Wiedereröffnung 2014: Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom

[Mario M.]

Neue Zukunftspläne?!

Eventuell gehört der Park bald den Besitzern von Holiday World (Familie Koch)

Could there finally be a light at the end of the tunnel for the shuttered Kentucky Kingdom amusement park? And could that light be the family behind the very successful Holiday World theme park?

Perhaps. Yesterday news broke that the family who owns Holiday World, the Kochs, was in a "fact-finding" phase of looking at the park in order to see if operating a lease on the property made sense. The park has made it crystal clear that they are simply looking into it, and it sounds like in no way should anyone assume that the Holiday World operators will be taking over Kentucky Kingdom.

Still, this is a bright spot in a dark two years worth of history for the park since Six Flags pulled out and abandoned the property. The Koch family is nothing if not determined when it comes to their theme park, and that combined with their operation knowledge could potentially spell a bright future for Kentucky Kingdom.

Plus, geographically it would make sense. The park's are only about 100 driving miles (60 or so direct) from one another, so there are obvious benefits from that, too.

Something to keep an eye on, for sure.

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[Mario M.]

Die Wiedereröffnung rückt näher! 2013 könnte es bereits soweit sein

Mitglieder der Familie Koch (Besitzer des Freizeitparks Holiday World) haben eine neue Firma mit dem Namen "Bluegrass Boardwalk Inc." gegründet.

Mit diesem Unternehmen will man das Projekt Wiedereröffnung des ehemaligen Wasser- und Freizeitparks weiterverfolgen.

Für die Wiedereröffnung sollen keien öffentlichen Gelder fließen!

Die Gruppe bersteht aus:

Holiday World President Dan Koch, seiner Schwester Natalie Koch, ihrem Cousin Kathy Kamp, und ihrem Mann Michael Kamp der auch Generalmanager in der Holiday World ist.

Der neue Name des Parks wäre dann Bluegrass Boardwalk.

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Website: Bluegrass Boardwalk
Facebookseite: Bluegrass Boardwalk - Attraktionen/Unternehmungen - Louisville | Facebook

 

[Mario M.]

Folgendes hört sich ganz gut an

Workman “Very Confident” of 2013 Kentucky Kingdom Reopening

The president of the Kentucky State Fair Board says negotiations with a prospective new operator of the Kentucky Kingdom amusement park are going well. Harold Workman told a Kentucky Senate committee yesterday that he expects the talks with the owners of Indiana’s Holiday World to lead to an agreement.
“We’re in negotiations with a Kentucky corporation that was formed, called Bluegrass Boardwalk. If that is successful, which we’re very confident that it will be, then we anticipate the park will be open in May of 2013,” he said.

Bluegrass Boardwalk was formed by members of the Koch family, which owns Holiday World. The family has said it would not seek any public funding from the Kentucky legislature, but is applying for state economic development incentives.
Kentucky Kingdom has been shuttered since early 2010, when its previous operator, Six Flags, declared bankruptcy. Talks with Louisville developer Ed Hart to take over the park fell through last year.
The park has provided hundreds of seasonal jobs for young people. Workman told the panel the fair board has lost about $2 million annually in revenue since the closure.

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[Mario M.]

Hört sich langsam immer besser an

Koch family reaches tentative deal to run Kentucky Kingdom

LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- It appears a deal for the owners of Holiday World to operate Kentucky Kingdom could be approved this week. WDRB has confirmed that the Kentucky State Fair Board has reached a tentative deal with the Koch family to run the park.
The fair board is expected to vote on the lease agreement at its meeting this Thursday.
None of the parties would talk about specifics within the proposed lease.

But it does involve members of the Koch family, of Holiday World, operating Kentucky Kingdom and perhaps changing its name to Bluegrass Boardwalk.

Those Koch family members have formed a company with that name; they've secured a website and a Facebook page -- and have said they will apply for state tax incentives to help with financing.

They also have said they will not ask Kentucky lawmakers directly for money.
City spokesman Chris Poynter says the Kochs have not approached the Louisville metro government for any financial help, though he says it is "willing to help" as the company seeks financing in any way possible.

A re-opened park offers the potential of more than a thousand jobs and millions in tax revenue.
Stock pictures on the Bluegrass Boardwalk Facebook page show children's rides and scenes from what appear to be a water park.
There are two versions of a Bluegrass Boardwalk logo -- and a listing of its address as the state fair and expo center.

The sites say Bluegrass Boardwalk operators hope to open in 2013 -- three years after Kentucky Kingdom's previous owners closed suddenly.
Two weeks ago, the Kochs announced that they had formed a new company called Bluegrass Boardwalk, Inc, with the goal of negotiating an agreement to operate Kentucky Kingdom. They've also indicated they may change the park's name to Bluegrass Boardwalk. Any name change would require state fair board approval.
Possible state tax credits could involve a rebate of sales taxes and tax breaks to recover one-fourth of development costs over a ten-year period, according to state statute.

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[Mario M.]

Yeah, der Countdown läuft In 15 Monaten wird der Park unter dem Namen Bluegrass Boardwalk Wiedereröffnen!!!

Bei der Quelle gibt es auch ein Video!!!

Koch family approved to take over Kentucky Kingdom

LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- "A wonderful partnership that we are super excited about." That was Holiday World President Dan Koch's reaction to the Kentucky State Fair Board's decision to allow the family behind the successful Holiday World amusement park to take over Kentucky Kingdom. The State Fair Board made that decision in a vote Thursday afternoon.
Koch says the park will be renamed Bluegrass Boardwalk and will be considered a "sister park" to Holiday World. He also promised it would open in May of 2013. "We're going to bring to Louisville the culture and guest experience" people have at Holiday World, he said. "We bring with us a core value of understanding families," he added.
Koch says the park will bring 800 seasonal jobs and a number of full-time jobs to the community. He also emphasized the hard work it will take to get the park ready for next year's opening, saying painters and carpenters have to get busy, and that workers are going to start work on the rides and make them safe.
Koch says, "We're going to make that park shine out there," and adds it will be something that Louisville "will be proud of."

The Koch family has already secured a website and a Facebook page under the Bluegrass Boardwalk name showing children's rides and scenes from a waterpark.
Koch family members have said they will apply for state tax incentives to help with financing, but won't ask lawmakers directly for money. Those incentives could include tax breaks to recover one-fourth of the Koch family's costs over ten years and allow a rebate of state sales taxes.
Earlier this week, Mayor Greg Fischer said as part of the deal the city won't receive a payroll tax, but he approves of that, saying, "Well, if that's what it takes to help them get it open, we do that for different deals from time to time that create jobs and help the community. So our goal is to keep this open and get people employed and get our community enjoying it."

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[Richter86]

Hab vor ein paar Tagen beim zappen auf DMAX eine Serie über Waffenhändler gesehen, die lieferten Waffen für einen Film der dort gedreht worden ist. Sah schon ganz schön verkommen aus. Da blutet einem das Herz. Schön das es nochmals wiederbelebt wird!

 

[Mario M.]

Die Finanzierung dürfte bald stehen, mal sehen wie es dann weitergeht!

Tax credits sought for Bluegrass Boardwalk theme park

The developers seeking to reopen Kentucky Kingdom as Bluegrass Boardwalk are moving foward with financing plans, including filing a preliminary application for state incentives and talking to Louisville about local assistance.“The process is moving forward, just not as quickly as we’d expected,” said Paula Werne, spokeswoman for the Koch family, the operators of Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus, Ind.
The Kentucky State Fair Board, which owns the former Kentucky Kingdom property at the Kentucky Exposition Center, approved a preliminary lease in February for the Kochs to take over the amusement park, which last operated in fall 2009.
“We’re not quite where we’d like to be, yet — but we’re still plugging away,” Werne said. “It is our goal to open Bluegrass Boardwalk in just over a year. We’ve met with a number of ride vendors and are eager to push the button on some exciting new additions for the park.”
Werne said members of the company that the Kochs formed to pursue the Bluegrass Boardwalk venture were not available for comment. They include Dan Koch, chief executive officer of Holiday World, and three other family members.
Gil Lawson, a spokesman for the state Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, confirmed that the Kochs filed more information Monday on a preliminary application for tourism tax credits. He said the cabinet’s policy is not to divulge details of preliminary applications that have not been acted on by the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority.
Lawson said that, under state law, applicants of projects designed to promote tourism development can be eligible to recover up to 25 percent of their investment over 10 years, through a rebate of state sales taxes generated by the project.
Lawson said that after the authority gives an application preliminary approval, a study is required to make sure the project meets all the requirements of state law, including generating a threshold level of sales taxes. After reviewing the study, the authority will then be in a position to consider final approval, Lawson said.
Chris Poynter, a spokesman for Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, said the Kochs and the city are discussing possible financial incentives the city might provide for the remaking of the theme park. Poynter said the city is discussing a rebate of a portion of the occupational taxes that would be withheld from park employee paychecks.
“We will do whatever we can to get the park open. It is important for tourism, for summer jobs for teenagers and for convention business,” Poynter said.
The Kochs have said they plan to invest $15 million to $20 million in reopening the fairgrounds park. They expect to employ about 800 seasonal workers and around 25 full-time staff.
The tentative lease is subject to final approval by the state Finance and Administration Cabinet. The initial lease would be for 50 years, with two 25-year renewal options. The Kochs are to pay a base rent of $400,000 to the fair board in 2013, with annual increases thereafter.

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[Mario M.]

Die bekommen vom Staat wirklich viele Vergünstigungen!!!

Bluegrass Boardwalk gets another boost from Kentucky state government

The investors intending to open the Bluegrass Boardwalk amusement park, formerly Kentucky Kingdom, received another boost from state government Thursday with the approval of $17,032 in sales tax rebates for construction materials and building fixtures.The approval came from the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority.
The park is on schedule to begin operating in May 2013, with predictions that it will attract 600,000 people in its first year.
On Wednesday, the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority approved $3.9 million in tourism tax credits toward the cost of opening the park at the Kentucky Exposition Center, which last operated in 2009 and was abandoned amid a bankruptcy by the Six Flags organization.
Primary investors in the park are Natalie and Daniel Koch of Santa Claus, Ind.

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The Latest Bluegrass Boardwalk News

Some promising developments have recently taken place in the plan to reopen Kentucky Kingdom as Bluegrass Boardwalk in 2013.

Developers have received preliminary approval for $3.9 million in tourism tax credits from the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority.

The park will be eligible to start receiving the credits once Bluegrass Boardwalk has opened. A study will be conducted to ensure that the plan meets the requirements for the credits, hence the preliminary status. A nice write up on the latest tax developments is available here.

Developers have also released some initial details on their plans for the revitalized park:

• Goal: Open Bluegrass Boardwalk in May, 2013, with revitalized rides and water park.
• Provide: Safe, clean, friendly, fun experience for families, with “freebies” including free soft drinks, free sunscreen and free use of inner tubes.
• First year investment: $15.6 million. Additional investments will be made by Bluegrass Boardwalk, Inc., each year to ensure steady attendance growth.
• First year’s schedule: Open for 106 days in 2013.
• Destination Marketing: Staff will work with area tourism entities to create and promote destination marketing programs to ensure at least 25% of attendance will be from out of state.
• Projected Attendance Growth: 600,000 in 2013, growing to 782,864 in 2022.
• Projected Job Creation: 25 fulltime/805 seasonal in 2013, growing to 43 and 976 in 2022.
• Projected Payroll: $4.7 million in 2013, growing to $6.1 million in 2022.
• Projected State Fair Board Revenue: $880,000 in 2013, growing to $1.8 million in 2022.

The first year investment of $15.6 million is plenty enough to add a nice variety of attractions at the park, and get it cleaned up and ready to go. They're also being more than reasonable with their attendance goals, with a realistic growth estimate over 10 years.

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[Mario M.]

Der Eröffnungstermin wurde bekanntgegeben!!!

Tentative opening date for Bluegrass Boardwalk

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - The date of May 11, 2013 will be an exciting one for those who love amusement parks. That is the date set for the opening of Bluegrass Boardwalk. The new amusement park will occupy the former site of Kentucky Kingdom, which has sat vacant since closing in February 2010.
The park will be operated by the Koch family, owners of Holiday World in Santa Claus, IN, and will employ 800 seasonal workers.
Like Holiday World, Bluegrass Boardwalk will also feature free soft drinks, free sunscreen and free use of inner tubes at its water park.

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[Mario M.]

Einen Bericht mit einem aktuellen video aus dem Park gibt es hier zu sehen:

WHAS11's Melissa Swan gets an inside look at the new Bluegrass Boardwalk | WHAS11.com Louisville

Da wird auch noch ein wenig erläutert das man die selbe Schiene wie mit der Holiday World fahren will, also Freigetränke und Sonnencreme für alle^^

 

[Mario M.]

Da haben wir uns wohl doch zu früh gefreut... Eröffnung eventuell erst 2014 und dann auch noch ohne große Achterbahnen Dann können sie den Park auch abreißen...

Louisville theme park won't offer roller coasters, may delay reopening to 2014 | The Courier-Journal | courier-journal.com

 

[Mario M.]

Der Plan mit 2013 ist vom Tisch... jetzt also frühstens 2014

http://www.bluegrassboardwalk.com/bluegrass-boardwalk-confirms-request-for-2014-opening/

 

[Mario M.]

Wer sich für das Thema interessiert kann sich hier mal einen sehr langen Dialog dazu durchlesen:

Kentucky Kingdom creator Ed Hart: ‘If Bluegrass Boardwalk fails, it will cost taxpayers $70 million’ » Insider Louisville

Ed Hart meldet sich darin wieder zu Wort! Wirkliche Pläne scheinen die Koch's ja (noch) nicht zu haben

 

[parkfreak]

Es gibt schlechte Neuigkeiten!

(6/18/12) I'll stand by my original statement... Holiday World's Koch family's plan to revive Kentucky Kingdom really made no sense at all to me. I wished them the best of luck, but I had also heard just how far gone Kentucky Kingdom really was and knew that the Koch family really had their work set out for them... not only to fix the park, but they were bound to have issues come up with the state of Kentucky and deal with the same Kentucky State Fair Board that drove away Six Flags and turned away Ed Hart after an 18 month effort to revive the park with no solid explanation.

That said... the Koch family announced late on Friday evening that they too were withdrawing from the project and would no longer pursue any kind of attempt to reopen the former Kentucky Kingdom theme park. In the end, leasing the park instead of "owning it" just proved to be too much of a sticking point and "the many layers of governmental regulations and stipulations ultimately caused them to withdraw." Can't say I blame them... it really made no sense to me. While I know the Koch family has bee hoping to somehow expand their buisness and own another park, Kentucky Kingdom really was not the right fit. (I'd like to suggest that they take a good long hard look at the former Hard Rock Park. It's still in good shape and I think really could have benefitted from their family friendly management style.

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Familie Koch ist komplett vom Projekt abgesprungen, dass wars dann für den "Bluegrass Boardwalk".
Schade um SFKK, wäre auch zu schön gewesen!

 

[Mario M.]

Ja... irgendwie auch eine nicht enden wollende Geschichte

Hier der offizielle Text aus dem Blog:

Bluegrass Boardwalk withdraws from project

We’re so sorry to share this sad and disappointing news. Thank you to all who expressed their unbridled enthusiasm in this project. We will remove this website plus our Facebook and Twitter pages within the week. The following news release was emailed to the news media this afternoon:

Bluegrass Boardwalk withdraws from project

(June 15, 2012) Louisville, Kentucky —Following nine months of planning to reopen Louisville’s shuttered amusement park, Bluegrass Boardwalk, Inc. today withdrew from the project.
“We entered into this discussion last October with full expectation of leasing the park,” says Bluegrass Boardwalk CEO Natalie Koch. “However, we have come to the realization that leasing a park rather than owning it would take us too far from the business model my family has followed for more than 60 years.”
Koch says she and her partners were financially prepared to meet the challenge of reopening the abandoned park, however the many layers of governmental regulations and stipulations ultimately caused them to withdraw.
Koch says she and her partners believe reopening the Louisville park is still a worthwhile project and they wish the future operator well.
“It’s been a lifelong dream for my family to operate a second park,” says Koch, whose family owns and operates Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana. “It’s hard to walk away from what we believed was a winning partnership for Kentucky and our team. But at the end of the day, the terms of the project did not fit our business model. It was time to withdraw.”
A letter terminating the proposed lease agreement was delivered to the Kentucky State Fair Board this afternoon.

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