One of the home builders out here in the western part of Phoenix - Surprise / Goodyear - area rumored that Six Flags may be building a new park.

The area has 3 million visitors to the area each year for Spring Training (five ballpark sites); a new football stadium handling the Cardinals and Super Bowl in a few years; two NASCAR races and Indy Car race in Goodyear; plus a ton of undeveloped land.

How will they keep the titanium roller coasters from melting?

Probably a good idea, since the area is growing pretty well, and it would be open year-round.

I can imagine that the market for a park exists in Phoenix.

I can't imagine that Six Flags would build it. Historically, their MO has been to acquire and expand existing parks. Recently, their MO has been to sell parks they already own to generate cash to stem the tide of red ink.

While it is a good market, the weather is a killer during the summer months. Extended periods of 100+ degree temps drive people indoors seeking the comfort of AC. Building something like SFOG, etc. would require many of the buildings, queques to be a/c and indoors, so it would be prohibitively expensive.

That being said, they - if they were in a better financial position - could build a Hurricane Harbor waterpark that could do extremely well. And no reason they couldn't put in water coasters (like the Mack designs), Intamin's Perilous Plunge & flume rides and Proslide "water coasters" or MB to give it that coaster park feel.

it's fun speculation, but probably won't happen. It's too hot in the summer, and most people want to be indoors. So, unless they build it a la Mall of America, I think it's just a pipe dream.

Phoenix, however, still really does need some kind of nightlife. I swear this town shuts down at 9pm (unless you just want to drink :rolleyes: ). Too many freakin' M nutjobs.

I work out in East Mesa/Higley Area and I have heard from more than one person that the Schnepf family has sold part of their land to Six Flags. This could just be an urban legend that is circulating but you never know!! As far as building on an existing park there is not much to Castle and Coasters (or Golf N Stuff to you long time Phoenicians!) I do think it is too hot in the summer but maybe they would put in a killer water park. It is amazing how hot it is here to not have a decent water park. I have been to all three numerous times (although not Waterworld since it was called Oasis) since I grew up here. I also agree with Flint- there is no nightlife, maybe the extension of last call will help?! On a somewhat realted note- anyone know what that weird part of I-10 between Phx and Tucson with the circus things was supposed to be?

Of the water parks currently in the Phoenix area which is the best? I was looking into this earlier today.

I've heard the rumors of this for years. I think they are just that...rumors.

I also have heard that Six Flags had purchased land in Camp Verde (1/2 way between Phoenix and Flagstaff), which is way more reasonable weatherwise, but I feel those are probably also just rumors.

I would say Big Surf is the best if you like wave pools but Sun Splash probably has a slight edge in the slide department. Sun Splash is also next door to Golfland so you can mini golf on the same day.

I found this while poking around over at screamscape.com. It is a link to a site that states they are going to open a park in phoenix. Countdown timer says it is 805 days until opening day. The fact sheet shows a pretty ambitious plan, includes hotels, theme park and a water park. Sounds interesting to me. Check it out.
http://www.magiccityaz.com/

Be interesting to see what some of you locals can find out about this.

Take a look at the website of the "Theme Park Consultant & Designer"

http://members.aol.com/TerryFX/exhibits.html

Back in the 60's / 70's Phoenix had it’s own “theme park” called Legend City. It was a rough Disneyland knock off complete with railroad, river, cars etc. but with an “old west” feel. There are many theories of why it failed but most agree that PHX was just too damned hot to draw a crowd during the summer months and that the park couldn’t be financially successful if it couldn’t draw a crowd year round. Check out the link http://www.legend-city.com/

It will be interesting to see if Six Flags could succeed in The Valley of the Sun.

I found this while poking around over at screamscape.com. It is a link to a site that states they are going to open a park in phoenix. Countdown timer says it is 805 days until opening day. The fact sheet shows a pretty ambitious plan, includes hotels, theme park and a water park. Sounds interesting to me. Check it out.
http://www.magiccityaz.com/

Be interesting to see what some of you locals can find out about this.

I checked out the website and it look like the "castles and Coasters West" plan my sister had mentioned. Castles and Coasters is this lame almost amusement park we have here. They built it around a mini golf place. I had not heard it was going to be that ambitious though. It seems weird that there is not any local publicity about this- just rumors. Even if it is three years away you would think something would have been said about a project this size. This makes me wonder if it is really gonna happen or it is just in the "dream" phase right now.

I know for a fact this is partially true. My sister just sold 3 acres of land to the Six Flags company. The land is is Tuscon not Phoenix, and her land was adjecent to the land they had already purchased.

I heard the six flags deal rumored a few years back for the West valley is not going forward (I hadn't heard about the deal near Tucson yet) Here's an article mentioning the newly proposed Phoenix park in the planning stages. I was looking for a previous article with more information and cannot find it.
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Arizona Republic


Estimated printed pages: 4

April 29, 2005
Section: Front
Edition: ZFinal Chaser
Page: A1


AMUSEMENT PARKS CLOSER TO REALITY IN ARIZONA
WILLIAMS, PHOENIX PROJECTS ADVANCE
Chip Scutari, The Arizona Republic

Trying to wrestle Grand Canyon tourism away from Nevada, state lawmakers Thursday gave a thumbs up to a $3 billion venture that would put theme parks and roller-coaster rides in the northern Arizona city of Williams.
The legislation creates a special theme-park taxing district that would help a private investment group finance the plan. Those who used the parks would pay an extra 9 percent sales tax on roller-coaster rides, concerts and other purchases. Arizonans who never visited the district would pay no additional taxes.


<SNIP>

Sounds cool!! I am a little apprehensive about the promise of no public funds being used. Ummmm.... Bank One Ballpark anyone!! I also work in the rental car industry and have people upset about 1-3 times a month when I charge them the "stadium tax" for the Cardinals stadium. Weren't we promised that we wouldn't be paying, only tourists?! When I worked at the Apache Junction (oh yes, I worked in the Junction!) store, I occasionally got people who drove all the way out there to rent b/c they were dead set against paying the stadium tax. That store is in Pinal County so they did not have to charge it. The sales tax was higer so it was a net savings of .75%, but it was the principle I guess! Anyway, it sounds cool, I hope it goes through. Seems a lot more valuable to the state then a stadium for a losing team! :D

Sounds cool!! I am a little apprehensive about the promise of no public funds being used. Ummmm.... Bank One Ballpark anyone!! I also work in the rental car industry and have people upset about 1-3 times a month when I charge them the "stadium tax" for the Cardinals stadium. Weren't we promised that we wouldn't be paying, only tourists?! When I worked at the Apache Junction (oh yes, I worked in the Junction!) store, I occasionally got people who drove all the way out there to rent b/c they were dead set against paying the stadium tax. That store is in Pinal County so they did not have to charge it. The sales tax was higer so it was a net savings of .75%, but it was the principle I guess! Anyway, it sounds cool, I hope it goes through. Seems a lot more valuable to the state then a stadium for a losing team! :D

I know exactly what you mean about feeling leery about the "no public funds" promise. I wonder if this will really happen anyway. I think the only way is to have it covered and cooled in the Summer. Can you imagine those metal lap bars in July :eek:

That's pretty interesting find, looks like they are serious about bringing a theme park to AZ. I wonder what they mean by interactive dome? Maybe they envision something like Circus Circus, but on a grander scale. Ironically, Six Flags is in financial trouble, Viacom may dump the Paramount Parks, NBC/Universal are not looking like they enjoy spending money on what they own now, and Cedar Fair isn't exactly known as aggressive builders of entirely new parks.

Hey, it's good to know where the origin of the rumor comes from. Trying to combine something like Magic Mountain - huge coasters that don't exactly lend themselves to being indoors - with Branson certainly is an ambitious goal.