 maha may be getting
another new riverfront attraction. Developers recently revealed
plans to build an 80-acre amusement park along the Missouri River
in Omaha and Carter Lake, Iowa. Cost of the project is expected to
be somewhere around $50 million. The park would be financed largely
by private investors.
Although the exact site has not been formally announced, the
developers are looking at land just north of the new convention
center-arena. There is a large tract of undeveloped land there
along Abbot Drive which is owned by Richard Owen of Kansas City.
The park itself would lie in Nebraska with the parking lot probably
ending up in Carter Lake, Iowa.
The park is being developed by Papa's
Park LLC - a partnership of brothers Steve, John and Tom
Minard. Steve Minard, who was also founder of the Omaha accounting
firm - Ernst & Young, is president of the company.
Features of the park that would operate year-round include:
- Roller coasters, water rides, live shows and movies.
- Indoor and outdoor areas.
- Free parking for up to 3,500 vehicles.
- Four themed areas which have not been announced as of yet.
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The Minard's have spent the
past couple years doing research on what type of entertainment
people in the community wanted. After the closing of Peony Park in
1994, it became clear that this was something the people of Omaha
were hungry for. The 26-acre Peony Park which was opened in 1919
near 83rd and Cass Streets, closed due to financial problems. Steve
Minard claims Peony's difficulties could be attributed to the fact
that the park was land-locked and unable to expand. He also said
that amusement parks generally need continual reinvestment to be
successful.
Here is how the park would
compare to similar attractions in the area:
| Worlds
of Fun |
175
acres |
| Adventureland |
164
acres |
| Proposed
Omaha Park |
80
acres |
| Oceans
of Fun |
60
acres |
| Arnolds
Park |
7
acres |
| Camp
Snoopy |
7
acres |
The city planning department has been given a schematic drawing
of the park which could be under construction sometime this year.
If everything falls into place, it could open in 2003 with 70
percent of the attractions completed. Additional rides would be
setup over the next five years. 
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