Up_Up_and_Away

Yup, those are from the mill.

I'm hoping for the seal's safety, too, as well as the figures inside; the one boarded-up stained-glass door doesn't look very promising...

Each time I over-fly the castle, it always amazes me how "sandwiched" the rather "tiny" castle looks between these two large factories. Seems like the castle should have some land of its own so it can show itself off a bit more.

It originally stood alone; as time went on, land was sold off, the Wheatsworth mill (just outside the photos, to the right) grew and the Plastoid factory was built on the other side (see left side of lower photo)...

What do you mean? Please elaborate...

So here I sit, waiting on AIM...

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

I'm afraid I'm going to doze off & miss the great pumpkin...

"Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, YOU'RE the Charlie Browniest."

I'm so jealous!!!

A huge walk-thru wreath provides a synchronized light show set to a variety of Christmas tunes.

I love the new wreath! Do they still have the giant walk-thru tree, too?

From HamptonRoads.com:

Nov 16, 9:40 PM EST

$200 million resort, water park headed to Fredericksburg

 

By MICHAEL FELBERBAUM

Associated Press Writer

 

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Kalahari Resorts plans to open a $200 million African-themed resort and indoor water park in Fredericksburg next year, creating more than 1,900 jobs, the company and city officials said Friday.

 

The resort will be built next to the Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center at Celebrate Virginia, a 2,400-acre residential and commercial development along Interstate 95, about 55 miles south of the nation's capital.

 

"We just think the Fredericksburg area is just a wonderful area with the proximity to Washington, D.C., and Baltimore," Todd Nelson, president and owner of Kalahari Resorts, said in an interview with The Associated Press.

 

Along with the about 700 guest rooms, the resort will include 100,000 square feet of conference and event space, the Wisconsin company said in a news release.

 

Nelson said Kalahari resorts are "completely authentic," with employees traveling to Africa twice a year and importing artwork and other themed pieces.

 

The 125,000 square-foot water park will feature slides and roller coasters, as well as the FlowRider surfing attraction. It also will also have entertainment areas, including indoor miniature golf, bowling, go-carts and a game room.

 

"This is really taking our tourism efforts to a completely other level," said Kevin Gullette, Fredericksburg's director of economic development and tourism.

 

Gullette said the resort will contribute about $122 million a year to the local economy, according to an economic impact assessment, which anticipates it will attract almost 1 million guests per year. Estimates show the city will generate between $5 million and $7 million in new taxes each year.

 

The creation of jobs will be welcomed by the city, which had a 4.1 percent unemployment rate in September, Gullette said. The surrounding area had about a 2.3 percent unemployment rate for the same period, according Virginia Employment Commission numbers.

 

"It's primed the pump and really set the city up for the next 10 to 15 years," he said.

 

Kalahari operates two similar resorts in the Midwest that each draw more than 2 million visitors annually: a 125,000-square-foot park in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., that opened in 2000 and an 80,000-square-foot park in Sandusky, Ohio, which opened in 2005. The company said it plans to expand its Ohio property, nearly doubling the size of the complex.

 

The planned resort creates some competition for Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg. The 405-room resort features a 79,000 square-foot indoor entertainment area and water park, according to the company's Web site. There also are two major water parks in central and eastern Virginia: Water Country USA near Williamsburg and Kings Dominion in Doswell.

 

Kalahari Resorts is working with Fredericksburg and Boca Raton, Fla.-based Silver Companies, which developed Celebrate Virginia, to finalize details of the transaction.

 

Thirty-eight acres of Celebrate Virginia is also set aside for the U.S. National Slavery Museum, which has struggled to raise funds for a scheduled 2008 opening.

Check out more at KalahariResort.com

Mmm... Peas...

That picture of the Arena next to Medusa, that police car might be the one that was part of Batman the Ride's original theming

 

Luis L.

It is that one; it was worked into the "Arena of Doom" show.

This has been a rumor among uninformed employees since the month it opened.

Locked on the grounds of hearsay.

::bangs gavel::

So much for "not giving away the front gate."

/\ or their iced coffee...

I'm thankful for family and friends, both new and old.

The operative word: was. The lion wasn't handled with the level of care that was needed when the safari entrance path was realigned and is now no more...

Still, I feel safer around the country folk than I did at Clementon...

Fantasy Fling and Looping Starship, possibly.

I never got to see the lion, but I liked the spotlight nonetheless. They should have moved it to the Wild Safari or something.

Um, if you check out the spotlight you'll see that, since 1995, it was at the safari.

How many of you are attending EastCoaster? The Dorney Park Off-Season tour is going to be AWESOME!!!

Discussion of East Coaster can be found here.

Yes, card carrying member number 1328. (Now where did I put that card?

Harry, I skimmed your post and thought it said, "card carrying member since 1328."

I'm a member, too...

Mmm... Eggnogg...

Ggllffggllaollllaffffllll.....

I

By then, chances are people will be saying, "Jimmy who?"

I think the possibility of Holiday in the Park coming is the perfect reason NOT to get rid of Old Country; it's charm really lends itself to a Christmas village. The whole park wouldn't have to be open: Movietown, Frontier Adventures and the Golden Kingdom could remain closed, allowing more time to remove the Fright Fest Decor. The fanciful Character Cafe would be ideal for visits with Santa, Christmas music would be great in the Patrina Williams and Musik Express, I'd like overlays for the Granny's signs renaming it "Mrs. Claus's Kitchen," a ginormous tree in the fountain... the possibilities are endless!

It looks S.O.B.A.D...

A Snow Coney if you will...

I will not.