Firm pitches theme park for Boulder City

Dan Kulin

Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2004 | 11:14 a.m.

The president of a company that wants to open a zoo in Las Vegas is expected in Boulder City tonight to pitch plans for an Old West theme park with retail or other entertainment-related development on 364 acres on the western edge of the city.

But some City Council members' fears of increased traffic and development in their small city could block the proposal.

Roger Bulloch, president and chief executive officer of Sher Capital in Las Vegas, said the specific plans for the property will be ironed out after meetings with Boulder City residents and officials, if the company is given the go-ahead by the City Council.

"Boulder City is a place we want to make sure we have community support," Bulloch said.

Ideas for the property at the intersection of U.S. 95 and U.S. 93 include an Old West theme park, possibly with some amusement rides such as a water slide, retail -- but not department stores -- an outdoor amphitheater and an educational center, Bulloch said.

"This is more of a family-based entertainment complex," Bulloch said. "We wanted to do it in Las Vegas, but the cost of land was so expensive."

Sher Capital is also seeking an option to lease an additional 399 acres on the other side of the highway.

Bullock said the company is still pursuing opening a small zoo on 15 to 50 acres in Las Vegas and is talking with city staff there to find a possible location.

All of the land Sher is seeking to use in Boulder City is owned by the city, which means selling it would require approval from the voters. Bulloch said the company wants to lease, not buy, the land and hire another company to operate whatever is built there.

Bulloch is expected to present the proposals to the Boulder City Council tonight. The council could then decide to have city staff work with Sher Capital to negotiate a lease.

Boulder City Mayor Robert Ferraro said that while he still wants to know exactly what Sher Capital wants to put on the land, he supports the general development plan.

"I think I will support it. I think it can work," Ferraro said.

The mayor said a project there could mean more money for the city from a lease and even more if the city negotiates to get a percentage of the revenue.

But council members Roger Tobler and Andrea Anderson said they are concerned such a major development of the land Sher Capital wants would dramatically increase traffic and lead to further development of that part of town, which is largely undeveloped.

"I'm leery of moving forward. This is huge," Tobler said.

Anderson said: "It's a very nice project, but it's too big for Boulder City. It's too much traffic and too much development."

Tobler said that while he probably wouldn't support the project, he would support putting the matter before the voters in the form of an advisory question. Although voter approval is not required for land leases, the council could decide to ask the voters to weigh in on the lease.

"It's too big a project for me," Tobler said. "I just don't want to make that decision."