Six Flags Over Fresno and rumors of Six Flags Discovery Kingdom relocating

[Medusa42]

I was surprised to see that there could be some truth to the rumors.  On June 28th, 2021, a construction bid was posted for the Pre-Design stage of a project called "Six Flags Over Fresno Amusement Park".  Rumors have been popping up since January of this year that Six Flags is going to relocate Six Flags Discovery Kingdom to the Fresno, CA area and sell off the land in Vallejo, CA.  Two waterparks already exist in Fresno.

 

https://www.construction.com/projects/dr-202100677434-six-flags-over-fresno-amusement-park

https://www.construction.com/projects/?country=USA&query=amusement

 

https://thebusinessjournal.com/six-flags-over-fresno-negotiations-to-bring-amusement-park-are-real/

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SIX FLAGS OVER FRESNO? NEGOTIATIONS TO BRING AMUSEMENT PARK ARE REAL

 

Published On April 6, 2021 - 10:21 AM
Written By Edward Smith

 

Negotiations are underway for a Six Flags amusement park to come to Fresno County despite fervent denial from City of Vallejo officials.

 

Sources confirm that talks have begun with the amusement park about the possibility of locating the tourist attraction to the area. Six Flags Marketing Manager Marc Merino said it is not their policy to comment on rumors.

 

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo features both roller coasters and animal exhibits. It is also the city’s second largest employer prior to the pandemic, according to the “Vallejo Times-Herald.”

 

In 2015, the park employed 1,591 people, according to the “North Bay Business Journal.”

 

Vallejo City Manager Greg Nyhoff said park officials have assured him they aren’t going anywhere.

 

“I have heard this baseless rumor about the park leaving Vallejo, and according to park officials, it sounds as if there is absolutely no truth to this report, and the source who reported this is incorrect,” Nyhoff said in a statement.

 

A Vallejo City Council member and the mayor both spoke with the park manager, according to Nyhoff, and the manager informed them she had spoken with the corporate office who said there was no truth to the rumor.

 

The origin of the rumor began with a letter by a citizen to the “Vallejo Times-Herald” about dissatisfaction by Six Flags corporate with a nearby development of land at the Solano County Fairgrounds called the 360 project. The plan to develop the land began in 2009 and would have brought 2,500 permanent jobs, 5,700 temporary construction jobs and more than $500 million in new investment, according to Solano County documents.

 

Merino said he would not comment on development plans there.

 

As it stands now, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom has more than 60 rides, shows and attractions, including 10 roller coasters on 135 acres, according to the “North Bay Business Journal.” It receives about 1.5 million visitors a year, the report by Solano County stated.

 

Lisa Oliveira, interim president for tourism marketing organization Visit Fresno County, said that kind of attraction makes her “salivate.”

 

Six Flags in Fresno would have a “huge impact” for Fresno County.

 

Road trippers often drive along the coast when traveling across the state, Oliveira said. But the addition of the amusement park to other draws such as the national parks as well as agricultural tourism adds incentive to bring those travelers through the Central Valley.

 

While the project could be years away from completion, it could go a long way toward Visit Fresno County’s goal to increase overnight guests.

 

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said there are a lot of rumors but could not discuss to what extent those might be true, but said “I am pursuing every avenue to bring Fresno forward as an entertainment community.”

 

Fresno City Councilman Mike Karbassi said an amusement park would need a great deal of land.

 

Parks are usually located near freeways. The height of roller coasters means special zoning for parks, but the city could be very competitive in attracting the park.

 

This won’t be the first time a major entertainment company has sought to develop in the Central Valley. Walt Disney had a vision to develop Mineral King in Sequoia National Forest into a ski resort with hotels and restaurants in the mid-1960s. But the project was bogged down by environmental lawsuits as well as the death of Walt Disney, who trumpeted the cause for the resort.

 

After the U.S. Department of the Interior came out against the project, Mineral King Valley was added to the National Parks system.

 

Fresno city officials, however, say they would work to bring a project like Six Flags to fruition — if, indeed, they get that shot.

 

“It’s very exciting and the City is doing everything they can to encourage companies like that to come to Fresno,” Karbassi said.

 

[Coaster Justin]

Let's say the park does happen and Discovery Kingdom gets relocated,

 

Does Joker, an RMC Get relocated or scrapped?

[Medusa42]

https://gvwire.com/2021/07/15/is-six-flags-over-fresno-the-real-deal-developer-looking-at-sites/

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Is ‘Six Flags Over Fresno’ the Real Deal? Developer Looking at Sites

Published 2 hours ago on July 15, 2021

By David Taub, Senior Reporter

 

A developer associated with the Six Flags theme park company says he has been scouting Central Valley locations.

 

Developer Robert Sonnenblick says Six Flags is “looking at sites” in Fresno and Clovis. There have been several meetings with officials from both cities over the past three months.

 

“Fresno County is strong enough to support an amusement park complex,” Sonnenblick tells GV Wire.

 

Sonnenblick’s Los Angeles-based development company is known for building luxury hotels, shopping malls, and office complexes across the country. His company recently expressed interest in purchasing Selland Arena from the city of Fresno.

 

Related Story: L.A. Developer, Others Compete to Take Fresno Arena Off City’s Hands

 

Project Estimate of $300 Million

At a hotel building conference in March, Sonnenblick said his company is developing hotels at Six Flags properties in Los Angeles (Six Flags Magic Mountain is in Valencia), New York/New Jersey and Texas.

 

Speculation about a possible Fresno Six Flags project has been circulating for months. It was further amplified this week by a posting on a construction bidding website, seeking contractors for a project identified as a Six Flags Over Fresno Amusement Park. Dodge Data & Analytics values the listed project between $25-50 million for pre-design work.

 

Sonnenblick says the value of the entire project would be much higher.

 

He says between a hotel, retail space, amusement park and water park, the total investment would be $300 million.

 

“That would be one of our biggest,” said Lee Ann Eager, president and CEO of the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation.

 

Sonnenblick would not comment on whether a Fresno-area development would be brand new, or if Six Flags might relocate one of its existing parks. He would not reveal what sites in Fresno/Clovis are being looked at.

 

Last year, his company submitted a plan to build a Six Flags water park/hotel combination in Solano County, adjacent to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo. Sonnenblick says that deal is now dead.

 

“Vallejo and Solano County screwed up that wonderful piece of land. It will sit empty for decades,” Sonnenblick said.

 

Meeting with City Officials

Eager confirmed her agency is working with Sonnenblick. However, she would not confirm their meetings with city officials were related to a Six Flags project.

Officials from the cities of Fresno and Clovis would not confirm meeting with Sonnenblick.

 

“Any preliminary meetings taking place between the city and potential business ventures are confidential and we can’t comment on them,” said Clovis spokesman Chad McCollum.