Six Flags leaving OKC, parks for sale

[writerranger]

I would like to see the people from Tierco (which turned into Premier) and brought back Frontier City from the abyss in the early-mid 1980s somehow buy these parks, or put together a group of investors. None of the principals of that turnaround are still affiliated with Six Flags and are both, I think, still in Oklahoma City. I cannot remember their names but they did a super job of turning Frontier City into a real theme park. Maybe they could do it all again?

[BricktownGuy]

This in a sense could be great news. is it just me or is FC an eyesore? maybe its just me.

[Kerry]

Based on the news articals posted by Patrick and Shapiro's comments about the "need" to be near Madison Ave, I think we all know the future of 6 Flags - one giant commercial. Jay is right on.

Mixing entertainment and advertising in a theme park isn't new though. Disney does it with GM at Epcot and there is more than enough PS2s to go around in the "Land of Tomorrow". However, while Disney gets the Test Track attration paid for it didn't work out so well for GM.

To Soonerguru - yes I have been to NYC and I know Time Warner is there. I wasn't comparing OKC to NYC. My only point is that I think moving to NYC is a bad business decision and is based on a marketing strategy probably concieved on Madison Ave to bring companies back to NYC to help fill up space vacated by Sept 11. Every economic factor that forced companies out of NYC is still there.

[BricktownGuy]

http://www.okcpulse.com/cover_stories.htm
Under Attractions and Hotels it states:

"A major entertainment firm is showing interest in buying Frontier City, after Six Flags threw in the towel on Oklahoma's largest theme park."

Does anyone know who this "major entertainment firm" is???

[Patrick]

Hmmmm. I don't know for sure, but think Dixie Stampede.

[Nuclear_2525]

DISNEY?!?!



JUSTTTT kidding

[venture]

I would say...and pray to God and hope...its Cedar Fair.

[John]

Hmmmm. I don't know for sure, but think Dixie Stampede.

Dolly is always getting new rides at her park.

I wouldn't mind being home to Dollywood: Frontier Family Adventure.

Although Cedar Fair would be a bigger name in the amusement industry.

[venture]

Some of this is dated...but it shows where interest has been before, and would likely still be:

http://www.kfor.com/Global/story.asp?S=3994948&nav=6uy6

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...1/ai_n10160451

Cedar Fair essentially has already seen the financials of Six Flags...and OKC fits their market perfectly. They will definitely need to do a lot of investing in the parks here, and I would expect a consolidation of locations. They are also believers in the indoor water park model that has taken over in the Great Lakes. This would be a great addition to lower bricktown, as I've stated before.

A growing market, over 1.1 million people, and existing land with a good deal of land available...Cedar Fair should be ready to pounce. If they do step up...we are going to be in for a very exciting time.

[Patrick]

Like I said, continue to think Dixie Stampede.

[Nuclear_2525]

is that a hint? If you know something, QUIT KEEPING IT FROM US!!!

[OklaCity_75]

I would not be suprised if White Water's existing location sees a demolition crew in its future.

My money is on the time frame of October maybe November.

The park needs renovation and expansion to be profitable again.

I think a better location for White Water would be along the Kilpatrick between I-40 and the Macarthur exit. You have plenty of open farm land that is ripe for the picking.

I see a automotive or heavy truck dealership in the current White Water site's future. Maybe even the possibilty of a service road to run from Portland to Macarthur.

Frontier City can be salvaged with a redesign and a face lift.

If had the money to do so I would buy Frontier City shut it down for a year and clear the whole park and start again from scratch.

The parking lot would be placed on the backside of the park with two service roads that came off both 122nd and Hefner Road.

I would make the park high traffic friendly with twice as many rides as there are now.

I would hold season pass nights twice a month that would include concerts for season pass holders only.

In the end more people would buy season passes and so the price of admission would go down.

[okcpulse]

I personally would rather see White Water Bay be relocated next to Frontier City. Two theme parks in one place can being in a lot of tourist traffic, and can hopefully bring back the immediate area around Frontier City, which is run down and ragged.

[OklaCity_75]

I personally would rather see White Water Bay be relocated next to Frontier City. Two theme parks in one place can being in a lot of tourist traffic, and can hopefully bring back the immediate area around Frontier City, which is run down and ragged.

I think the two parks did better when they were competitors. Back when they were two separate entities almost every summer both parks had a new attraction.

On a side note, I do not see how White Water can survive much longer in OKC. Almost every metro city has revamped their city pool(s).

Mustang, Oklahoma City, Midwest City, Del City, Edmond, and Norman all have revamped or built pools that feature a modern water park layout. A majority of them have waterslides installed on them. I want to say I have even seen a private neighborhood pool up off NW 164th that has waterslides.

To get to my point... the city pools have become competition for White Water. As time goes on more cities will be upgrading or adding pools that have a water park layout. Why would you go to White Water when you can go to the city pool three or four days in a row for the price of one afternoon at White Water?

In regards to Frontier City... the city and county should look at cleaning up that area. The first place to start is to teardown that old Red Carpet Inn nextdoor to the park.

As it stands right now, I think the park will probably be picked a part at auction and the land will be sold separately. Six Flags is still in some serious debt so I could see them selling off the park piece by piece if they had no buyers meeting their price.

[okcpulse]

Why would you go to White Water when you can go to the city pool three or four days in a row for the price of one afternoon at White Water?

You have a good point. However, I go to White Water Bay for the major water rides. City pools wouldn't install a ride like the Bermuda Triangle that reaches 75 feet in height. A few 'gee-whiz' slides do not do it for me.

[diesel]

I think they need to put a Thunder Valley Raceway type place where whitewater is.. Would be great exposure from the interstate to all the street racing kiddies... Would keep them off the streets and endangering your slow driving..

[Survey]

Sounds to me like Dollywood might be taking over Frontier City.

[SoonerDave]

I've *never* understood the fascination with Frontier City. I've been there exactly twice, and it's struck me as nothing more than an absolute dump both times. An unremitting dump, at that - and a not-cheap one, either.

Front-gate admission to FC is $33, where it's $45 for SFOT. Granted, there are discounts and promotions, but at the most basic comparison, SFOT is only about 1/3 more than FC, and SFOT is *at least* ten times the park FC is...like comparing apples to alligators.

I realize not everyone wants the hassle of a three-hour drive to Arlington, but it would seem that most people plan a day at an amusement park in advance moreso than an ad-hoc thing, which means you set aside both time and money to do it. I can't imagine thinking FC would be a better destination than SFOT.

Yes, gas prices figure into it, but even my big, trusty Buick will get me 30mpg between here and SFOT, which means about 12 gallons of gas round-trip: worst case, that's about $36 for fuel. Given a choice between a $33 day at FC or a $45 day at SFOT, I'll gladly spend the extra $$ and head to Arlington.

White Water has always struck me as a bit of a disgusting little place where all sorts of kid-and-teenager-hosted-vermin meet, marry, and mulitply. I guess I'm jaundiced by the fact that an acquaintance once worked there as a lifeguard, and was glad to tell me how they had to shut down the place for two days once (costing him two days' pay) to sterilize the filtration equipment from *head lice* infestations. Apparently the health department got involved, and it was *really* ugly and *never* made the newspapers or other media.

I guess I'm naive, and also suppose that goes on at every kind of public pool place to some degree, but geez, that kinda reality pretty much soured me on the place. Yuck. At least the city pool park that's 5 mins from my house is seemingly kept *extremely* well maintained....can't fathom EVER going to WW voluntarily. Bleeecccchchhh...

-SoonerDave

[okcpulse]

I can certainly echo your sentiments, SoonerDave. Trust me. I haven't been to Frontier City since 2002. My reason for deciding not to return? Half the rides were closed. And it doesn't stop there. The management that ran the park was extremely poor. They nickel-and-dimed the park to death. A roller coaster was purchased from Six Flags Astroworls in 1998 (before Premier Parks bought Six Flags), but the coaster was never erected at Frontier City. They decided to squeeze very square inch out of the forty acres they possibly could by erecting verticle rides, one of which is inside the premises of the Wild Cat roller coaster.

You see, in 1990-1996, Frontier City was making a real comeback. Two roller coasters were added, as well as a dozen other better quality rides. The park was re-organized in 1999, but that was only to address the park's aesthetics and safety.

But then once Six Flags was purchased, the company REALLY ran Frontier City into the ground. Heavy investments went into Six Flags over Texas, Six Flags in Georgia and Six Flags in New Jersey. In the meantime, Six Flags let the rides at Frontier City go, and management lacked vision whatsoever. Very reliable sources informed me during a conversation about Frontier City and White Water Bay that Six Flags had been diverting revenue from Frontier City and White Water Bay, as well as Elitch Gardens in Denver, to pay for expansions at the major parks.

The Titan roller coaster at Six Flags over Texas carried a hefty price tag.... just shy of $60 million. Remember, the cheapest steel coaster today is around $4 million, and that equals the size of the Silver Bullet. And New Jersey's Six Flags boasts the world's tallest roller coaster- a 400 ft. peak at the starting point. That coaster is larger than the Titan.

My point is, SoonerDave, when Six Flags was here, we got the serious shaft, and it is going to hurt for a while. Six Flags can give us this sing and dance about how Oklahoma City is too close to Dallas to compete, but I don't buy that bullcrap. We've been a self sustaining, under-rated market for over a decade.

It is my only hope that the next owner will salvage Frontier City, and turn it into something the entire state of Oklahoma can be proud of.

[writerranger]

You see, in 1990-1996, Frontier City was making a real comeback. Two roller coasters were added, as well as a dozen other better quality rides. The park was re-organized in 1999, but that was only to address the park's aesthetics and safety. But then once Six Flags was purchased, the company REALLY ran Frontier City into the ground.

You couldn't be more right. Late '80s - Mid '90s Frontier City really was a very classy little park.

[OklaCity_75]

I had a season pass during that time. The promotions for season pass holders were awesome.

They gave you a sports bottle and a discount food card that made going to the park very affordable.

Not to mention they had season pass nights that reserved the park strictly for season pass holders.

I know one summer I was out there almost every weekend. KJ103 was almost always having a concert or party out there. It was definitely a fun place for teenagers back then.

Wow its hard to believe my teen years were well over ten years ago.

[venture]

Well Cedar Fair did buy someone...

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs...ESS07/60522011

Snips... >>The northwest Ohio firm, under the transaction, will pick up Canada’s Wonderland, near Toronto; Kings Island, near Cincinnati; Kings Dominion near Richmond, Va.; Carowinds, near Charlotte, N.C.; and Great America located in Santa Clara, Calif.<<

[jbrown84]

I fervently disagree that Frontier City is an eyesore. The area to the north of it, however, is, with the abandoned Red Carpet Inn and all the trailer parks. I don't think the park should be completely gutted, but I do think it's a good idea to move the parking lot and expand northward, getting rid of that condemned motel and unused lots. The buildings and rides can use paint jobs, but are in good shape overall, and it would be a shame to rip down the mature trees that are throughout the park.

I'm excited to hear what company this is that is interested.