Northern Michigan theme park. (Petoskey, Gaylord: property taxes, condo, work)

[skiernut]

I have been following this with great interest as I have a home in Grayling. It is a beautiful area and has not changed in the 33 years I have been going there. It could use an economic boost somehow. I could see it here rather than cramming it into the TC area where most of them are situated. I hope it happens as the area has a lot going for it.

[MichiganGurl]

For anyone who wants to move to Grayling, I was raised there my whole life and is a nice place for people who would like to retire. I lived 5 miles from the so called bombing / artillery range and NEVER did anything crash into our homes. I have NEVER heard that b4 we moved there or since I have moved and I lived there 20 yrs. Please do not be turned away from moving there because it IS a nice place to live but remember that if you have a fixed income you can count on is better because the jobs are just not there. Maybe that will change when the theme park is being built~!!!

[skiernut]

Looking at the Record Eagle did not fill me with hope for this project. I worry this developer just takes people at the front end then vaporizes leaving the town with infrastructure with no use and dreams hurt. Just a thought, golf courses are famous for this...

[searchhope]

Many people are talking about a possible type of park that is coming to the Gaylord area and this is true. It has been in the works for sometime now and some land has already been purchased and offers have went out on many others.

This will be,if land can be bought, a large and very family friendly park!!! Michigan is a GREAT STATE for recreaton and fun and this will just add to it.

We have many casinos for adults(I think to many) and need to add more for our families and this will. The jobs will be a good kick in the economy for Michigan.

The park is being planned, if it continues to be the same company, by a company with very large parks in two other states. HINT HINT!!

Rumors always fly when something like this happens but a person here has been approached about selling the summer land and home they have in the Gaylord area.

HOPE IT HAPPENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Northman]

Yeah, that Petoskey Pointe thing makes my blood boil. What an eyesore......they should scrap the whole thing and just put a nice little park there. I was at Mighty Fine Pizza a few weeks back and you can't even see out to the bay over that stupid blue fence.

I'd like to see the theme park succeed, but I have to agree with the poster above. Even if it is indoors, good luck getting there in winter when the lake effect snow bands are howling across the highways. Grayling is not a good location for such a place. The summers are too short - how could they turn a profit?

[Waves5]

Yea its true, but not sure that it will happen, its in Grayling off I-75. They are also suppose to be building a mega mall in the Soo and they should be finishing the Petoskey Pointe in Petoskey, but they haven't. I don't believe anything up here until I see it.

[Bydand]

I did the electrical work at the "theme park" you are talking about in Vanderbilt. He went belly up because he was the worst businessman on the face of the planet and was VERY, VERY odd. HE would draw a pistol and shoot holes in the walls of the building just "because I want to." Then he would pay the carpenter to not just fix the wall, but to replace it. He did this several times while I was there. He would ask advice about something, then do the opposite, most expensive thing there was. I don't think he ever opened the gate to his little kingdom for customers. He had a grandiose scheme of having a wildlife park AND a safari type hunting camp where people could pay high dollar and hunt for lion and other dangerous African game there, as well as having tourists out in open trams. He was a flake, that is why he ran out of money and didn't even open for business, before he spent every last dime on a fools business. He had some giraffes, and camels as "pets" out there for a few years before he ever decided to turn it into a "park".

[Great Lakes Pirate]

Originally Posted by Bydand

I did the electrical work at the "theme park" you are talking about in Vanderbilt. He went belly up because he was the worst businessman on the face of the planet and was VERY, VERY odd. HE would draw a pistol and shoot holes in the walls of the building just "because I want to." Then he would pay the carpenter to not just fix the wall, but to replace it. He did this several times while I was there. He would ask advice about something, then do the opposite, most expensive thing there was. I don't think he ever opened the gate to his little kingdom for customers. He had a grandiose scheme of having a wildlife park AND a safari type hunting camp where people could pay high dollar and hunt for lion and other dangerous African game there, as well as having tourists out in open trams. He was a flake, that is why he ran out of money and didn't even open for business, before he spent every last dime on a fools business. He had some giraffes, and camels as "pets" out there for a few years before he ever decided to turn it into a "park".

can I have the film rights to this story?

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by Great Lakes Pirate

can I have the film rights to this story?

The guy was personable, but a kook. First time we had to go out there was the middle of winter and the power to the air exchanger in the giraffes barn. Well he pointed at a door to go through to the electrical panel, when I opened it up, there was a giraffes head right there. I guess whenever the owner cam in the building, he had a treat for them. So they would wait right there. Now I had seen giraffes in zoos, and on TV up to that point... let me just say, their are a LOT bigger than I thought they would be. I about jumped out of my boots and slammed the door in its face.

I think the film is already out, its called "one flew over the Cuckoos nest".

[antimonkeybutt]

Originally Posted by Bydand

I did the electrical work at the "theme park" you are talking about in Vanderbilt. He went belly up because he was the worst businessman on the face of the planet and was VERY, VERY odd. HE would draw a pistol and shoot holes in the walls of the building just "because I want to." Then he would pay the carpenter to not just fix the wall, but to replace it. He did this several times while I was there. He would ask advice about something, then do the opposite, most expensive thing there was. I don't think he ever opened the gate to his little kingdom for customers. He had a grandiose scheme of having a wildlife park AND a safari type hunting camp where people could pay high dollar and hunt for lion and other dangerous African game there, as well as having tourists out in open trams. He was a flake, that is why he ran out of money and didn't even open for business, before he spent every last dime on a fools business. He had some giraffes, and camels as "pets" out there for a few years before he ever decided to turn it into a "park".

You may have worked on it, but I can assure you it was open for business for 1 year. I went to it on several ocasions and when it was not bringing in the funding needed he even put in a couple of rides a fariswheel was one. It went out of business because of lack of attendance. It was sold off to Treetops ski resort who redeveloped it as part of their golf resort and condos.

I can not comment on his shooting walls but it was open for just over a year. People who purchased season tickets for the second year I knew were POed they lost their money.