The OWH is reporting a water park and Marriot is going to be built next to the Mid America Center and Bass Pro. It is going to be in the same genre as a Great Wolf Lodge. I say this is great news for the metro!!! Cabela's better hurry up! http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=46&u_sid=1318591
The facility, he said, would include water slides, a zero-depth entry area for small children and "the latest and greatest in water park attractions."
It would be comparable to a Great Wolf Lodge, which has a location in Kansas City, Kan. "This is not going to be one of those you see tacked onto a lot of existing hotels," Mackey said. "This will definitely be a destination entertainment facility."
Wow, it took a little kick to the pills to get things going, but Bass Pro Shops is turning into quite the magnet for development in that area. I'm glad the waterpark idea is back in the MAC concept, since it was originally supposed to be.
Construction of a large water park and adjacent hotel in southwest Council Bluffs could begin this spring, a local official said.
John Burns, president of the Southwest Iowa Foundation, said a Kansas City-based developer, Capital Management Inc., is interested in building a hotel with about 150 rooms and an indoor water park near the Bass Pro Shop that's under construction.
"We are in the final negotiations for a purchase agreement," Burns said. "I would hope it might be completed in the next several working days."
The developer is experienced in hotel properties, Burns said, and this could be its first project that includes an adjacent water park.
The location for the project is north of the Bass Pro store, Burns said.
"I think Bass Pro is a triggering event, as well as the casinosand (the fact that) it sits on an interstate," he said. "It's beginning to be an area where people like to come, and this fits their (developer) concept."
The park may be around 40,000-square-feet in size.
"It's the kind of things you see with slides that are attractive to people," he said.
The overall project would be about $20 million, Burns said.
The Southwest Iowa Foundation has been in negotiations with two developers for about a year on purchasing that land, he said, before the Capital Management firm was chosen.
The foundation, which owns the land, plans to sell 20 acres for the project. The price tag is not yet finalized, Burns said.
The developer is also negotiating with the city concerning infrastructure needs, he said.
It's possible the water park might be completed by next year, he said. He wasn't sure when the hotel might be done because of factors like the weather.
A final plat for the project is expected to go to the City Council Feb. 14, said Don Gross, director of Community Development.
I don't think this will hurt Mahoney State Park. The Omaha area has been underserved by recreational areas in my opinion. This development should complement Mahoney and the Cabela's development and bring more peopel here and keep more people here for their entertainment dollars.
As far as the hotel goes, from what I know, the hotel proposed is a Staybridge Suites, an all suite hotel operating under the Marriott banner. It would be a fine addition to the area.
Construction of a "large" waterpark at a measley 20 acres? Isn't that an oxymoron? Thanks, but no thanks. Help me out here, is there really land out near Bass Pro/MAC where the waterpark could be expanded if need be.. I'm having a hard time visioning that much open space out there at all. I think you'd be pretty crammed for room.. no one wants a water park that'll never grow.. but maybe I'm wrong. Throw this thing out on I-29 as you make the turn towards KC southward.. you've got a ton of land and it'd be in a good spot. No one wants a fancy Fun Plex at 44,000 square feet or whatever it was.. I just thought this thing'd be a "little" bigger that's all...
God created alcohol to keep the Irish from taking over the world!
CountOfMC, have you seen the Great Wolf Lodge in KC? I think that is what they are shooting for. Not a Oceans of Fun type of park, but a place where a family can stay the night in town and have some fun. Think like a 5 - 15 year old and you'll get the picture. As long as they aren't planning on a river raft ride type of park, then I think it will be great.
Oh, ok. So this is aside from the amusement park everyone's been talking about? If so, then yeah I see what you're saying.. it'd be a great little getaway. I thought the Great Wolf Lodge was going hand in hand with a proposed Cabella's on I-80 near 370 or 31. Either way, it's great news.
God created alcohol to keep the Irish from taking over the world!
I really hope this one goes through, and it looks like it will. I'm tired of all these proposed water parks and amusement parks that get canceled at, like, the final planning stage. We definitely need something more than just Fun-Plex and Mahoney. Those places are too small and a little unfulfilling after being there a short while.
Man, it seems lately CB has been kicking butt and taking names, eh? It wouldn't hurt Bellevue to take some notes.
Curses!!!! I wanted to be the first one to bring up that I have seen nicer brothels than the Hilton downtown and that Fahey should have faced capital punishment the minute he removed the Marriot from the Qwest Center project.
But, to stay on topic I think this is great for Council Bluffs and the Omaha metro. Hopefully this will make this important part of the metro successful.
This is great news for the area. I think that this can be an asset to both Omaha and Council Bluffs. With the College World Series being only a few miles away, this would be a convenient place to stay. I am excited this is finally going through. I think many of us have hoped it would for some time. The only bothersome thing about the area is the exit from I-80. I think that another exit ramp might be more sufficient rather than traveling through the Sapp Bros. area. But all in all I am glad to see this growth along I-80.
I agree. Those exits are somewhat inconvenient when trying to get to that area. However, I don't really see where a new one could be put out of the fact that it sits right at the junction of 2 interstates. Hopefully, when all these projects are finished there will be some signs up to help direct people that are unfamiliar with the area.
I hope with all the new developments in CB they will get their I-80 portion widend. That's is probably the worst backed up area in Omaha outside of Dodge & 680.
OhioStreetKid wrote: Curses!!!! I wanted to be the first one to bring up that I have seen nicer brothels than the Hilton downtown and that Fahey should have faced capital punishment the minute he removed the Marriot from the Qwest Center project.
DTO Luv wrote:I hope with all the new developments in CB they will get their I-80 portion widend. That's is probably the worst backed up area in Omaha outside of Dodge & 680.
That has been in the planning stages for at least a decade, and IADOT is getting close to design/construction. With all the proposed development, from what I hear, there will be some changes along the existing interchanges and crossing streets to better accomodate traffic in that area. Last I checked the 5-year STIP, the reconstruction of the 2 I-80/29 interchanges and widening both lanes between those 2 points is still on track for $4.2 million of work in 2006 and $30 million in 2007.
Of course, 90% of that cost will have to come from FHWA, so who knows. Guess it depends on if Bush is still requesting $80 billion for Iraq/Afghanistan.......