...Too much of a hassle and uproar if they were to close them and sell off all the rides for housing development, etc...

Not to quibble, but for who? If making more by selling it off is an option over keeping the status quo, than why not? I'm not touting it, but if you could buy this place for a (relative) song and parse it out to developers (assuming they could do so at a large profit) they will do just that. Investors and stockholders do not necessarily care how you make a killing for them. They'll turn around and invest that profit into something else and forget the place ever existed. It's possible that keeping it as a park is more trouble than its worth. In the end, its an asset or liability to someone's portfolio.

Honestly I just don't see how White Water and Frontier City can stay in business at their current locations. I would much prefer to see the parks combine and become one large complex - maybe East of I-235 along Reno. There is nothing in this area except junk car lots, an old truck stop, and a hotel. There is more than enough room for both parks, parking, and maybe even some kind of resort hotel.

I don't know where you got that article. Thats 3 month-old news. See just a few posts before yours, Bacon.



Honestly I just don't see how White Water and Frontier City can stay in business at their current locations.

There is just no basis for that argument. They have been in business in those locations for decades. Worlds of Fun in Kansas City is on the edge of town. Six Flags Fiesta Texas AND Sea World are both way on the edge of San Antonio.

If you think these parks are on the edge of bankruptcy, how on earth do you think they can afford to buy up all that land in that area you're talking about, AND move all the rides there and reconstruct them, along with all new infrastructure?

Honestly I just don't see how White Water and Frontier City can stay in business at their current locations. I would much prefer to see the parks combine and become one large complex - maybe East of I-235 along Reno. There is nothing in this area except junk car lots, an old truck stop, and a hotel. There is more than enough room for both parks, parking, and maybe even some kind of resort hotel.

Sounds awesome!!! I would LOVE to see that....too bad it wont ever happen

I think it would be a great if there would be a way to reorganize the parks into a downtown/riverfront location. It will take a lot of money though, but the investment done right could yeild huge returns. What ever the new park would be named, it would be great to mix it up a bit.

The Park, as we'll call it, would be split into seperate sections.
1) Frontier City - much like what there is now, a few wooden rights, water rides, carnival games, and of course shows.
2) Adventure Themed Park - Coasters, thrill rides, GameWorks type building, etc.
3) Centennial Park - Work in the historical aspect of Oklahoma...past, present, and future concepts of Oklahoma.
4) White Water Bay - mix of indoor water park/hotel developments, and the traditional water park along the river.

The best idea would be to build the park on both sides of the river and connect it by water taxi, sky lift like ride, and/or a smaller version of the Disney/Vegas like monorail - like what was at the State Fair. The sky life/taxi would be the least likely with our winds here, but its about getting creative.

If I get some time and boredom...I'll sketch up an idea behind this. :)

JBROWN84,

I don't think they can stay in their current locations because they don't have much room left to build new rides. Most park increase their ride options to keep people coming back. When is the last time Frontier City or White Water added a new ride?

Here is how Frontier City and White Water get the money to move. They sell their land and rides (or move them to the other parks), purchase the land identified above and start from scratch. They could start out with 12 rides and build from there. Heck, Island of Adventure in Orlando only has 12 rides and it is one of the premier parks in the world. There is a park in Valdosta, Georgia located in a corn field and it boost 59 rides including 9 coasters. Valdosta population: 53,000. And don't think it is close to Atlanta or anything - it isn't.

In the Wisconsin Dells there are more theme parks. I get so tired of the "can't do it" attitude when all over the country it is being done.

Wild Adventures - Welcome! (http://wildadventures.net)
Welcome To Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park, Wisconsin Dells (http://www.mtolympusthemepark.com/)

If the parks were to close then I do not think that they would move. I think you would need a new company to build the downtown amusement park / water park. It would not be the same company that owns WWB and FC.

However if another company were to develop and build a new amusement park near downtown / bricktown, I would think that would put an end to WWB and FC. I think the downtown along east Reno is a fantastic spot, it would also be right there along I-40 and have all of the highway access of both 35 and 40.

I don't think they can stay in their current locations because they don't have much room left to build new rides.

That's just not true with Frontier City. They can expand north onto land they already own, or across Coltrane to the west, onto land they already own. The only reason the parks have not expanded is because they were neglected in favor of the bigger parks. White Water, on the other hand, sold off the adjacent land that would have allowed for expansion, and even sold part of their parking lot. For that reason, I think it should be consolidated with Frontier City much like Worlds of Fun has the adjacent Oceans of Fun. But by your own admission, a park does not need to be in a high density area like downtown, where the land is scarce and could be put to better use. You speak of being landlocked, and that is exactly what would happen down the line if it moved downtown. The current location is at the crossroads of I-35 and the Turner Turpike, among several hotels/motels and other amenities. It already owns land for expansion, and some of the seedier trailer parks and other land could be taken over. Frontier City also already has mature trees in the park, and is in a hilly area. If the park is built up as it should have been over the last 6 or 7 years, it would be a huge attraction for OKC, Tulsa, Wichita, Little Rock, Amarillo, etc. And easily accessible for all those. In turn, more (and nicer) hotels would be built, and if it developed anything like the area around Fiesta Texas, upscale shopping would come as well.

I would rather it be located dowtown, like the park in Denver.

Maybe if they put it downtown they can have game at the front gate called the Panhandler's Gauntlet.

If you can successfully clear the line of Panhandler's without giving a dime you get $10 off admission on your next visit.

Frontier City, White Water Bay deal closes: New operator looks to improve local parks
by Jerry Shottenkirk
The Journal Record
4/10/2007

OKLAHOMA CITY – Randy Drew is excited about the prospects of putting on some fun in Oklahoma City.

Drew is president and chief executive officer of PARC Management, which will operate Frontier City and White Water Bay.

CNL Income Properties Inc. and PARC 7F Operations Corp. on Monday completed their transaction involving Frontier City, White Water Bay and five other parks that were formerly owned by Six Flags.

PARC 7F originally bought the properties from Six Flags in January and had announced that the package would be sold to CNL and then leased back by PARC Management.

PARC Management will operate the parks under what officials called “long-term, triple-net lease agreements.”

The sale was for $312 million, including $290 million cash and a note receivable for $22 million. Acquired properties include Darien Lake in Buffalo, N.Y.; Elitch Gardens in Denver; Splashtown in Houston, Texas; Waterworld in Concord, Calif.; and Wild Waves and Enchanted Village in Seattle.

Drew, who helped create Six Flags, said the company is happy to have its hands in the local recreational waters.

“We are very excited about this market,” Drew said. “We are adding an attraction to Frontier City and we are completely upgrading both parks. We will put $1.5 million into the two parks this year and we are excited about getting them updates.”

Drew said the parks will retain a different focus and that Frontier City will add an interactive dark ride.

“We very much want to be a part of the community and be much more active,” he said. “We want to help the state celebrate its 100th birthday. Our focus will be on the market here, not a national market. Our most important thing is to make both parks better.”

Drew said the deal between CNL and PARC will be solid.

“We believe our partnership with CNL Income Properties makes this a very strong and significant transaction for our overall business strategy,” he said. “CNL Income Properties is an excellent capital partner that is focused on our long-term goals for these parks.”

CNL Income Properties is an Orlando, Fla.-based real estate investment trust and has 65 properties in the U.S. and Canada. PARC was founded by Drew and Michael A. Jenkins and has been active in park management and development.

Frontier City, which opened its season March 31, includes 113 acres just north of Hefner Road and Interstate 35 in northeast Oklahoma City. White Water Bay is a 21-acre water park along Interstate 40 between Portland and Meridian.

Sounds good...Put just two high quality rides in each park and it would make them SO much better...White Water really needs a signature ride...Haven't done much to that place since I was a kid 20 years ago

Sounds like they are on the right track.

As of like a couple weeks ago, Six Flags still had FC and WWB on their website, but it now says this (http://www.sixflags.com/national/alert/FrontierCity.aspx).

They are going to put 1.5 million into the two parks. Wow, what will that get, a new sno-cone stand at each park. That probably won't even remotely clean the parks up to even decent standards.

Well most people on here go on and on about how dumpy the parks look (I disagree). This will get a fresh coat of paint and repairs and clean up for the parks.

They are going to put 1.5 million into the two parks. Wow, what will that get, a new sno-cone stand at each park. That probably won't even remotely clean the parks up to even decent standards.

Couldn't agree more SOONER8693. $1.5 million -- yawn. They spend $300 million buying the parks and Frontier City gets a $750,000 makeover. Wonder what the other parks will get.

The other parks will need complete rebranding to eliminate any reference to Six Flags.

Well most people on here go on and on about how dumpy the parks look (I disagree). This will get a fresh coat of paint and repairs and clean up for the parks.

Not saying they are dumpy, but they are a non attraction for out of state tourists...Wonder how many people come in from other states just to visit White Water or Frontier City...I would venture to say that number is very small

They need way more than a million to make them more than just metro attractions

Not saying they are dumpy, but they are a non attraction for out of state tourists...Wonder how many people come in from other states just to visit White Water or Frontier City...I would venture to say that number is very small

They need way more than a million to make them more than just metro attractions



I would like to know how many tourists come to Okc to visit these parks. Where as if the location was near downtown / bricktown, I think that would be huge for the tourists. You would have so much for everyone within a mile or two, new restaurants , new hotels , the ballpark, movie theater, etc. It could really become an entertainment district for kids and adults.

I would like to know how many tourists come to Okc to visit these parks. Where as if the location was near downtown / bricktown, I think that would be huge for the tourists. You would have so much for everyone within a mile or two, new restaurants , new hotels , the ballpark, movie theater, etc. It could really become an entertainment district for kids and adults.

Like I said above, the most popular theme parks in our region are not in downtowns, or even close.

It's too late to add major rides for this season. Just wait and see what they do over the next couple years.

I hope that WW and FC can get things going again.

Although I would love to see everything combined in or near downtown / bricktown. The fact that no other city in our region has their amusement parks downtown or even close, is more of a reason for okc to have the parks combined downtown.

Why should Okc have amusement parks like other cities in our region? Why not be different and have a bricktown / amusement park area for tourists?

I know that the chances of this ever happening are 1 in a million, but it is an idea.

I was hoping for seperate ownership on each park. For those of us who where kids 80's remember the days of the parks competing against one another.

Every summer there was a new ride and a cool promotion at each park. Admission was reasonable.
The main focus was drawing in the customers from around OKC and the surrounding area.

Yeah that's what I said, a mere 1.5 mil to split between the parks. That won't do much of anything. They need $20 million + to make some decent improvements.

Absolutely metro...W/o significant ugrades they will just continue to be places families around the metro visit on occasion...Real exciting

Why should Okc have amusement parks like other cities in our region? Why not be different and have a bricktown / amusement park area for tourists?

Because there is very little available land and IF the park was able to find land initially, they would run out eventually and be in the same problematic landlocked position that Bell's is.

If the park is updated as it should be, tourist WILL make the trip 15 minutes out to 122nd and I-35.

Tourists from around the area coming to FC and WW?? That's kind of humorous. I live in Norman, and when my friends and I are feeling like an amusement park or water park, we head south to Arlington, TX. I REALLY do not like supporting anything in the state of Texas, but it is necessary. I have never been to FC, but looking at prices and the quality of the place, I'd rather travel south. I have been to WW, and for the $, it's nothing special. FC and WW will always be a place where residents just casually go, maybe once a year take the family.... I wish they could combine the places in a central location...

I guarantee you people flock from across the state and likely the Texas panhandle as well.

No, right now the parks aren't a big tourist attraction, but with improvements they can be.

I guarantee you people flock from across the state and likely the Texas panhandle as well.

No, right now the parks aren't a big tourist attraction, but with improvements they can be.


We obviously disagree on this. I think that a fresh start in the east downtown / bricktown area would be ideal. There could be plenty of land for the parks. You talk about them needing land like they just keep on expanding year after year at their current location. I don't see them needing that much land based off of the history of both FC and WW.

My family and I do the same as Nixon, we drive south to Arlington when we have the need for amusement park fun. The Arlington area has everything, that bricktown east could have. Nice new hotels, good restaurants, baseball, movie theater, Ford Center events, fun for everyone, kids and adults. This could all be just a trolley ride up and down Reno Ave. Imagine the electricity and excitement that downtown would generate then.

We obviously disagree on this. I think that a fresh start in the east downtown / bricktown area would be ideal. There could be plenty of land for the parks. You talk about them needing land like they just keep on expanding year after year at their current location. I don't see them needing that much land based off of the history of both FC and WW.

That's the point. They need to change that history and actually expand the park. People will not go to dinky little parks anymore downtown than they would in the suburbs.

Having it downtown would be nice, but it's just not practical or cost effective.

I don't see Okc ever having a park that would compete with Six Flags DFW, this is why you combine the parks into a downtown area. Everything would be new and that would be a draw all on itself for the first few years. Then the fact that you have bricktown even more of a draw, add in a few casinos down further east, more draw, maybe an aquairium more draw, ect. ect...

My family and I made a trip to downtown Denver a few years back with no intent on going to an amusement park. I was going for baseball game and shopping, just a mini vacation, but I also made a stop at Elitch Gardens, the downtown amusement park with the adjacent water park. I didn't think that the park was the greatest, but add it all together with a baseball game, shopping, the ESPN zone. My family and I had an awesome time and we have since been back more than once.

I do know that Elitch Gardens is one of the properties that is now owned by PARC, and they will be making changes there as well. I hope that they can duplicate FC and WW into what they have in Denver, a downtown amusement park area. I believe that Elitch Gardens was moved into downtown in the mid nineties although I do not know the reason for the move.

This video will make you question why Frontier City hasn't added any new rides.

YouTube - Backyard Roller Coaster POV (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqOgTHlfri8)

If this Oklahoma man can have his own roller coaster in his backyard, why can't FC add just one ride? Let's hope the new ownership will turn things around.

Elitch's moved to downtown Denver because they ran out of land where they originally were. And at that time, downtown was in the dumps but there were HUGE projects being built - Coors Field, a remodelled/rebuilt Mile High stadium, and Pepsi Center. In addition, Lower Downtown LoDo was taking off - so to seal the deal - they wanted to develop that parcel of industrial land near downtown Denver - either housing or .... Elitch's Gardens. They combined the water park and amusement rides, and voila! Six Flags came in to market it and there you go.

I think OKC should do the same thing, but NOT in Bricktown. Lets put the park somehwere else. We cant have EVERYTHING in Bricktown. I say, lets put the new Frontier City/WhiteWater Theme Park along the OK river SW of downtown. That is the PERFECT LOCATION and would significantly pick-up that area.

Besides, Frontier City would be a great park if you JUST added the water rides from White Water ALONE! Add in several more theme rides and a few roller coasters - then Frontier City wouldn't be that far off from Elitch's Gardens. Move it near downtown, and the park could enjoy the same success.

Perhaps we should write the city so they can start to promote our idea - but like I said, the combined/expanded park should be SW of downtown along the OK river NOT IN BRICKTOWN!!!

However, I do think downtown should have a lone ferris wheel - similar to most cities in Japan - they have a ferris wheel in their downtown. This would be separate from an expanded frontier city but I think it is an addition to downtown proper that would work. I say, the ferris wheel should be added to the Ford Center or a new shopping arcade in S. Downtown.

But Frontier City, once again, should be SW along the river.

okclee, there's a contradiction in your argument supporting a park in downtown OKC. Presumably, a Bricktown-oriented park would grab locals and those hitting the I-40 corridor - and that implies a big park. But that last comment is prefaced by saying "I don't see OKC ever having a park that woud compete with Six Flags DFW."

If such a park is successful, why on earth would you have to supplant it with MORE of those forsaken casinos like those that litter the roadsides along I-35? Those are pathetic eyesores, and from what I understand about "gaming," don't attract what are considered the "quality" gamers (whatever that means).

The bottom line is that downtown is the *wrong* spot for an amusement park. Even if it were, I think we as a city have to be very careful about our current preoccupation with everything downtown necessarily having to be successful - or, conversely, anything successful having to be downtown.

Jbrown hit the nail on the head; an amusement park implies land, and lots of it, because its the fuel that makes the parks perpetually successful until they become so engrained in a region that they, to an extent, become self-sustaining. Bricktown is an evening-oriented entertainment district, and I frankly can't think of an area in the broader downtown region that would even make sense for such a park.

I long back for the early 80's when a hot rumor was that Disney was planning to build a mid-America DisneyWorld in southern Oklahoma, which for whatever reason obviously never happened....but I digress.

I think Frontier and WW have dodgy futures ahead of them. WW is in a lousy location in an increasingly business/industrial area, and FC needs more work than $1.5 M could possibly accomplish. But I suppose you must start somewhere, so you have to give them the benefit of the doubt for now. As others have mentioned, neither park is a destination for anyone crossing through town, and I've seen nothing new about either park that will compel me to visit either place in lieu of my family's annual trip to SFOT...

-soonerdave

Thanks, SoonerDave, for backing me up on this. We do seem to have a preoccupation with putting everything downtown as evidence in all the bemoaning of the location of the new History Center.

Yes, Elitch Gardens did help revive downtown Denver by moving, but as Hot Rod said, they were out of land where they were. Now they face the same problem as there is little land left for expansion.

The best option for Frontier City/WWB is for the parks to be combined at the FC location, along with major upgrades and new thrill rides. On top of all the extra land the park already owns, there is an abundance of undeveloped or dilapidated property on its borders.

There just isn't a place downtown where there is enough land to build a good park, all the parking that would be needed, and allow room for expansion. As valuable as the Frontier City and White Water properties may be, there is no way they would cover the cost of even the land purchase for a relocation to the downtown area.

Frontier City wanted to expand about 15 years ago to the land they own west of the park but they were prevented by the homeowners in the area. They wanted to put parking on that side of the road and expand the rides into the current parking lot. When the local homeowners found out they raised hell and the plan was killed. That is why this land is still vacant.

There is plenty of available land near downtown. The land is north of Reno, east of I-235 and west of MLK. It is now home to a junk yard, container storage facility and a gravel query. There is also a large parcel owned by the Union Pacific Railroad and appears to be used for equipment storage. There appears to be over 200 acres in this area. Judging from the property appraiser web site current market value is less than $2.5 million.

By compariosn - the current Frontier City sits on 38.2 acres with a market value of around $700,000. This doesn't include a few smaller undeveloped parcels owned by Frontier City around the park. White Water sits on 21 acres with a value of $1.1million.

Selling the land would raise almost enough to buy the downtown land but would give 4 times as much room. They could build a larger park and develop a resort hotel on-site. Plus, they have access to 3 interstates (I-40, I-35, I-235), two major interchanges, and has the rail road running next to the property along the proposed commuter rail line. Like I said - they could start with 12 rides and build from there. If I knew anything about running an amusement park and had the financial backing I would try it.

DOWNTOWN ON THE RIVER!!!! There is plenty of land. Both locations suck now. By the same time I can be at FC, I could also be in the Arbuckles headed for Arlington, where I will continue to go.

I echo Nixon, they really should combine the parks and move it near downtown on the Oklahoma River. There's plenty of land and there is the question of how to fully develop the river.

I would think the combined park at a location just SW of downtown OKC would be EXTREMELY lucrative for both the park and downtown, there's plenty of land, access is great with 4 major interstate routes nearby and AMTRAK + commuter rail, and it provides a new destination for downtown that - even if they just combined WW and FC rides/attractions of today - would be a great park just smaller than Elitch's Gardens in Denver. Add in several theme rides and coasters - then it would be on par.

Perhaps I should write the city about this.

I have stated both "downtown and bricktown", either area to me would be ideal. I would not be picky with the location as long as it would be a combined park of FC and WW. I do agree that finding enough land somewhere in this vicinity could be a problem, but not an impossibility. I do like the idea of an amusement park being located SW of downtown along the river, as stated by HotRod.


Soonerdave..........I should have said that "I don't see OKC ever having a park that woud compete with Six Flags DFW" at the current location.

Also as far as casinos go that should be for another discussion, although I did bring it up. I don't really gamble or frequent casinos so I really don't know enough on the subject (not a moral decision for me, it's I don't like to lose money). We wouldn't need casinos to draw people to an amusement park that is primarily for families. I just threw that out there as the idea of a downtown casino has been mentioned in previous areas of Okctalk, much like other downtown attractions.

You say that "we as a city have to be very careful about our current preoccupation with everything downtown necessarily having to be successful".

I agree that not everything needs to be located in a downtown area, but Okc is far from that. In my opinion Okc first looks outside the core of downtown (i.e. Memorial road, Edmond, Moore, Yukon), we have a downtown that is only in it's infancy.

well put OKCLee,

you're right, downtown is still very young and could use another 10 years or so worth of attractions and improvements. downtown is supposed to be the dense entertainment draw and while downtown is pretty dense and getting better - we are no where near the level of peer cities in the Tier II level with regard to having a vibrant downtown.

This is why many on this forum often speak of downtown as the location for anything FIRST location that's coming to OKC, especially top attractions. That is what the world looks at when they rate a city or determine where they might visit - the vibrancy of the inner city. The suburbs could have this and that - every city's suburbs do. But it is downtown where the vibrance and action should be;

and OKC has a while now to go before we start screaming for investment to be shared with the suburbs again.

Imagine the current downtown, with all it has to offer, plus

1) relocated Supersonics of the NBA and Storm of the WNBA
2) the largest IMAX theatre in the state (and/or region)
3) relocated and combined Frontier City/WhiteWater Theme Park (to the immediate SW on the OK river)
4) 3500+ hotel rooms of varying sizes and price ranges
5) 5000+ permanent residences in the downtown districts, with 10,000 more in surrounding districts; giving a central city population of 22,000 residents
6) retail beyond the current in the downtown districts, including the state's ONLY Nordstrom and/or Neiman Marcus anchoring a new revamped downtown retail quarter
7) the rise of downtown other than Bricktown
a) Automobile Alley becomes the HIP urban enclave for the city, drawing locals and tourists for the best OKC has to offer in entertainment, including some live yet local theatre, chic restaurants and bars, top danceclubs, and upscale retailiers
b) A mature arts district that includes several new theatres and museums and galleries
c) A flatiron district anchor'd by the Oklahoma City Town Center and Triangle neighbourhoods - complete with live/work residential, specialty retail, and local entertainment draws
d) A mature deep duece neighbourhood that has classy venues and residential of the mid/high-rise nature instead of the same-old OKC spread-out apartment complex
e) The emergence of the new Downtown South district of downtown
f) The emergence of the new West Downtown district, another hip urban neighbourhood to compliment Automobile Alley but from an Adult prospective with numerous nightclubs, restaurants, and bars
g) an expanded CBD to include the Convention Center and Ford Center and a bit further south and west (there's no reason to call the Convention Center and Ford Center - the Arts district. there's nothing art about them but they are KEY to business and entertainment which is what a CBD really is).
h) A bricktown much more mature than what we have that contains top urban architecture in low and mid-rise fashion with all buildings having brick facade

I think when downtown Oklahoma City gets to this level ^, we can start talking about sharing the wealth with the suburbs again. Until then, we wont even be at par with many Tier II cities like Denver and New Orleans (downtown wise) and it would continue to be tough for Oklahoma City to justify pulling events away from the likes of KC, Dallas, and STL much less keep what it has from Tulsa, Omaha, and Little Rock.

What am I saying? We need to start thinking big for our downtown. Drop the suburbs for a while - OKC has some of the most convenient suburbs with lots of attractions already, we need to focus on downtown for the next 10 years or so.

Once downtown has attractions like I mention, OKC wouldn't have to worry about what WA Senator Margarita Prentice would say negatively about the city - because she wouldn't have anything negative to say, would she?

Count me in for the river. There is hundreds of acres of land on the south side of the river. I'm with Kerry...if I had the money I would do it in a heartbeat. Something like this:


I have solved Oklahoma City's theme park problem. Here's what developers should do. Grab that junk land that is just south of the Oklahoma River and just west of I-35. There has to be at least 200 acres out there. Clear out the brush and oil tanks. Add a lake to the banks of the river and build a decent theme park called Delmar Gardens at Spring Lake. Then, when Frontier City finally puts itself out of its misery and takes the poor management with it, we can just simply incorporate a theme section of the park called Frontier City. It would be one of four theme sections of Delmar Gardens. The Frontier City section, which would be no rides and just shows with a "wild west" middle of Main Street gun fight acts; Wedgewood Village, a tribute to a past Oklahoma City theme park next to Lake Hefner (this is where all of the super steel roller coasters would be); Belle Isle Park, a section themed for carnival rides and state fair-like atmospheres; and then finally, White Water Bay, next to 'Spring Lake', the mini-lake built off of the Oklahoma River.

okcpulse's ideas sound fantastic!

okcpulse's ideas sound fantastic!


If I had a few extra million lying around the house I would give it to okcpulse for his idea.

I did a drive around today and went east on Reno, that is the perfect spot for the okcpulse amusement park.

The new White Water would have to be an indoor park. Year around water slide would be great.

Dismantling the existing rides at Frontier City and WhiteWaterBay would be costly. I don't see the problem with operating them at their current locations and simply improving the parks.

Water park, Frontier City significantly renovated

By Paul Monies
Business Writer

A fresh lick of paint, long-overdue repairs and the first new ride in four years will greet customers this summer at Frontier City, the theme park's new operators said Wednesday.
The Wild West robbery-theme Quick Draw ride should be in place by early June, said Randal Drew, president and chief executive of PARC Management LLC. It will join a new magic show and a musical celebrating the state's centennial as part of the company's effort to attract local visitors back to the theme park.

"The quality of the experience will be significantly better, and the entertainment value will be significantly enhanced,” Drew said.

Quick Draw will take visitors on an interactive ride through several scenes from a Wild West robbery — a theme aligned with the amusement park's Western heritage. Visitors will shoot at targets along the way, allowing them to compete against friends and family members. The attraction recently won best new product honors from the industry's trade group, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.

Florida-based PARC Management bought Frontier City, White Water Bay and five other parks from Six Flags Inc. earlier this month for $312 million. PARC then sold to a real estate investment trust called CNL Income Properties Inc., but PARC will operate the parks through a long-term lease.

Drew said the company's Oklahoma City parks suffered from a lack of investment as Six Flags concentrated on its larger parks in bigger cities. Since taking over, PARC has invested in paint, repairs, air conditioning and other long-overdue improvements to the parks' infrastructure, he said.

"We are very concentrated on the community here,” Drew said. "We've put more capital into the parks this year, and we'll continue to put capital into the parks. You will see huge differences at Frontier City and White Water Bay.”

The company also is committed to giving its local managers more autonomy, he said.

"We have a bottom-up leadership style,” Drew said. "We believe in being active stewards, directed by local managers who go to work, attend church and send their kids to school in the community.”

Michael Lusky, vice president and general manager of Frontier City and White Water Bay, said he's excited about the season at both parks. Frontier City's summer concert series will feature classic rock acts such as Three Dog Night and Joan Jett, as well as country and Christian artists.

Frontier City's new magic show will feature illusionist David Thomas, who made a cameo appearance during a preview of the live shows at the park Wednesday. Meanwhile, "Oklahoma Rising” will be a musical tribute to the state's summer centennial celebrations.

"We're hoping to make an enhanced connection with guests in everything from pricing to park merchandise,” Lusky said.

The company has not raised ticket or parking prices at either park. Meanwhile, White Water Bay has received extensive renovations, Lusky said. Both parks will feature new food menus, including value meals and no transfat ingredients.

Drew said he hopes area residents of all ages will return to the parks to see the changes. Season passes are $59.99 for both parks, not including parking.

"I'm asking them to give us a try,” Drew said. "Come back to the parks where they created memories and make some more.”

Frontier City began weekend operations March 31, and will begin daily operations June 2. White Water Bay begins its season May 19, with daily operations beginning June 1.
http://static.newsok.biz/article/3045533/biz-a26froncity_04-26-2007_KK34V5K.jpg
Randy Drew, president and chief executive of PARC Management, stands Wednesday at the Wildcat games with the entrance to the Wildcat roller coaster in the background at Frontier City. by Paul B. Southerland, THE OKLAHOMAN

LMAO............did anyone see this new ride "Quick Draw" on the news KOCO 5 last night ???

This new ride is a big freakin joke.

LMAO............did anyone see this new ride "Quick Draw" on the news KOCO 5 last night ???

This new ride is a big freakin joke.

Didn't see it but it sounds AWFUL....Frontier city and WW need a lot more than new paint, menus and a magic show...Still way early, but I hope they step it up in the next few years

If anyone remembers one of the first Nintendo games called Duck Hunt, that game is this ride.

This ride consisted of a very slow moving ride-car going through dark tunnells, the people on the ride each had these plastic bright orange guns that looked like left over nintendo game guns. Then these corny yosemite Sam looking cowpokes would pop out and they would shoot them.

This video looked like a ride from back in the kiddie area of a sixties amusement park. There are better rides at those carnivals that pop up in grocery store parking lots.

ANY investment is a step in the right direction.

ANY investment is a step in the right direction.

You mean except for the ride okclee is describing right jbrown? :kicking:

That one sounds like a better fit at Celebration Station

Hopefully this is the weakest addition to Frontier City and not the norm

Baby steps.

ANY investment is a step in the right direction.

Exactly what I was thinking. Fixing what's already there is a good first step. At least they're not tearing down the theme parks. I wish new management the best....they can't do any worse than Six Flags did.

Quick Draw will take visitors on an interactive ride through several scenes from a Wild West robbery — a theme aligned with the amusement park's Western heritage. Visitors will shoot at targets along the way, allowing them to compete against friends and family members. The attraction recently won best new product honors from the industry's trade group, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.

It sounds bad, but with the honor above, somebody had to like it.

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The only way to attract and retain a world class theme park is to tear it down and build a new $500 million one...That is the only way OKC will be able to...

Wait a minute...Wrong thread :tiphat:

Sounds like 1960's OCURA thinking to me.

I didn't see the ride, but that type of ride has become quite popular. We're roller coaster junkies, but we love these rides - they're competetive and somehow engrossing. Plus, they tend to move people through quickly so lines aren't really a problem. The Buzz Lightyear ride at Disneyworld is fantastic fun - the carts spin as you try to shoot targets, and each rider can see his or her score. We also rode a Scooby-Doo version somewhere - San Antonio, perhaps?

I cringe at the "Duck Hunt" description, however. Here's to hoping it turns out better than it looked on the news!

I think the point we're all missing here is that improvements are being made to our parks, something Six Flags hadn't done in years.

Frontier City, as is, used to be a pretty nice park when it was maintained well. I think if we can fix the existing problems left behind by Six Flags, and build on that, we'll be back to square one. From that, we can start improving the parks.

Right on, Patrick.

Hey, at least we're not mourning the demolition of Frontier City in favor of upscale housing on the site, which could've been a real possiblity, since it is east Edmond.

We could be like Houston.....their theme park was closed, and now they don't have one.

I think for some reason a lot of people on this board would celebrate that, Patrick.

I guess they were never in middle school and unable to drive 4 hours to Arlington every time they wanted to ride some roller coasters.