PREMiERdrum Posted July 11, 2016 Posted July 11, 2016 I believe you are correct, it was a Holiday Inn for a while. I visited Fort Rapids once and was not impressed. :/ The building was actually built as the first Hilton in the Columbus-area way back (which is why that road is called Hilton Corporate Drive). As that area started to decline and could no longer support a Hilton-branded hotel, it became a Holiday Inn. When Fort Rapids opened, the hotel actually maintained the Holiday Inn designation with the resort's formal title being "Holiday Inn at Fort Rapids." The HI affiliation brought with it online presence, marketing support, and brand recognition that were severely missed once it was dropped several years ago. 3 Quote
The Interpreter Posted July 11, 2016 Posted July 11, 2016 During that time period, Holiday Inn was requiring major upgrades for properties that didn't meet their standards. Many properties that couldn't or wouldn't upgrade lost the franchise. 2 Quote
jcgoble3 Posted July 11, 2016 Posted July 11, 2016 During that time period, Holiday Inn was requiring major upgrades for properties that didn't meet their standards. Many properties that couldn't or wouldn't upgrade lost the franchise. I wonder if that has anything to do with why the former Holiday Inn in downtown Xenia became a Ramada several years ago. 1 Quote
Creed Bratton Posted July 11, 2016 Posted July 11, 2016 ^^ I'm sure Goble...but sometimes they just change ownership. The thing that sucks about this area is it's lost a lot of good development. The overhead shot I posted which is a few miles down the road used to host a good bit of shops. It hosted a movie theater that I believe was only open a total of 6-7 years under a couple of companies. All of the buildings on the property but the old Sam's Club have been demolished....all to make it more attractive to sell....well it's now been about 8 years since demolition and it sits barren.Not even a mile down the road the area has lost a lot of business for relocation down the highway toward the area of Pickerington/Reynoldsburg. The area has seen some rebirth in retrofitting existing structures but there isn't a lot of business around there at all. Check out an article talking about the demolition and the hopeful future (written in 2008): http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2008/11/08/Consumer_Square.ART_ART_11-08-08_C10_0MBR1JL.html 2 Quote
shark6495 Posted July 11, 2016 Posted July 11, 2016 It does seem like a high bummer but I believe we talked about gentrification in another thread... If residents of the area had supported the business then those businesses wouldn't leave. Same thing with Fort Rapids. If the citizens of the area had managed to support it , then it wouldn't have closed.... Similar thing happened in Trotwood. Due to falling sales/etc the area lost a mall and numerous numerous stores and restaurants. When the last store (a less than 10 year old Target) decided to leave the local residents contacts the NAACP and other organizations trying to get them to stay. Now the area has one more empty building... It's sad from a community building area. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Quote
Creed Bratton Posted July 11, 2016 Posted July 11, 2016 Honestly though I'd say about 80% of the business relocated down the road, to the Pickerington/Reynoldsburg area that started to boom in the early mid 2000s. The chamber of commerce next door to the plot of land that was Consumer Square East has put forth little effort to market/sell the land for future growth. The article in 2008 was the last it was really even talked about. 1 Quote
shark6495 Posted July 11, 2016 Posted July 11, 2016 True story there. My wife worked at a company that had a business on Brice Road. She said it had some of the highest theft and lowest sales in the region. That was going back between 07-12 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Quote
Creed Bratton Posted July 11, 2016 Posted July 11, 2016 My family used to skip the retail in my city and go up to Brice Rd to shop. We'd visit the now empty/retrofitted Meijer, Super Target, Discovery Zone, Sam's Club buildings. We'd also stop at Cub Foods, Factory Card Outlet, Best Buy and Hometown Buffett, just to name a few. There used to be a lot of promise. 2 Quote
The Interpreter Posted July 11, 2016 Posted July 11, 2016 Y'all make DC SE sound better and better with every post... 2 Quote
shark6495 Posted July 11, 2016 Posted July 11, 2016 I think our Urban Sprawl really makes urban planners work even harder. Plus throw in a failed business offering and it could crush a bunch of momentum. Look at a place a little closer to KI. Forest Fair Mall went through the rebranding to become the Cincinnati Mills Mall. How does that mall change if Elder Beerman, Johnnys Toys, and Steve and Barry don't decline.... Maybe it lasts longer maybe not Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Quote
KeithnDayton Posted July 12, 2016 Posted July 12, 2016 Location Location Location +timing +timing +timing The Tri-County Mall area used to be booming. In 30-40 years we'll be talking about that big, decrepit fake city in the dumps near the 129:I-75 interchange. 1 Quote
Wanderer Posted August 25, 2016 Posted August 25, 2016 Not to resurrect this sad thread, but it would appear Fort Rapids may be going away sooner rather than later. Not sure what would be viable in that location though. http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2016/08/25/1-fort-rapids-heads-to-auction-in-october-its-future-as-water-park-doubtful.html 1 Quote
Creed Bratton Posted August 25, 2016 Posted August 25, 2016 Wow! Thanks for sharing! I can't say I'd be disappointed if they razed the building...but maybe it'll have new life and/or will not be a hot mess. 2 Quote
Wanderer Posted August 25, 2016 Posted August 25, 2016 It really is too bad, and a waste of a good name and theme for a water park. From the outside you can't really tell what a mess it apparently is and was inside. 1 Quote
RailRider Posted August 26, 2016 Posted August 26, 2016 The piece of property is no longer a desirable location and especially with the history of failed hotel after failed hotel I cannot fathom a new owner trying to make a go of a new lodging offering there. Plus the cost to refurbish the current lodging property and to try and rid it of infestation (both roach and bed bug) would be astronomical and near impossible. Time for a controlled burn and build a warehouse. 3 Quote
Creed Bratton Posted August 30, 2016 Posted August 30, 2016 I drove by last night, I was quite surprised to see that the sign for Fort Rapids was illuminated (though the building hasn't been open since February?). Various lights were on throughout the property...wonder who's paying that electric bill. 2 Quote
malem Posted August 30, 2016 Author Posted August 30, 2016 ^ If the power was cut, it wouldn't take long for vandals and/or mold to completely destroy the building. Presumably, bills are being paid in anticipation of revenue from the sale. 2 Quote
Creed Bratton Posted August 30, 2016 Posted August 30, 2016 South East Columbus, Vandals don't care about whether or not there are lights....buildings are vandalized on the daily. I wouldn't be surprised if mold hasn't completely destroyed the building. I'm sure they haven't done much in part of the bed bug issue or any of the other issues. 2 Quote
Wanderer Posted September 3, 2016 Posted September 3, 2016 Now Cherry Valley Lodge and water park near Columbus is up for sale too. Coincidence? http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2016/08/31/cherry-valley-lodge-water-park-up-for-sale.html# Has anybody from here ever been? Says it's geared more towards families than Fort Rapids was. I have passed it many times but never stopped by. 2 Quote
malem Posted April 5, 2017 Author Posted April 5, 2017 Fort Rapids has sold to a California investor, who hopes to reopen both the hotel & indoor waterpark after capital improvements. http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170404/fort-rapids-could-reopen-under-new-ownership 2 Quote
shark6495 Posted April 10, 2017 Posted April 10, 2017 To get rid of bug you have got to invest a pretty penny into that place.... also great fix that up but 2 mins down the road come get robbed at the gas station. .... it's not in a great part of town at allSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote
malem Posted January 3, 2018 Author Posted January 3, 2018 A water pipe has apparently burst in the building, filling it with ice. Hard to imagine anything except demolition after this. http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180103/burst-water-pipe-turns-fort-rapids-into-frozen-wasteland 2 Quote
shark6495 Posted January 3, 2018 Posted January 3, 2018 That’s a haunting photo. And it’s weird but it’s like the building just gave up as well. I secretly hope someone gets photos from the inside as well. The outside photo is cool though how the ice is showing up outside. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Quote
shark6495 Posted January 3, 2018 Posted January 3, 2018 https://www.10tv.com/article/ice-forms-outside-closed-fort-rapids-water-park-after-water-pipe-bursts-insideHere is some video of itSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote
bengals fan Posted January 3, 2018 Posted January 3, 2018 Just wait till it warms up and that ice starts to fall off. 1 Quote
CoastersRZ Posted January 4, 2018 Posted January 4, 2018 That is quite the water leak for that much ice to form on the exterior of the building. 2 Quote
Creed Bratton Posted January 4, 2018 Posted January 4, 2018 The local news is saying that it was millions of gallons of water before they could get the water shut off. Insane that it came from the 12th floor. 2 Quote
CoastersRZ Posted January 4, 2018 Posted January 4, 2018 I wonder what size the pipe was that burst. Seems like it might have been a sprinkler line given the number of gallons of water. I don`t think you would get that kind of volume from domestic water lines for the guest rooms. 1 Quote
Creed Bratton Posted January 4, 2018 Posted January 4, 2018 Quote A fire sprinkler alarm was flashing on the front of the building, and Captain Loeper said a fire sprinkler line may have burst. Firefighters say millions of gallons of water then leaked from the burst pipe. From: http://nbc4i.com/2018/01/03/burst-water-pipe-creates-icy-situation-at-closed-fort-rapids-water-park/ 2 Quote
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