A long-proposed theme park near the Route 66 town of Williams, Ariz., took a step forward last week when the park’s financial backers were revealed to the Coconino County Board, reported the Williams-Grand Canyon News.
Grand Canyon Northland Amusements and Entertainment announced it had received financial backing from Republic Urban Properties L.L.C.
The group is currently poised to purchase roughly 300 acres of land near the Garland Prairie exit of Interstate 40, as well as land near the Williams airport and 20 acres of land near Cataract Lake, the latter of which Buitenhuis explained may be used for lodging. He said GCNAE representatives were also exploring the possibility of purchasing more land near their Garland Prairie location that could be used for support buildings related to the park.
“We have land at each exit, starting with Cataract Lake at the west and Garland Prairie at the east,” Buitenhuis said. The group is also looking at over 300 acres of property in the Phoenix area.
Officials with GCNAE are expecting a total capital investment of $174,297,000, as detailed in a five-year pro forma report handed to supervisors during the meeting, for the Williams Park alone. Estimated total revenue after five years, they projected, would be $511,971,070, with bond revenue totaling $46,077,396. Total capital investments for both parks would cost $374,006,000, according to the report.
According to my archives, this is what the amusement park was slated to have:
The proposed park is slated to have a combination of attractions featuring Route 66 themes, a Fab ’50s town, a Western town, a Navajo Learning Center and Asian Gardens.
Given the huge scale of the proposal, locals were understandably skeptical whether the project would become reality. It was initially proposed in 2005 as a $3 billion project. Then it became $750 million. Now it appears the park’s size has been whittled further.
With this new development, maybe the amusement park will happen after all. But here’s a hint to the organizers: It would inspire more public confidence if you actually had content on your Web site.
We can only hope this works out.We bought lots in Valle yrs. ago an havn’t done anything with them,this might kick start development.
Me too. I purchased many lots in Valle. I too was hoping for atleast some progess. Meeting like this, make the developement seem more probable. But, the fact that GCNAE doesn’t have a web site makes me think that it was all a hoax. Arizona needs a jump start. Ever since the government started regulating non-documented immigrants, businesses and the prices of houses started falling like leaves in October.
Much like Mr. Dugum, I am a bit skeptical. I could only hope for some progress… at least a little. I won’t feel better until I see actual tangible progression.