Town hall meetings planned for proposed theme park

Dan Kulin

Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2004 | 8:53 a.m.

The Las Vegas company proposing an Old West theme park for Boulder City will hold town hall meetings with city residents to explain -- and they hope drum up support -- for the project that City Council members said they think is too big for their small city.

Council members said Tuesday they would want the voters to weigh in on the project through an advisory question that could be on the June ballot and added that they expect concerns about increased traffic and development will draw strong opposition from city residents.

"Do you want to put the time and effort into something we believe will be shot down?" Councilman Roger Tobler asked.

But Despite the warnings, Sher Capital President and Chief Executive Officer Roger Bulloch said he didn't want to give up on the project yet.

"I don't want to wonder, 'What if?"' he said.

The proposal, now being called The Great Nevada Round Up, would go on 364 acres at the intersection of U.S. 93 and U.S. 95 on the western edge of the city. The land is owned by the city, and the company is asking to lease the land.

Bulloch said they want to create a place for families to go, although exactly what the project would look like is still unknown. According to documents Sher Capital gave to the city, the project could include a theme park with rides, a festival and equestrian center, train rides and balloon rides.

Bulloch said the company expects the project would be built in phases, cost $50 million to $70 million to build and draw 500,000 to 700,000 people a year.

The company is also hoping to receive an option to lease an additional 399 acres across U.S. 95 from the primary site. In Boulder City the sale of city-owned land must be approved by the voters, while leases can be approved by the council.

However, council members said they wouldn't want to OK this project unless the voters approve of it.

Bulloch said that while he was hoping the council would have directed city staff to work on a lease agreement with them, "it's pretty obvious they respect the community, the voters."

"We just hope the quiet majority will come out and support it," he said.

Bulloch said the future of the Boulder City project will not affect the company's hopes to build a small zoo in Las Vegas.

In addition to concerns about how city residents will react to the possible theme park, council members said they didn't favor the project.

Council members Roger Tobler and Andrea Anderson said they were concerned about the increased traffic and the impact of such a large development on Boulder City.

"I just don't think it belongs in Boulder City," Councilwoman Karla Burton said. "It's so big it would change the entire character of Boulder City."

Councilman Mike Pacini said he too was concerned about traffic.

But Mayor Robert Ferraro, who has said the project could be a good way for the city to make money, said the council should see how residents react to the proposal, and suggested Sher hold a town meeting on the project.

A date for the public meeting has not been set, but Sher Capital representatives said it could come in September.