Frontier City

[Kerry]

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!
Welcome To Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park, Wisconsin Dells

[okclee]

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.

[jbrown84]

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.

[okclee]

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

[BaconCheeseburgerDeluxe]

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.

[Pete]

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.

[Easy180]

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

[jbrown84]

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.

[SOONER8693]

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.

[jbrown84]

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.

[Kerry]

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.

[jbrown84]

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

[Easy180]

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

[okclee]

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.

[jbrown84]

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.

[okclee]

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.

[BaconCheeseburgerDeluxe]

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.

[metro]

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.

[Easy180]

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

[jbrown84]

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.

[Nixon7]

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...

[jbrown84]

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.

[okclee]

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.

[jbrown84]

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.

[okclee]

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.