metro area, the city definitely has the population to support a major theme park.
2 - New Orleans, Louisianna
After Hurricane Katrina flooded Six Flags New Orleans in 2005, the park remained abandoned for years. There were a few plans to re-open the park, but they fell through. Even as recent as last summer, the park looked like it was left in such dissaray (see video) that you'd think an apocalyptic event had happened. Something that removed the patrons and workers, but left the rides to rot and merchandise to lay out in the streets. New Orleans has over a million people and no competing major parks that are relatively close. The new park should probably be placed further away from the coastline or lake, but New Orleans seems like a city where a theme park could thrive.
1 - Houston, Texas
With a population of 2.1 million people and a warm climate, I can't imagine why there isn't a major theme park in Houston. Since the city lost Six Flags AstroWorld back in 2005, theme park fans have had to trek to San Antonio or Dallas to visit a large theme park. An eco theme park, called EarthQuest Adventures has been planned for the Houston area for a few years now. According to news from last summer, the new park is slated to open in 2013 in New Caney, Texas about 25 miles north of Houston. However, I couldn't find an official opening date on the park's website.
What city would you say needs a theme park? Do you know a reason why one of these cities shouldn't get a theme park?
Photo Credit: Intamin10
Filed under: North America, Theme Parks
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Anetra Smith Apr 14th 2011 8:35AM
Nashville had one years ago named Opryland. They scrapped it for a mall. People (including me) are still angry that they killed our theme park.
Aleida Apr 14th 2011 1:01PM
I live in New Hampshire and we have a small theme park about an hour from where I live. Sure we have Six Flags New England but that's even further away. It'd be nice to have something major a little closer to home.
John Apr 14th 2011 12:41PM
You're missing a couple. The Seattle/Portland region does not have a major park. Wildwaves is too small for the region, and Silverwood is too far away (6 hours) to be considered local. I don't know of one in Miami either.
Phill Jul 13th 2011 12:49PM
This is one of my biggest gripes with the Portland/Vancouver area. The best the region has to offer is Oaks Park near the Willamette river which is the equivalent to a small county fair... from the 50s!!! Seaside - which is an hour and a half to two hour drive from downtown is like a scaled down version of Santa Cruz but without the Boardwalk. How in the heck does someplace like Coeur d'Alene, Idaho have an honest to goodness amusement park while the entire state of Oregon (and Washington) has nothing better to offer than water parks is something I'll just never understand. If you say the weather, then that's an excuse that would exclude HALF the states in the U.S. which have higher annual rainfall than Oregon does and I'll bet a good number of them have amusement parks. Come on. There's plenty of room for a Six Flags-type park within an hours drive of Portland. It woulds be a HUGE money maker.
Brent Schmidt Apr 14th 2011 12:43PM
Seattle and or Portland are the only other ones that I could think of...
Joel Bullock Apr 14th 2011 7:00PM
I thought about Seattle, but I figured the rain and the cold wouldn't really make a large park feasible, except for a few months a year. But if I listed an indoor Arizona park as an idea, then I guess an indoor park in the Northwest could work too.
Paula Martinez Apr 14th 2011 1:09PM
I was so mad when they tore down Astroworld in Houston! I spent my summers as a teen working as a lifeguard at Waterworld and would always go next door to Astroworld after work. They tore down both parks claiming the land was going to be bought by a developer for condos or whatever, but to this day it is still an empty field that they property owners now use as overflow parking for Texans games and the Rodeo - AND THEY STILL CHARGE TO PARK, which originally the people of Houston were told that once the AstoDOME was paid off the parking fees would be dropped. That out of date landmark has been paid off for years!
Fiznatty Apr 14th 2011 7:35PM
Seattle's just not the same without the Fun Forest. ;)
Kenroy Apr 14th 2011 9:58PM
Phoenix had Legend City theme park between 1963-83. Too bad that didn't survive.
There's a great tribute website if you do a search.
As far as major cities without a theme/amusement park I would say Indianapolis could use one. They had Riverside Park & Broad Ripple Park back in the day. Indiana Beach & Holiday World are quite a drive too.
Also San Diego needs a theme park without fish and with coasters. Not sure if Belmont Park qualifies since it's kinda small.
Another poster suggested Miami. Pirate World did pretty well back between 1966-75. Disney World's opening was the nail in that coffin but the area has grown tremendously since then and could probably support a nice theme park.
Danny Apr 15th 2011 1:50AM
Yeah, Houston has over 6 million people in its metro area, but has no theme park. I hope Earth Quest Adventures is built. There is suppose to be another park called American Exhibition as well. And Galveston has Schlitterbahn, Moody Gardens, and a new theme park will be built along a pier.
themeparker Apr 15th 2011 4:00PM
I am attempting to figure out why this is on the web or even a published article? It is baseless on its' face.
All these markets had major theme parks that failed and failed big time due to lack of attendance and erosion in operational performance for corporate monetary needs, meaning these markets can not support a major theme park while supporting corporate owners.
The US IS saturated. If Nashville built or Kentucky Kingdom is rebuilt, Holiday World and Dollywood would suffer. Actually Dollywood would suffer less as it has 3 million plus cars driving past it on the way to the Smokies. Holiday World is actually hoping more parks will close so it can grow.
Myrtle Beach is a great example of what happens when you open a major park assuming that the resort will carry the park. It won't. Feasibility said it, but then there was money to be taken, not made, and there you are.
Chicago could support another park, especially when the only competitor there is Six Flags (Cedar Point is starting to lose some of its' luster as the corporate vultures are circling -- I bet Dick Kinzel is sorry he invited them in). This market (Chicago) is where Disney could be a real player in its' goal to create local theme parks like California Adventure.
Let's face it, unless you have Candover, CNL, Apollo or Carlyle behind you, there is no major parks going up and all we, as Americans, will see is the same thrills moving from park to park, as in the case this year, instead of new thrills, especially in the area of coasters. So no new cap, only redistributed cap.
The Mercer model is in place...where profits trump product...a pity really, for stockholders and corporate executives... good news for now. But erosion is just around the corner as theme parks are unable to support themselves and their corporate masters need for greed, especially as the entertainment dollar of the American household shrinks.
A better question might be this...for every dollar spent at a US theme park, how much of that dollar goes to either England, Canada, or the Middle East rather than supporting the local economies or even the US economy?
Americans, where they can, should support major independent or American owned theme parks, where the money stays at home, supporting local economies and local businesses. Parks like Silverwood, Quassy, Holiday World and Hershey Park are becoming fewer and fewer each year. Makes one wonder why all of these successful independent theme parks are NOT tied into major population areas, but draw from a number of markets by providing exceptional product.
Just one opinion.
Markus May 16th 2011 6:00AM
It is sad that Seattle has never had a really great theme park. Only recently has Six Flags brought in some thrill rides to the Wildwaves park between Seattle and Tacoma. I have some good memories of the Fun Forest but it really was mediocre amusement park. It's funny that the Idaho panhandle has the best amusement park in the entire Pacific Northwest with Silverwood.
There was actually talk about 25 years ago about Disney building a theme park near Bellingham. That would have made sense because it's about half way between Seattle and Vancouver. A great theme park with plenty of indoor attractions would do great business up there because unlike dustbowls like Oklahoma, the Northwesterners have money to spend.