KIfan1980 Posted February 26, 2011 Posted February 26, 2011 Well only because there aren't any Chipotle franchises in Paducah Quote
Dieseltech20 Posted February 26, 2011 Posted February 26, 2011 Saw the park today when we where at the Auto Show. It is in a very sad state right now with lots of rusty neglected rides and dirt. Some areas of fencing were topped with nice shiny new Razor Wire. A good sign the riff raff has been going in to "have fun" and rack up the amounts needed to re open the place. GL sure looks pretty from a distance.....once you get up close to it though....yikes. I couldn't grab a close pic because of traffic. Perfect chance for KI to get a Ferris Wheel. Quote
rcs Posted February 27, 2011 Posted February 27, 2011 What a shame, all of those great rides just sitting there, rotting away. If KK does not reopen, maybe some other parks can rescue some of the rides, picking them up on the cheap. Quote
The Interpreter Posted February 27, 2011 Posted February 27, 2011 Currently, the rides belong to the Commonwealth of Kentucky and are on Fair Board property. As for picking them up on the cheap, unless and until the Fair Board decides what it is going to do with Kentucky Kingdom, I doubt the rides go anywhere. The park could still be saved, but it is looking less and less likely that state backed bonding will be available. Quote
sccard01 Posted February 27, 2011 Author Posted February 27, 2011 The news just said, if it doesn't get approved their is another plan by Ed Hart. I wonder what plan "B" will be. Maybe he has or will get private investors. Quote
The Interpreter Posted February 27, 2011 Posted February 27, 2011 We can certainly hope so, but it sure doesn't help his credibility any. He said before the park could ONLY succeed with state backed bonds... Ah, yes, here it is: http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=22700&view=findpost&p=403022 Requires public involvement, can't be done just privately. That's what he said then, folks. What's changed? Quote
sccard01 Posted February 27, 2011 Author Posted February 27, 2011 He possibly will run it with private investors for the first couple of years and constantly try to get state backing. Plan B could also be his plans from the beginning, not opening the front side of the park, twisted twins, etc, and just expanding the waterpark its first season. When it comes to the rides, those rides has been rusting and rotting for years. If the park never closed, I'm sure those rides will be in the same condition they are today rusting and rotting. However, their are people inside the park maintaining/preserving all the rides, beside paint. Quote
Dieseltech20 Posted February 27, 2011 Posted February 27, 2011 The only evidence of work that I saw was a bare spot where Road Runner use to be. Quote
The Interpreter Posted February 27, 2011 Posted February 27, 2011 And that's because Six Flags removed it and took it to Massachusetts. Quote
The Interpreter Posted February 27, 2011 Posted February 27, 2011 Excellent story with video (includes Nick Curran): http://www.fox41.com/story/14148587/when-will-ky-kingdom-open Quote
Dieseltech20 Posted February 27, 2011 Posted February 27, 2011 All the typos and such made that a hard article to read. When exactly is 20-12? Reading the article, it seems that Mr Hart and the Fair Board dropped the ball on this. But legislators are not so optimistic. "Obviously it would've been better a plan had been developed earlier that everyone could've bought into to include the delegation early on in this legislative but, that has not happened," said Owens. Quote
The Interpreter Posted February 27, 2011 Posted February 27, 2011 It's a tv article, meant to be read aloud by a newsreader. In fact, the video does exactly that....reads the article! 20-12 is Twenty-Twelve as in the year 2012.... Quote
rcs Posted February 27, 2011 Posted February 27, 2011 Currently, the rides belong to the Commonwealth of Kentucky and are on Fair Board property. As for picking them up on the cheap, unless and until the Fair Board decides what it is going to do with Kentucky Kingdom, I doubt the rides go anywhere. The park could still be saved, but it is looking less and less likely that state backed bonding will be available. As a citizen of the Commenwealth of Kentucky, I vote for selling off the parks assets to the highest bidders if a privately backed group does not appear in the near future with the ability to open and run the park. As much as I love amusement parks, the state of Kentucky just does not have the funds to spare in the current economic climate to put into reopening the park. A venture such as this is for private enterprise, not goverment oversite. Quote
Dieseltech20 Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 It's a tv article, meant to be read aloud by a newsreader. In fact, the video does exactly that....reads the article! 20-12 is Twenty-Twelve as in the year 2012.... Exactly, it's 2012, not the 20th of December in Europe. The spoken words did not match the horrible transcription that was the written article. I agree with ya rcs. The park would be better off in a non land locked area beside an Airport. Quote
Truth Seeker Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 Currently, the rides belong to the Commonwealth of Kentucky and are on Fair Board property. As for picking them up on the cheap, unless and until the Fair Board decides what it is going to do with Kentucky Kingdom, I doubt the rides go anywhere. The park could still be saved, but it is looking less and less likely that state backed bonding will be available. As a citizen of the Commenwealth of Kentucky, I vote for selling off the parks assets to the highest bidders if a privately backed group does not appear in the near future with the ability to open and run the park. As much as I love amusement parks, the state of Kentucky just does not have the funds to spare in the current economic climate to put into reopening the park. A venture such as this is for private enterprise, not goverment oversite. I don't care if it's privately or government funded, if it works, it works. I'm not sure if the state possesses said funds to do so but, if a investment such as this is believed to be a, "sound," one and the funds exist, why not? If it creates jobs and revenue for the state and it's inhabitants, whats wrong with financial backing via state funds? Quote
The Interpreter Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 The state has limited funds, and many competing needs. Let's turn your question around the other way...if the private sector cannot or will not finance the park, why should Government pick some enterprises to fund and not others, while state employees are being furloughed, Medicaid is not sufficiently funded and the state's road system and parks are going to pot, just to name a few... Quote
Truth Seeker Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 Terpy, I am not stating that the park should recieve said funding but, I do believe if the funds were not availble in the private sector not due to, a lack of interest then, state funding for a project of this nature would be a appropriate. Considering, the state of Kentucky's economy fiifty million is just too much but, if conditions were right then, I would see nothing wrong with state backed funding. Quote
KIfan1980 Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 If it was a good business proposition, then private funding would be available and public funding wouldn't be necessary. I can't imagine a scenario where they wouldn't. There is a system in place for the state to encourage investment and the jobs, etc... that come along with it. That is the incentive (tax breaks) approach that most states and also in some cases local authorities follow. Quote
The Interpreter Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 Kentucky Kingdom Re-developers Not Yet Looking To Backup Plan: Even though state funding may not be available this year, the group seeking to renovate and reopen the Kentucky Kingdom theme park is not yet looking for other sources of money. The Kentucky Kingdom Redevelopment Company's plans to reopen the park next year hinge on whether the General Assembly grants the state Fair Board a $50 million bond. It appears unlikely the legislature will vote on the issue this year. A spokesperson with the redevelopment company says they're still planning to renovate the park partially through the bond, but declined to elaborate further.... http://www.wfpl.org/...to-backup-plan/ Quote
rcs Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 I have a feeling that this will be in limbo forever. Quote
IndyGuy4KI Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 I have a feeling that this will be in limbo forever. I have to hand it to Ed for his patients in waiting for state funding, but I am not sure that is ever going to happen. I also have doubts that if reopened it would attract enough visitors to make money. Quote
sccard01 Posted March 1, 2011 Author Posted March 1, 2011 I want my kingdom back...hopefully something happens now and quick. Maybe private investors "IS" a bad idea... Quote
sccard01 Posted March 1, 2011 Author Posted March 1, 2011 This is a very informational video from a high school here in Louisville Kentucky. This video also contains some inside park video views. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePrb0FFN4JA Quote
The Interpreter Posted March 30, 2011 Posted March 30, 2011 I have a feeling that this will be in limbo forever. Nearly a month with no news of any kind on this matter.... So, either something is up....or nothing is. Quote
Aaron88stang Posted March 30, 2011 Posted March 30, 2011 I was at the Fair and Expo center over the weekend. It really makes me sad to see KK sitting there rotting. I am not for using state money to get the place up and running but if it opens again I will visit the park for sure. I still need to get a ride in on Greezed Lightning. I never rode that one. Quote
sccard01 Posted April 4, 2011 Author Posted April 4, 2011 The KKRDC has been very busy these last couple of weeks. It seems they are making an approach to Representatives in my opinion. They have yet to answers questions to the amusement park authority. Quote
The Interpreter Posted April 5, 2011 Posted April 5, 2011 Given that the General Assembly is out of session and will be (except for a limited possible special session that may be called by the Governor)...what Representatives are you talking about? The plain fact is Government money is not available now, and probably won't be for some time to fund any possible bond issue guarantee... Quote
Truth Seeker Posted April 5, 2011 Posted April 5, 2011 Welcome to Limbo, http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2011/04/05/city-wont-fund-plan-to-open-kentucky.html Quote
Truth Seeker Posted April 5, 2011 Posted April 5, 2011 Welcome to Limbo, http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2011/04/05/city-wont-fund-plan-to-open-kentucky.html Quote
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