Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

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RNcyanide
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by RNcyanide »

I'm not sure it'd be a worthy investment. It'd have to be on level with or better than Worlds/Oceans of Fun and Schlitterbahn.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by Stargazer »

Funplex is actually a decent park for a grand parent of a 1 and 5 year old. :)

In any case, I'd rather have it, than nothing at all.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by Garrett »

Where would be a good place to have one? Personally, I think near the I-680/I-29 junction in Iowa would be best. Good access to the interstate, and close to the airport and downtown.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by RNcyanide »

Near Lincoln. Further away from Adventureland and Worlds/Oceans of Fun. It should be near an area where one doesn't exist yet. Tap into customers who usually don't travel far for such activities or never have.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by nebugeater »

RNcyanide wrote:Near Lincoln. Further away from Adventureland and Worlds/Oceans of Fun. It should be near an area where one doesn't exist yet. Tap into customers who usually don't travel far for such activities or never have.
Agree 100 % if one is to be built some day. Near the Mahoney , Wildlife park, SAC museum exit.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by MTO »

We already have nothing at all more or less.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by RNcyanide »

If it's too close to established parks, sure, people from Omaha and Lincoln will try it. heck, maybe people from DSM and KC and MSP might too. But otherwise, I feel like people would be more willing to drive to a park that is closer to them rather than make a day trip out to a park they don't like. Especially if our hypothetical park doesn't quite measure up to O/WoF and Adventureland (maybe ours wouldn't cause so many concussions?). If we put it further to the west, we have a greater access by people who normally thought those parks were too far to drive to.

TBH, I feel like if we had a full blown Six Flags over Ashland (let's try burying them again lol), it would be a money sink. I'm happy with what Funplex offers and if I need more, I would gladly make a trip to KC and take advantage of their amenities down there.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by Greg S »

Garrett wrote:Where would be a good place to have one? Personally, I think near the I-680/I-29 junction in Iowa would be best. Good access to the interstate, and close to the airport and downtown.

I've always thought the Ashland exit near Mahoney and the Safari Park, but this is a good option as well. Some on this side of the river would be upset that it's not in Nebraska. We really need to get away from that type of thinking.

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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by Brad »

Garrett wrote:Where would be a good place to have one? Personally, I think near the I-680/I-29 junction in Iowa would be best. Good access to the interstate, and close to the airport and downtown.
You mean this land? Lol :;):

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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

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Half way between Omaha and Lincoln.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by RNcyanide »

The floods would make it a seasonal waterpark. Every roller coaster would be a 70mph log flume ride!!
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by Stargazer »

Too far out of the way for Lincolnites (and rest of Nebraska), needs to be between the metros.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by Linkin5 »

Brad wrote:
Garrett wrote:Where would be a good place to have one? Personally, I think near the I-680/I-29 junction in Iowa would be best. Good access to the interstate, and close to the airport and downtown.
You mean this land? Lol :;):

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Can you imagine the anticipation? Only open once every 100 years maybe! We'll call it |expletive|.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by Louie »

Linkin5 wrote:
Brad wrote:
Garrett wrote:Where would be a good place to have one? Personally, I think near the I-680/I-29 junction in Iowa would be best. Good access to the interstate, and close to the airport and downtown.
You mean this land? Lol :;):

Image

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Can you imagine the anticipation? Only open once every 100 years maybe! We'll call it |expletive|.
What will we call it?
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

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Coyote wrote:East Platte River
Pointe.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by Greg S »

Stargazer wrote:Too far out of the way for Lincolnites (and rest of Nebraska), needs to be between the metros.
So Lincolnites aren't going to drive an extra 40 minutes to a theme park? Yet we drive to Des Moines and KC? That's less convenient for Lincoln but you still get the I-29 corridor, including South Dakota.

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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by nebugeater »

Greg S wrote:
Stargazer wrote:Too far out of the way for Lincolnites (and rest of Nebraska), needs to be between the metros.
So Lincolnites aren't going to drive an extra 40 minutes to a theme park? Yet we drive to Des Moines and KC? That's less convenient for Lincoln but you still get the I-29 corridor, including South Dakota.

Greg

So you are more likly to pull larger numbers from Lincoln and you think the I29 Corridor will not drive the extra 40 Min? It can be argued both ways.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by Greg S »

I think the between Omaha and Lincoln is the preferred location. That being said I don't think it's the ONLY location. I know others really really want it in Nebraska. I'd like it to be but I am OK with it on the Iowa side. I just want it to happen. I will not go to FunPlex. That place is a joke for the size of a Metro area we have.

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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by Louie »

nebugeater wrote:
Greg S wrote:
Stargazer wrote:Too far out of the way for Lincolnites (and rest of Nebraska), needs to be between the metros.
So Lincolnites aren't going to drive an extra 40 minutes to a theme park? Yet we drive to Des Moines and KC? That's less convenient for Lincoln but you still get the I-29 corridor, including South Dakota.

Greg

So you are more likly to pull larger numbers from Lincoln and you think the I29 Corridor will not drive the extra 40 Min? It can be argued both ways.
How many people would view an amusement park as an interstate attraction? If you are going to an amusement park it is because you planned it. 40 minutes will not stop anyone from going to a park.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by TitosBuritoBarn »

Mahoney State Park could add a long, windy lazy river, some tall water slides, a couple tube slides, and a theme to tie it all together. Done!
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by MTO »

Doubt you'll see very many minorities at a Mahoney water park.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by Louie »

MTO wrote:Doubt you'll see very many minorities at a Mahoney water park.
False. Worked there for two years. Very popular with the Hispanic community. Also, what does it matter?
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by Stargazer »

Just a personal observation, city and state parks around here seem to be very popular in general with Hispanic folks, often see large family gatherings.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by MTO »

Louie wrote:
MTO wrote:Doubt you'll see very many minorities at a Mahoney water park.
False. Worked there for two years. Very popular with the Hispanic community. Also, what does it matter?
just a South Park reference don't read into it.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by BRoss »

MTO wrote:
Louie wrote:
MTO wrote:Doubt you'll see very many minorities at a Mahoney water park.
False. Worked there for two years. Very popular with the Hispanic community. Also, what does it matter?
just a South Park reference don't read into it.
http://www.southpark.nl/clips/256710/not-my-waterpark
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by bigredmed »

TitosBuritoBarn wrote:Mahoney State Park could add a long, windy lazy river, some tall water slides, a couple tube slides, and a theme to tie it all together. Done!
They could add an indoor pool. That would be a great add to the winter weekends.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by daveoma »

bigredmed wrote:
TitosBuritoBarn wrote:Mahoney State Park could add a long, windy lazy river, some tall water slides, a couple tube slides, and a theme to tie it all together. Done!
They could add an indoor pool. That would be a great add to the winter weekends.
I agree, if Omaha wants to have successful water park it should be indoors (or at least have a retractable sun roof) so it can be utilized during the winter.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by MTO »

I lie to myself and assume when the metro pops one milli we'll land these big city things like legitimate amusement parks.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

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Steve Minard approved.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by Greg S »

MTO wrote:I lie to myself and assume when the metro pops one milli we'll land these big city things like legitimate amusement parks.

Yeah my kids are 10 and 12 and I have never taken them to Fun Plex. We just make the extra effort and go to Worlds of Fun. Occasionally mix it up with Adventureland but for the extra hour each way it's worth it to go to WoF.

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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by Omaha Cowboy »

Stargazer wrote:Steve Minard approved.
Be careful..

The entire project could get "Minarded"...

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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by Dusty »

With all this talk about the Bellevue waterpark, it makes you wonder if this will affect Fun Plex. For me, Fun Plex is way too small and expensive. I would rather drive to Des Moines (Adventureland) or KC (Oceans of Fun).

In a perfect world, they would talk Builders Supply in selling the large lot just East of them. It would allow them to double in size.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by skinzfan23 »

Agreed, Fun Plex is way too small and overpriced for what it is. Admission is $35-40, which it should prob be in the $25 range for what they have to offer. In the 80's or maybe 90's, Funplex was ok. But for the amt of money that people now spend on leisure and recreation activities, the metro needs something substantially bigger and better.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by djc311 »

skinzfan23 wrote: Fri Feb 09, 2024 8:34 am Agreed, Fun Plex is way too small and overpriced for what it is. Admission is $35-40, which it should prob be in the $25 range for what they have to offer. In the 80's or maybe 90's, Funplex was ok. But for the amt of money that people now spend on leisure and recreation activities, the metro needs something substantially bigger and better.
Fun Plex is barely "fun" at all... it's tolerated because that's the only thing that has been able to stick around in our area. I thought CoCo Keys had a chance but I'm assuming the terrible management and obvious inability to maintain chemical balances in the pool were detrimental.

Omaha's population should easily be able to support a Great Wolf... perhaps even a Worlds of Fun/Adventureland attraction.

Does Fun Plex still shut down their entire park for corporate events? I haven't been there in years however I remember being there one day where they had signs posted indicating the whole park was going to be closed to the general public due to a business event (and it wasn't a Fun Plex employee party). That alone should tell you it's too damn small to support decent crowds.

If I was a gazillionaire I'd build park here - between Omaha and Lincoln... probably have to throw down a horse track/casino combination nearby to accommodate the drunk dads who want to gamble while the kiddos ride the coasters.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by ozbone69 »

Dusty wrote: Fri Feb 09, 2024 8:19 am With all this talk about the Bellevue waterpark, it makes you wonder if this will affect Fun Plex. For me, Fun Plex is way too small and expensive. I would rather drive to Des Moines (Adventureland) or KC (Oceans of Fun).

In a perfect world, they would talk Builders Supply in selling the large lot just East of them. It would allow them to double in size.

With Warhorse Casino at Horseman's Park nearby opening later this year, it would be nice to see if this area could become some kind of entertainment district for all ages. I'm offering no suggestions for what that would look like, just that there would be multiple large attractions next to each other that could be pretty cool if done right.
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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by Greg S »

skinzfan23 wrote: Fri Feb 09, 2024 8:34 am Agreed, Fun Plex is way too small and overpriced for what it is. Admission is $35-40, which it should prob be in the $25 range for what they have to offer. In the 80's or maybe 90's, Funplex was ok. But for the amt of money that people now spend on leisure and recreation activities, the metro needs something substantially bigger and better.
Totally agree. I don't think there's anything close to enough land over there to make it big enough. I have 2 boys one in college one a junior and have never taken them. For the money, we used to go to Adventureland then as they got a bit bigger we have always just gone to World of Fun.

I'd love to see something substantial built along I29 (I am OK if the amusement park ends up in Iowa) or better yet along I80. Probably west of Gretna or towards Mahoney/Safari Park/Proposed Big Lake.

For as much as some complain about the cost of Vala's, I would rather spend the extra money there than Fun Plex. So much more to see and do.

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Re: Fun Plex..Omaha's 'Amusement Park'..

Post by Dusty »

I get they had to raise prices to help pay for the new slides they installed. Major improvement over what they had before. BUT...even if they maxed out their property, it would still be really small compared to most water parks these days. If Gretna/Nebraska Crossing area were to attract a full size outdoor waterpark, Fun Plex would be scrambling. Plus, the Bellevue indoor center will be pulling visitors as well.

For perspective of a one day pass:
Fun Plex $40
Adventureland (Theme and water park)$45
Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun $35 for both parks
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