http://www.news-register.net/page/content....15.html?nav=515

My favorite quote:

. . . Although he said he would not mind sharing examples of the manufactured rides, Minard said he does not want any potential competitors to see what he has planned. “Kennywood and Cedar Fair (owner of Cedar Point) may want to use some of our ideas,” he said. . . .

uh huh

Plans for Ohio County Theme Park Still Under Way:

http://www.wtov9.com/news/16845722/detail.html

Ohio County (WV) Theme Park Plans Still On Hold:

http://www.wvpubcast.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=3412

No offense to the developers, but you would think that they would know better than to not have all of the permits necessary to go forward with the project.

It can be suprising how much is involved with things like this. We had a situation last month with a campground complex. They came for an inspection of facilities so they could have a grand opening that weekend with-- no permits! They weren't trying to get around the system- just not familiar with how large the project was compared to what they had done in the past. Got it worked out, but it involved several state agencies making multiple visits out there to straighten it up and lots of overtime for the complex's contract workers. Opening was delayed by only a few weeks!

Well, there's news.....

http://thehighlandsgazette.blogspot.com/20...park-fubar.html

See particularly the last two paragraphs:

....The second entertainment destination will be the Wild Escape Theme Park built on 100 acres with 900 hotel rooms, an open air and under roof (open year round) section, and at least two roller coasters. The park will rival Minnesota's Mall of America in size, but ground breaking has been delayed while permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are obtained. The website predicts the theme park , hotels, spas and additional entertainment will be operation six months following permit approval. Construction will occur in three phases. This would be West Virginia’s second amusement park; Camden Park is now the only one in the state.

McCall stated the theme park still remains in the “talking” and “planning” stage, which could be as large as 700 acres beside Marquee’s new theatre. And, as “Cabela’s continues to draw more [development], it will keep the market growing. You’re pulling from three different states which makes it real nice too. I see [the area] continuing to mushroom.”

http://www.huntingtonnews.net/entertainmen...ueeopening.html

A little news about Wild Escape, such as it is:

http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/conte...02.html?nav=515

and

....Stewart added that Cabela's and the planned Wild Escape theme park will also allow The Highlands to draw customers from long distances.

Currently, county officials are waiting for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to issue earthwork permits for Phase V of The Highlands development, where they hope Wild Escape will be built....

http://www.news-register.net/page/content..../id/513614.html

I got some photos of Wild Escape today.

Back when they said they was building a park there was nothing else there other than Cabela's. Everything there has been built in the last two years

and the park site hasn't change much in that time.