Big Surf Closing

[KarmaPhx]

I don't think the weather is an issue, we get most of our tourists during the cooler months anyhow.

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by KarmaPhx

I don't think the weather is an issue, we get most of our tourists during the cooler months anyhow.

Weather IS AN ISSUE Josh - AND, a theme park like you suggest would not be simply / merely for tourists. Without the support of the Local poplulation, it would fail.

And weather issues such as dust storms, monsson storms, and so on play havoc on equipment et al.

[KarmaPhx]

Originally Posted by Greatday

Weather IS AN ISSUE Josh - AND, a theme park like you suggest would not be simply / merely for tourists. Without the support of the Local poplulation, it would fail.

And weather issues such as dust storms, monsson storms, and so on play havoc on equipment et al.

Why wouldn't it have the support of the local population? If there was a Six Flags built near Phoenix, I would be there most weekends, definitely buying a annual pass every year.

The coaster at CnC has ran for years with little issues, even with all the storms.

You could even combine water rides along with the theme park like many other places do.

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by KarmaPhx

Why wouldn't it have the support of the local population? If there was a Six Flags built near Phoenix, I would be there most weekends, definitely buying a annual pass every year.

The coaster at CnC has ran for years with little issues, even with all the storms.

Josh - when it is 115 degrees, people do not want to ride coasters. We see this even in Las Vegas that use of the coaster rides is Nil during daylight hours during the summer.

And when the Monsoon storms come in - rides would have to shut down.

There is precedent in the valley on this issue with Legend City - a park that many of us used all the time. But, during the daylight times in the summer - it was a ghost town.

No, the Developers who have looked into it - including Disney and Six Flags, have said that unless there was some way of making it a Domed Park - they would not invest in it.

And, IMO, they know far better than you or I do.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by Magnum Mike

It's probably going to be an improved version of Big Surf. That would be nice to keep a Phoenix area icon alive.

I've gone to Big Surf numerous times when I was a teen-ager in the 1970's, the one thing I was I missed there was a Deep Purple concert sometime around the mid 1970's. I can't remember why I missed it, but I remember I wanted to go.

Waveyard (should it come to full scale fruition) is supposed to be a MAJOR improvement over Big Surf. Granted, Big Surf served a substantial purpose in the Valley for 40 years, and has been hugely popular ... but I'm in agreement that there needs to be something bigger, better, and more exciting.

I recall hearing about some major bands and singers performing at Big Surf many years ago, but I never got the chance to attend any of the concerts. Maybe some of yesterdays' & today's music celebs will be invited to perform at Waveyard if it ever gets built. If Deep Purple performs, they might actually be able to provide some REAL smoke on the water this time!
()

Originally Posted by Greatday

There have been exploratory inquiries about a large park in the Phoenix Metro area - including by Disney. But, all agree on one basic issue - the weather is a MAJOR negative.

All these inquiries have also agreed that IF, a BIG if, the park could be "Domed" - Climate controlled, then a theme type park could work. However the cost involved with such a thing is almost prohibitive - especially in todays economy.

Perhaps in the future. But, not now.

Weather is a major issue just about everywhere there are large theme parks. Yes, it's ridiculously hot here in the summer, which goes without saying ... however, the theme park capital of the U.S. (Florida) has FAR more weather related issues than Arizona does. They have heat AND stifling humidity ... we just have heat. They have torrential rains and hurricanes ... we have a few dust storms & scattered thunderstorms on occasion. Yet, theme parks operate successfully in Florida all year round! They're successful in California too, where fires, earthquakes, and mud slides happen.

These arguments about Phoenix being too hot to have major theme parks are just negative excuses. They can happen if they would be allowed to happen. NIMBYs and their protests are more prohibitive to development of these amenities than our climate is.

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by Greatday

Josh - when it is 115 degrees, people do not want to ride coasters. We see this even in Las Vegas that use of the coaster rides is Nil during daylight hours during the summer.

And when the Monsoon storms come in - rides would have to shut down.

There is precedent in the valley on this issue with Legend City - a park that many of us used all the time. But, during the daylight times in the summer - it was a ghost town.

No, the Developers who have looked into it - including Disney and Six Flags, have said that unless there was some way of making it a Domed Park - they would not invest in it.

And, IMO, they know far better than you or I do.

Hmmm, I was trying to find information where developers said they'd only build if it was domed. It really doesn't get up to 115° on a regular basis in Phoenix or Eloy. But I know it does in BHC, etc. However, many of the parks I've been to in hot or hot/humid climates don't have their cars for roller-coaster sitting out in the sun while stopped, loading/unloading, etc. They usually pull into a cooled "station." Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA comes to mind. They also have water features included to cool people down.

But hey, in Arizona we could have our parks open in the winter and those in cold regions can say to their kids: "We're going to visit Uncle Buck, Grandma Rose, your cousins, etc in Arizona for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, or Spring Training and go to that theme park!" Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!

[KarmaPhx]

Originally Posted by Greatday

Josh - when it is 115 degrees, people do not want to ride coasters. We see this even in Las Vegas that use of the coaster rides is Nil during daylight hours during the summer.

And when the Monsoon storms come in - rides would have to shut down.

There is precedent in the valley on this issue with Legend City - a park that many of us used all the time. But, during the daylight times in the summer - it was a ghost town.

No, the Developers who have looked into it - including Disney and Six Flags, have said that unless there was some way of making it a Domed Park - they would not invest in it.

And, IMO, they know far better than you or I do.

Sure the summers might be a little slow for business, but they could easily be open late into the night. Most days during the summer CnC gets packed.

Monsoons are pretty rare, you claim to have lived here most of your life, if so you should know that Phoenix lacks in rain.

Legend City was a out dated theme park with crappy attractions, and would not compare to a modern day theme park.

So maybe 2-3 months of the year it will be slow, but the fall/winter/spring should be busy.

[Magnum Mike]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Waveyard (should it come to full scale fruition) is supposed to be a MAJOR improvement over Big Surf. Granted, Big Surf served a substantial purpose in the Valley for 40 years, and has been hugely popular ... but I'm in agreement that there needs to be something bigger, better, and more exciting.

I recall hearing about some major bands and singers performing at Big Surf many years ago, but I never got the chance to attend any of the concerts. Maybe some of yesterdays' & today's music celebs will be invited to perform at Waveyard if it ever gets built. If Deep Purple performs, they might actually be able to provide some REAL smoke on the water this time!
()

LOL.. Smoke On The Water for real, that's hillarious!

Actually, and I'm sure most of you know this, Deep Purple's song Smoke On The Water was based on a fire during the 1971 Motreux Rock festival in Switzerland, that burned down a casino, symbolized by the words "It burned down a gambling house". I hope that doesn't happen when the WaveYard opens, and Deep Purple ever decide to perform there again.

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Weather is a major issue just about everywhere there are large theme parks. Yes, it's ridiculously hot here in the summer, which goes without saying ... however, the theme park capital of the U.S. (Florida) has FAR more weather related issues than Arizona does. They have heat AND stifling humidity ... we just have heat. They have torrential rains and hurricanes ... we have a few dust storms & scattered thunderstorms on occasion. Yet, theme parks operate successfully in Florida all year round! They're successful in California too, where fires, earthquakes, and mud slides happen.

These arguments about Phoenix being too hot to have major theme parks are just negative excuses. They can happen if they would be allowed to happen. NIMBYs and their protests are more prohibitive to development of these amenities than our climate is.

I agree V.N. Weather should not be an issue, during the hottest time of the year, which are typically from the middle of June, the entire month of July, and sometimes the entire month of August. During this time period, such a theme park can open late, like around 6:00 or 7:00 PM, and operate until midnight, but the rest of the year, they can open at 9:00 AM, and operate for 12 hours.