Bricktown Mini Golf

[Pete]

A local developer is set to present plans for a 18-hole miniature golf course on a key property along the Bricktown canal.

Chris Johnson owns the largest piece of undeveloped land on the canal and on January 14th will present to the Bricktown Design Review Committee.

Johnson is currently under construction on Brickopolis directly to the east of this site, which will feature a restaurant, laser tag and other games. That project required several revisions before finally receiving the approval of the same committee.

Almost certainly this would be a temporary use of the property, as Johnson had been working towards a hotel development on that parcel.

[Urbanized]

It's a good temporary use of the site until he secures permanent development. Nice space activation and ties in well with Brickopolis. He has been working on this for quite some time.

[jccouger]

I like it. I really wish that starflyer development would have made it through, would've really given this part of Bricktown an identity.

I kind of hope they do some kind of "western" theme for the mini golf. Shoot, I kind of hope the laser tag is western themed too. That would make it really unique.

[Eddie1]

Yeah, I like it too. Family oriented and will be a good use of the space until something permanent develops.

[David]

Ehh, at least it will fill the empty sloping field.

[Pete]

The bad news is they are clearly not very close to a permanent development on this site, and it also allows them to generate revenue which is a further incentive to not develop.

[stlokc]

I don't like this at all.

It seems so flimsy for arguably the most prime corner in Bricktown. It seems so...small town.

I guess they are having trouble developing it but I would almost rather see it stay vacant or - if we must - throw some benches or something on there in the meantime. This just looks bad for what should be a prime urban area. It looks like "this is the best we can do here."

[BDP]

I like the idea, but not really the location. I'd hoped for better on this lot as well. However, I think it would be a great addition to span the canal in lower bricktown. It would certainly create a buffer between the canal and the parking lots.

[GoOKC1991]

I love mini golf! Ever since the place in Edmond (now the Garage) closed, the only option is Celebration Station

[bchris02]

I don't like this at all.

It seems so flimsy for arguably the most prime corner in Bricktown. It seems so...small town.

I guess they are having trouble developing it but I would almost rather see it stay vacant or - if we must - throw some benches or something on there in the meantime. This just looks bad for what should be a prime urban area. It looks like "this is the best we can do here."

This is exactly what I thought. I really think mini-golf would be a good fit for Bricktown but not there. I guess it's better than a grass lot but this is very underwhelming. I am guess the hotel deal fell apart or is on hold indefinitely? It seems like a "this is the best we can do here" move and that's a real shame.

I was really hoping for a hotel there. Given the fact that the canal is supposed to be the focal point of Bricktown, It's a shame there is not a single hotel that interacts with it.

[Just the facts]

That 'prime' corner has been empty for 20 years. I like the idea. It takes up some land and will bring more pedestrians to the area. You dome that thing in and make it a year around attraction and who knows what could be possible.

Adventuredome Theme Park

[CuatrodeMayo]

That's what perplexes me about this spot. If this is such a prime corner and development is moving at a healthy pace in OKC, why is this lot STILL empty?

[bchris02]

That's what perplexes me about this spot. If this is such a prime corner and development is moving at a healthy pace in OKC, why is this lot STILL empty?

I've heard it said that the canal isn't as prime as one would think because pedestrians aren't required to traverse it. For a business owner it's much more preferable to be fronting Main, Reno, or Sheridan than it is the canal. There was a very high-quality, ambitious development that was proposed for there prior to 2008 but like so much it got canned due to the recession.

[OKCisOK4me]

If it were a 2 storied indoor mini golf course...now that would be BOSS!

[Spartan]

It's a good temporary use of the site until he secures permanent development. Nice space activation and ties in well with Brickopolis. He has been working on this for quite some time.

He should work on an actual development some.

[kevinpate]

Bring back the painted Bisons!


I keed ... sorta

[Urbanized]

He should work on an actual development some.

He's actually been trying. That said, he is not a professional developer, and my personal feeling is that various hotels have used this space as an alternate to force other properties to sharpen their pencils. Sortof the way the NHL used OKC's hockey bid to force Columbus and Nashville to up their bids. In that same vein, OKC waited a bit longer but ended up in a better league in the end. My hope is that this is what happens here.

In the meantime, if activates this corner that has been empty for 15 years. It puts people on the canal, and it can easily be ripped out when the right deal comes along (which WILL happen). It's the canal's equivalent of Bleu Garten, the Holiday Pop-Ups, or OKSea.

[Urbanized]

That's what perplexes me about this spot. If this is such a prime corner and development is moving at a healthy pace in OKC, why is this lot STILL empty?

Two reasons:

1. The lot was bought by a series of flippers and dreamers, all of whom paid too much at the time (though the market has now caught up to the price)
   
   and
   
   
2. Access to the corner has been poor owing to different ownership of the easternmost 15' (fronting the canal) and the lot on which Brickopolis is now being built. it was landlocked, with one-way alley access only, making it very tricky. Now however, it is owned by the same person, and Brickopolis has been configured to allow vehicular access to this corner directly through Brickopolis, from Mickey Mantle. THIS will be what unlocks development opportunity.

[Bellaboo]

I also thought that the empty corner lot had fire truck access limitation issues do to the one lane alley ?

[Urbanized]

Not the case. The alley bridge was originally designed to be a decorative suspension bridge, but value engineered to its current state. The pillar in the middle of the canal was added to allow fire trucks, garbage trucks, etc., since the suspension elements were removed. They can freely traverse the alley.

[TU 'cane]

Funny, we were just talking about this location in another thread.
Well, at least it'll be used finally, right?

Some thoughts: great exposure. Some visitors riding on the canal will see it and perhaps want to go try it out for fun. Miniature golf is always great if you're ever trying to kill time or just looking for something fun for a minute, no argument there. However, I think this could succeed elsewhere around Bricktown as well, perhaps just South of Toby Keith's/KD's, or even East by where all of the hotels are going in at. Would be perfect for visiting people to take up when they get into town.
I think this location could be served in a much higher form, trying not to sound too condescending to the golf course.

I guess it's a good thing that the developer has already acknowledged that it's probably temporary.
BT, in my opinion from a visitors perspective, needs to keep it's entertainment value. You don't want it turning into Hotel Town overnight. I know when I go down, I frequent the bars, restaurants, etc. So, I see this as a good development overall with keeping BT an entertainment destination. That's what people from out of town like to see.

[Urbanized]

Again, it is a temporary installation/activation pending future development. Bleu Garten and Holiday Pop-Ups also not highest and best use of prime Midtown 10th Street frontage, yet both make for fantastic temporary use (both slated for at least three years). This one is similarly appropriate considering Bricktown location.

[Anonymous.]

Now if we can get some go-karts downtown.

[Pete]

Now if we can get some go-karts downtown.

And batting cages.

[Motley]

It's a good addition to an entertainment district and adds just another reason to go to bricktown on a lazy afternoon. I can imagine the golfers interacting with the people going down the canal and adding to the atmosphere of fun. Just hope the course is creative and not cheap looking.