Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2004 | 9:39 a.m.
When Sher Capital representatives asked the 31 Boulder City residents attending a meeting Tuesday night to raise their hand if they supported building an Old West theme park in their city, three arms lifted high.
But with two of those hands belonging to members of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions and the other to the father of the company representative holding the meeting, the response wasn't exactly the support Sher Capital was looking for regarding its proposal.
The proposal, which is 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 and include an Old West theme park. Park activities could include horseback riding, a roller coaster, retail stores and an outdoor amphitheater, according to Roger Bulloch, president and chief executive officer of Sher Capital in Las Vegas.
"What we're going for is not Disneyland, but a landmark attraction with a lot of heritage for local families to go to," Bulloch said. "But we don't want to put something in Boulder City that residents don't want, and that's where the resident input comes in."
Seven city residents were eager to tell Bulloch that building a theme park in their small town is exactly what the city doesn't want to see happen.
"I think I speak for a lot of people when I say 'You've got to be kidding,"' said city resident Mary Ann Ray. "People come to Boulder City to get away from theme parks. No one wants to see that built here, I'm sorry."
City residents also expressed a belief that the theme park would struggle in their area.
"I don't even think this park would do very well if you did build it," said Lawrence Ray. "It was 108 degrees here today and you're not going to see a lot of people wanting to run around in that heat just like you won't see them run around when it gets cold here."
Resident Chuck Lennon agreed.
"Not only weather, but I work at the Hoover Dam and our visitor center is struggling to keep that as an attraction," Lennon said. "People come here to go to the Strip, and keeping this theme park as an attraction with U.S. tourists would be a difficult thing to do."
City resident Scott Myers said an Old West theme park "doesn't fit the master plan" of Boulder City.
"I just really don't want to see the Primm roller coaster here," Myers said. "An amusement park just doesn't fit the city."
Bulloch said he would take Tuesday's comments into "much consideration" but didn't plan on giving up on his idea.
"I wanted input tonight and I got it," Bulloch said. "And if we can do something in Boulder City that the residents are happy with, we'll do that. We're going to try and do that, but if it doesn't work in Boulder City, we'll accept that and move on."
archive
