Indoor water park discussed as possible project for Veterans Park
Last Modified: Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 1:42 p.m.
FLORENCE - Shoals leaders met this morning to discuss a water-theme park, which could become the missing link of an areawide tourism project that involves local governments and the Retirement Systems of Alabama.
Local governments and retirement systems officials have been searching for an attraction for Veterans Park that will complement the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail complex in Colbert County and the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa, a four-diamond hotel in Florence.
The golf complex and hotel have been the cornerstones of the tourism project that has pumped several million dollars into the local economy over the past five years. As part of the project, an attraction at Veterans Park that will to lure visitors to the Shoals has also been debated.
The water-theme park is one of 32 proposals for Veterans Park that have been submitted.
Last Thursday, several Shoals leaders visited Wisconsin Dells, Wisc., a resort area between Chicago and Minneapolis, to look over an indoor water park that could be a model for the Veterans Park attraction. the park would include a variety of water activities and span 50,000 square feet. The cost is projected at between $20 million and $50 million, but local entities would not be required to put any additional money toward the project other than the $2 million set aside by the Public Park Authority of the Shoals during the original agreement.
Local officials say Roger Brown, owner of Doublehead Resort near Town Creek and originally from the Shoals, has said he plans to pay for a feasibility study on the project.
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November 15, 2007 2:33:23 pm
RE: http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20...5/NEWS/71115005/1011
They need something like this around here. Funland is a joke. I have to take my kids to Decatur for some fun in the water.
November 15, 2007 2:42:32 pm
Yes it would be nice to have here. Can we make it happen?
November 15, 2007 5:53:27 pm
Within a week there will be letter to the editor from someone who will say something like this: "we already have a water park - what's wrong with Funland? Why are we going to waste taxpayers money on this? I don't swim. No wonder our taxes are so high."
November 15, 2007 6:12:36 pm
or something about the government competing with private enterprise.
November 16, 2007 6:45:52 am
That is so true with the people from Tharptown (not to offend) Waterloo and Greenhill, Funland is as good as Six Flags! Get out every once in a while and you will see we need something for the young people here! We need something for middle age adults as well, those not in to the bar scence!
November 16, 2007 7:37:50 am
We need something for middle age adults as well, those not in to the bar scence!
I agree, But what would that something for middle age adults be? I don't think most from around here ever get out of the house.The ones that do, like going out of town.
November 16, 2007 7:52:03 am
I am middle age, I get out when I WANT to, and quite often. I work, I do things I enjoy, and in my opinion there are a lot of things middle age people can do around here.I don't drink, but I LOVE Karaoke. So I am not a snob a couple of my friends who do drink occasionally, it is the Karaoke we go for.I love my life, and the things I do!!!
November 16, 2007 8:21:14 am
bar scence!
Wow, they must have them down in whatever town your from. You shouldn't insult people from other communities unless you can spell correctly.
November 16, 2007 11:01:59 am
Why in the world would you do an INDOOR water facility here in this beautiful OUTDOOR setting and climate? That is cause for alarm right there. Also, this sounds an awful lot like a done deal type thing. No action for months and months and all of a sudden it's a big hurry and trips have been made and we have a study and will have a proposal just like that? Woah there big fella. Not so fast Jack. ANY time Fast Buck Freddy appears beware. This is starting to look like Bass Pro all over again. A big monster plastic thing, instead of a natural thing. The process is troublesome already. They will say we have this deal now, nothing else really, so let's go right now. This from the same guy who said we were at a standstill and did not want to even hear about the rafting idea, or anything else not two weeks ago. I think I smell a rat. Very fishy indeed.
November 16, 2007 12:50:38 pm
Better listen to shambo. A lot of what he is saying rings a bell somewhere. I just wish some of the leaders would do something for the "public" good rather than for their own selfish interest.
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