Jump to content
  TPR Home | Parks | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram 

Miccosukee Park [RCT3]


Recommended Posts

I thought I'd give it a go with a park. It's my first attempt, and I'm kind of learning on the fly. My buildings still suck.

 

 

 

8/26/2010

 

from NaplesNews.com 3:10 p.m. EST

 

The Naples City Zoo, a place with a history of cultivating the imaginations of children and adults alike since the 1940s, is in danger of having to close it's doors forever. The Zoo's attendance has declined over the last decade, and county commissioners are worried the zoo will have trouble paying the bills. For years the zoo's financial troubles have been buffered by revenue the zoo received from parking space for the Coastland Center Mall which sits aside the zoo. Those revenues are due to disappear as the mall's developer has built a large multi level parking structure rendering the parking space on the zoo's land useless. The Zoo's plan to attract visitors by installing a few fair style rides has proven unsuccessful. The city council met last night in an emergency meeting to discuss the Zoo's future, and several other important figures were in attendance. One of them being Rodney Stevens, a retired engineer, and owner of "Stevens Kingdom", the small family fun park located in Naples. Stevens' investment group is in talks with the city to purchase the Zoo and convert it to a full service theme park, featuring thrill and family style rides.

 

While the council deliberates before the vote, we'll leave you with a few pictures from a recent outing to the Naples City Zoo.

 

 

 

Stay linked for news concerning the future of the Naples City Zoo.

GrizzShot.jpg.584d7dce33aaf7a0bbaa570e9e0ae510.jpg

A grizzly bear posing for the camera. Thank heavens for fences!

Camels.jpg.f4a007de961527a7e1ea5b37a90e55fd.jpg

Beautiful scenery. Ferris wheel gives guests a great aerial view of the park.

Zooshot1.jpg.5881dd3833bfe2dbc92f8b67c05dc78d.jpg

Great shady areas make it easy for guests to get up close to the animals.

Parking1.jpg.c8f38dffab0022579875e0a1c83d67a2.jpg

Lots of room for shopping centers, strip malls, restaurants, etc. If the Stevens group doesn't take advantage of this parcel, someone else will.

Edited by 808Freq
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 14
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

8/30/10

 

From naplesnews.com

 

The BlackRock Group (BRG) has won the final round of the auction selling off the Naples City Zoo. With the decision comes a new round of accusations of backroom dealing among councilmen. An unnamed executive with Simon Malls, the competing bidder, accuses the Naples city council of practically "giving" the land to BlackRock. "They didn't want another mall competing with Coastland, which is partially owned by one of the chairmen of the city council. This is the last time Simon will ever attempt to invest in the city of Naples."

 

The next step is to decide to what do with the land. One thing is for sure, the Zoo will be closing it's doors. Rodney Stevens, the CEO of the BlackRock Group L.L.C., sat down with Naplesnews.com "For years the Zoo hasn't been able to compete for consumers' entertainment dollar. Animals are cute, but cute doesn't pay the bills." When asked what the land will be used for, "That is under consideration. Naples commercial real estate market is shattered, and being so close to a well respected entity such as Coastland Center Mall, commercial property doesn't make sense. But there is a strong need for residential. Say, apartments. We are looking at all options in that regard. Then, of course, there is the family entertainment option." Publicly, that is the option that Stevens prefers, already being involved in the family entertainment industry. "Viability is the issue. High speed rail connecting Miami, Southwest Florida, and Tampa and central Florida make things like large scale theme parks viable in today's market. Things like overbearing city restrictions and regulations make that viability a bit bleaker." Currently there is a height restriction of one hundred feet for 'amusement rides' in the city of Naples. Such restrictions would make it hard for a theme park to compete in today's competitive family entertainment industry. "Time will tell."

 

 

We leave you with some shots of closing day. A somber day for sure, but who knows what the future will bring!

 

zoocloseday.jpg.20a8d5f03a03dfa782a09635dac7bd08.jpg

A good turnout for the last day.

 

Tiltclose.jpg.9e053cb1a2d522ad3750c27f3f0fce57.jpg

The crowd favorite giving it's fans a good ride.

 

ferrisbrokeclose.jpg.768f1497e1a363cfa6aa038b196e37fc.jpg

To add insult to injury, the Ferris Wheel broke, keeping riders stuck for over an hour.

 

zooclose2.jpg.da5d265eed5218a289968b683d426b1e.jpg

The crowd files out as the zoo closes it's gates for the final time.

 

animalsgone.jpg.74666f71ce8bee72634a170c855a29a1.jpg

The animals were removed almost immediately after the last person left the zoo.

 

securityguy.jpg.b5eaa155bac4731e31c7ce53611c9b25.jpg

Making the last rounds.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

From naplesnews.com's Online Entertainment Blog -- "Jimmy's Corner"

 

First things first, a picture that I took just after the zoo closed. The first bulldozer at work at demolition. I post it now, because I was going to post it earlier (forgot I had taken it), plus it gives perspective (more on that in a moment).

 

1312303443_phase1.jpg.c405909462f0f55dcfd3ae8a36e98aa2.jpg

The very first dig into the ground. Beginning of the end for the zoo.

 

Though there has been no official word on what the land for the zoo will be used for, there is activity on the site.

 

536941752_Phase1-3.jpg.5eedc1650503f99aa73d9a5f61ee7828.jpg

Supplies being stockpiled.

 

1229429312_phase1-4.jpg.79974d61c8218f15b3a59f1900882bc4.jpg

Vehicles are large piles of wood.

 

More updates soon. I leave you with that 'perspective' shot. The same before, just fast forward a bit. Seems like they are building onto the old zoo ticket-house.

 

1466103774_phase1-2.jpg.0b223ee368b6b3e146e58fa8591e2b97.jpg

No more Tilt a whirl. Construction crew parking lot added. Scaffolding galore.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

banner.jpg.e098aadbad6cb284ed54bc2f40e70429.jpg

 

Announcing Miccosukee Park, opening soon in beautiful Naples, Florida. Operated by the newly created Blackrock Seminiole Entertainment group, the park will offer fun for the whole family. Ranging from classic style flat rides to thrilling roller coasters, Miccosukee Park will be Southwest Florida's best place to relax, let loose, and have fun!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From naplesnews.com's Online Entertainment Blog -- "Jimmy's Corner"

 

Miccosukee Park Update

 

Some photos I've taken in the past week of construction week 1.

 

831601289_Phase1woodarrives.jpg.b452c0e36f7e8102a24f8926773b2988.jpg

Wood arriving on the scene.

 

generalconstruction1.jpg.eebaf28c65631dfd41ac3c2e7b6af6a5.jpg

Construction crews arrived by the dozen on day one.

 

generalconstruction2.jpg.3f67381a82b8dd16e62e52620d45851c.jpg

More buildings going up. I wonder what these will become one day.

 

SeminoleConstructionStart.jpg.dbbbee4d783ff9a752e32273e8a6c608.jpg

Station house and coaster begin construction at the same time. Seminole will be a house built wooden coaster that "Blends exciting twists with classic wooden airtime."

 

IntConstruction2.jpg.b9a078c20018524eccc41778f5debae0.jpg

Supports arrive for the steel coaster. No word on the name for this coaster, as it's a late addition to the park's plans. In fact, it is nowhere on the parks formal plans, and to date is shrouded in mystery. When asked who is supplying the coaster, the park had no comment.

 

More to come as it happens.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

From naplesnews.com's Online Entertainment Blog -- "Jimmy's Corner"

 

Miccosukee Park Update

 

Construction is moving right along, and Miccosukee's PR people dropped me this little glossy photo when I stopped by the site today.

 

Billboard.jpg.ef9d24543cefea11449311fa2d3d7351.jpg

 

While it was long rumored, it has now been confirmed. Intamin is building Tomahawk, which will have the fastest 'standard' lift hill in the U.S.

 

Below are some construction photos of Tomahawk and some previews of the park.

 

entranceclose.jpg.690d7b04fcca59be572515a051c98f03.jpg

The entrance of the park. This area is still under construction.

 

eatery.jpg.1f9c1c0ed8feec1be57172e7f0e273c4.jpg

One of the larger buildings completed so far.

 

Tomahawk1.jpg.c0c4c07f6cfacfe28d76832535a7313f.jpg

Spent a few hours on the job site. The guys hard at work building Tomahawk let me get some great pictures!

 

Tomahawk2.jpg.6c7724c9271b1e8c10cf266e9ee45836.jpg

A piece of track is positioned into place. The wind wasn't making it any easier on the workers.

 

tomahawk3.jpg.0ff87e22eda1fc9e468532d0f3a895ba.jpg

A few hours later, onto the next piece!

 

That's all for now. Check back next week for more updates!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From naplesnews.com's Online Entertainment Blog -- "Jimmy's Corner"

 

Miccosukee Park Update

 

While I can't get any of the crew to give exact details, I'm told the park is about three quarters complete. I'm getting a walk through hard hat tour next week. This week they wouldn't allow pictures from inside the park(as with most projects this large, the construction scene is getting hectic, and they don't want non workers on the site at this time).

 

Here's one from just outside the gate.

624507820_entryshot.jpg.8e2184b9e29919db9cf21c47db9cb086.jpg

View from the parking lot (also currently under construction just behind me out of the picture).

 

Also, this picture was mailed to me. Some guy who took it from his private prop plane four days ago. I must say it looks much different now that it's finished (Also, how low was this guy flying? Looks like he's lower than Tomahawk's peak.. which is under 100 ft !!)..Hawkshot.jpg.3a42e77833eaa0543999536b9d50b10f.jpg

One of the two coasters the park will open with.

 

 

Next time I'll have much more to show you. Till then...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use https://themeparkreview.com/forum/topic/116-terms-of-service-please-read/