Up_Up_and_Away Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 From The Niagra Gazette: WHEATFIELD: Oz theme park still a reality Officials anticipate big news soon By Dave Hill/hilld@gnnewspaper.com Niagara Gazette The Magical Lands of Oz theme park in the Town of Wheatfield is still very much a reality, according to officials involved with its development. "There's no reason to believe that it isn't," said Wheatfield Town Attorney Robert O'Toole. "A lot of effort and a lot of work have gone into it and continues to go into it." Wheatfield Supervisor Tim Demler said Thursday that representatives from Oz Central LLC, the Kentucky-based company that proposed the idea, requested a meeting with town officials for Wednesday. "I think there's going to be a lot of good news coming next week," he said. The 800-acre project with a price tag of around $800 million was first pitched for Wheatfield a few years ago because of three key attractions: its proximity to Niagara Falls, cheap land and what Demler says is a "business-friendly government" in Wheatfield. Oz Central President Richard Burch initially proposed building the Magical Lands of Oz theme park in Houston but nixed that idea in favor of Niagara County. Demler said that's because the company would have had to create a tourism market there, much like the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. "Here, they can tap into one on the American side and the Canadian side," he said. The timeframe for Oz has depended largely on the environmental review process. O'Toole said that's in the hands of the government agencies involved in the impact studies. Demler said a lot of bureaucratic red tape also contributed to the delay. However, he expressed optimism that Wednesday's meeting will yield positive results for the project to move forward. Any major update on the theme park would be a long time coming. The last public meeting Niagara County 8th District Legislator William L. Ross said he went to was over a year ago now. But, he said, Burch and his staff "are here, they're working on it." He said that the county is also still on board with the project. "We as a county are open for development," he said. "The door is wide open, in fact." The idea behind the Magical Lands of Oz is based on the books of L. Frank Baum. A 780,000-square-foot building will be used for year-round activities. In addition, plans call for a themed flagship hotel, four additional hotels and retail, dining and entertainment facilities. Developers plan to use the existing lakes on the site as visual backgrounds while providing a buffer between the park and nearby homes. Oz would require an extension of the LaSalle Expressway to accommodate the main entrance into the theme park. Burch estimated the theme park could draw around four million visitors a year while providing the area an infusion of $50 million to $70 million in sales tax revenue. The theme park would be constructed in three phases over several years, providing thousands of construction jobs. Demler has said previously that Oz will bring 5,000 full- and part-time jobs. All told, the theme park itself will sit on 442 acres. Although the Magical Lands of Oz will occupy 800 total acres, significant space will be used as a buffer to protect nearby residents. "Nobody in the town's going to hear it or see it unless they buy a ticket and go in," Demler said. While the process has taken several years, Demler said, "All arrows and signals are pointing positive. It wasn't easy, but it is going to be done right." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 Wow, four million visitors and five hotels sounds ambiitous. Can we have one of those hotels? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Up_Up_and_Away Posted November 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 If this happens, we are SO moving to Wheatfield... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAcoaster Posted September 2, 2008 Report Share Posted September 2, 2008 There's an update on the OZ park in the Niagara Gazette: WHEATFIELD: Oz theme park moves ahead — slowly By Caitlin Murray Town of Wheatfield and Oz Central heads are still on board with the proposed $800 million Magical Lands of Oz theme park, but things are moving at a slower pace than they would like. The company has been working for months to complete a litany of studies, including ones for plant life, wild life, noise, traffic, economy and sewage, said Oz Central President Richard Burch said this past week. But for now, the project’s next steps are still on hold as impact studies continue through the pipeline. “The team is here (in Wheatfield) working hard,†Burch said. “Our intent is to see this through.†Robert O’Toole, attorney for the town, said there is “ongoing communication†between the town and Oz Central and progress is being made, but the studies are the company’s responsibility so town officials are waiting for the final evaluations to be submitted. “It’s up to them to conduct studies and submit them,†O’Toole said. “Until they make a formal submission, the town can’t act.†The various impact statements, which will analyze potential issues and solutions, must be approved by government entities, including the state Department of Environmental Conservation, before being submitted to the town. Once town officials satisfactorily review everything, the project can go before a public hearing. But that probably won’t be anytime in the immediate future. Burch said he’s hopeful he will have some updates on the impact studies in the next few weeks, but stressed that — for now — the project’s timeline is not up to Oz Central. The proposed theme park would feature attractions based around the “Wizard of Oz†books and was pitched to town officials and residents back in 2006. The first phase of the project would include the construction of a 442-acre theme park in the eastern portion of the 800-acre complex, sitting within the boundaries of Williams, Jagow, River and Witmer roads. Roughly 85 percent of the attractions would be located indoors, allowing the park to operate year round. Construction of a themed flagship hotel with 200 rooms and dining and entertainment facilities, an administration building and other needed structures for operations would be part of the first phase as well. Future phases could include more hotels, retail, dining and entertainment facilities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest warnerleroy Posted September 2, 2008 Report Share Posted September 2, 2008 I can't wait to visit, if it is even built. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Up_Up_and_Away Posted September 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2008 I've been following the articles on this park for over 2 years now; from everything I've read & seen it's going to encompass elements of L. Frank Baum's original 14 Oz books, built in an over-the-top way that Warner LeRoy would have definitely approved of... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest warnerleroy Posted September 2, 2008 Report Share Posted September 2, 2008 Expect to see this park be Disney quality. It's one of a kind. The wrong thing with our park is it is to generic. A lot of things you can experience here, you can experience in other parks. Our park needs to become a resort, and maybe even open our own Oz theme park. Attendence would be through the roof---------of the empire state building! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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