Author Topic: Wild West World News!!! (Read 6925 times)

Jason · « **on:** Jul 9, 2007, 08:56 »

A member of Coaster Buzz has posted news that Wild West World is filling for Chapter 11 protection and will cease day to day operations.

Here's the post.
http://www.coasterbuzz.com/forum.aspx?mode=thread&TopicID=47407

tonyblackjack · « **Reply #1 on:** Jul 9, 2007, 09:52 »

Wow already? I had heard some really good things about this park.

Ben · « **Reply #2 on:** Jul 9, 2007, 10:51 »

What a great business plan...

How do you get in a position that you don't even have enough money to continue operations for the first year?

It is really too bad to hear though, hopefully they can get this all straightened out.

SuperSteve · « **Reply #3 on:** Jul 9, 2007, 11:59 »

Well, this just goes to show: thrill rides (especially roller coasters) do count. Seeing as WWW had nothing to draw people like myself in, it's no wonder they're having problems.

I don't think anyone will buy the park, but is it possible the city will try to help out? Whatever happens, unless they can get a couple of thrilling rides in, the park is doomed. It might be anyway actually...

Nacho · « **Reply #4 on:** Jul 9, 2007, 12:50 »

That stinks.

I can't imagine anyone wanting to buy park either. What a total waste for the Etheredge's. :sad11:

CWN Reporter · « **Reply #5 on:** Jul 9, 2007, 04:35 »

BREAKING NEWS- Wild West World in surburban Wichita, Kansas announced Monday it would close immediately and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company said it was looking for a new buyer with "deeper pockets" to run the park. Wild West World opened on May 5 and included 24 rides and attractions over a 40 acre area. Wild West World's Chief Executive Officer Thomas Etheredge blamed bad weather for the low park attendance.

By CWN Reporter: Josh Veraldo

Dustijn · « **Reply #6 on:** Jul 9, 2007, 05:15 »

Don't look for someone on a white horse to come in and save this park. I would say it is a dead man... well I guess I is no longer walking

dramaticaddict · « **Reply #7 on:** Jul 9, 2007, 09:39 »

all I know is that alot of people I know went there and were incredibly irritated by the management, something about the park being way too conservative and stuff...

CWN Reporter · « **Reply #8 on:** Jul 10, 2007, 04:34 »

well it goes to show you that being too starchy, conservative and stuck up doesn't get a theme park anywhere regarding management! Working at Dillards I myself have learned that customer service is priority and the way people are treated by staff at theme and amusement parks makes all the difference in the world.

Ben · « **Reply #9 on:** Jul 10, 2007, 03:33 »

Does anyone have any specifics about this "conservative" thing? What exactly did they do to alienate potential consumers?

zztop · « **Reply #10 on:** Jul 10, 2007, 04:58 »

to bad i guess no big ride in 2009 unless it gets bought

dramaticaddict · « **Reply #11 on:** Jul 11, 2007, 05:07 »

well, I dont know exactly how far they went with it, but it was a very target audience of the alienation. go ask anyone who went to witchita pride, maybe they can tell you more...

jperez · « **Reply #12 on:** Jul 11, 2007, 08:28 »

Shame really - just started planning a trip tillI read the news. :sad11:
My question is: was it doomed fromo the start? Seems like it had potential and could have had room for rides if it had a good start. But was is this talk of management and customer service? Was it that bad to begin with?

dramaticaddict · « **Reply #13 on:** Jul 12, 2007, 08:23 »

im just wondering how anyone can think a major theme park will be good without an actual roller coaster....
besides, if its as he says "We didnt expect a profit in the first year" then why wasnt the loan big enough to cover operating costs as well.
seriously, if they had enough money to add a woody next year without making a profit this year, then they should have had enough money to stay open for longer than this.
its just poor planning and poor business plan.

CWN Reporter · « **Reply #14 on:** Jul 27, 2007, 05:51 »

(AP) - A Kansas City-area bank wants to seize about one million dollars worth of rides leased to the closed and bankrupt Wild West World in suburban Wichita. A filing by Overland Park-based Bank of Blue Valley in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wichita says insurance on the rides has lapsed. A lawyer for the park's owner filed an objection, saying the park should not be sold in pieces. If the request is granted, the bank will seize a 25-year-old refurbished log flume, a flipping action arm ride, a Ferris wheel and a pirate ship. All of the rides were leased to Wild West World founder and CEO Thomas Etheredge.The $30 million theme park closed July ninth -- two months after it opened -- and filed for Chapter Eleven bankruptcy protection.

Dustijn · « **Reply #15 on:** Jul 27, 2007, 06:33 »

You know, I wonder if WOF could pick up the Fiesta Mexicana and Flip Arm rides for a cheap price. They could put them over by Vittle Griddle, behind Custers and make a small Mexicana area there by the Depot. It would be a way to add some new rides in an area that is already Frontier themed -- sort of and then they could use the rest of the money for next season's cap expenditure to buy OOF a much needed new slide -- I'm all for a racing mat slide like they put in at Dorney.

tonyblackjack · « **Reply #16 on:** Jul 27, 2007, 09:51 »

That sounds cool OOF needs a lot more then that to survive.

dramaticaddict · « **Reply #17 on:** Jul 28, 2007, 09:03 »

thats a pretty good idea. I would love to have those rides at WoF...

Jason · « **Reply #18 on:** Aug 15, 2007, 11:23 »

A potential buyer has emerged.

http://www.kansas.com/news/story/148601.html

dramaticaddict · « **Reply #19 on:** Aug 15, 2007, 04:50 »

Yay! I hope they get it, Honestly, its a decent theme, and a decent location. If whoever buys it puts in a roller coaster, I'm sure the park would do pretty good. Although, it kinda sux that the purchase more than likely wont pay off the debt.

Jason · « **Reply #20 on:** Oct 9, 2007, 12:05 »

The potential buyer and removed themselves from consideration.

The rides will be sold and the park will be turned back into a field.

http://www.kansascity.com/business/story/305730.html

Ben · « **Reply #21 on:** Oct 9, 2007, 05:53 »

Bummer.

Swoosh · « **Reply #22 on:** Oct 9, 2007, 06:50 »

I hope WOF or Frontier City can pick up some of the western themed rides

Swoosh · « **Reply #23 on:** Oct 19, 2007, 06:40 »

Wild West World No More - Court OK's Ride Sales
A federal judge approves the sale of three of the biggest rides at the now bankrupt Wild West World.

The amusement park went under in July, just two months after it opened. Bankruptcy attorneys had hoped to sell the park as a whole, but couldn't. Now it's being sold off piece by piece. Three of the rides are being sold for about $750,000.

According to court documents, the Sidewinder offer is $435,000. The Fiesta Mexicana offer is $300,000. The company that originally sold the rides to Wild West World, ride broker Moser, has filed bankruptcy claims totaling more than $534,000.

The Himalaya offer is for $250,000. Fitraco, a Belgian ride broker, holds the original $1.4 million mortgage.

There are 24 rides to be sold from Wild West World. The money will go to secured creditors first, then unsecured creditors. Attorneys hope to have all the rides gone by mid-December.

Source: KAKE ABC10 - Wichita, KS
=========================

SuperSteve · « **Reply #24 on:** Oct 19, 2007, 07:32 »

Argg, I wanted the Sidewinder at FC, but at least the flyers and the canoe are still up for grabs. Maybe we can pick up the mouse...

Jason · « **Reply #25 on:** Jan 29, 2008, 09:04 »

New news!

http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/stories/2008/01/21/daily23.html

It seems possible that some can still buy the property and operate it as a park.

Jason · « **Reply #26 on:** Mar 3, 2008, 11:20 »

Still not dead.

http://cjonline.com/stories/030308/bre_park.shtml

Swoosh · « **Reply #27 on:** Mar 3, 2008, 09:07 »

Jason · « **Reply #28 on:** Mar 26, 2008, 08:37 »

It's ALIVE!

http://www.kansas.com/101/story/352438.html

$15 to get in sounds much better. Somebody call ACE! We have a potential add-on for Coaster Con.

SuperSteve · « **Reply #29 on:** Apr 21, 2008, 07:18 »

So has there been any news on the actual plans for the site? I know they plan on throwing a couple of million dollars worth of craptacular carnival rides in, but will they actually attempt to set it up as a park, or will it just be a permanent fun fair? I hope the famous wildcat turns up there.

Author Topic: Wild West World News!!! (Read 6925 times)

Dustijn

Dustijn