Monday, Dec. 20, 2004

Amusement Park Planned For Park City

A taste of the old west returns to Kansas in the form of a new cowboy theme park. The owners of Prairie Rose Chuckwagon Supper will soon break ground on Wild West World.

Prairie Rose has been a popular south-central Kansas attraction for seven years now. It draws in about 70,000 visitors each year. The show's success had owner Thomas Etheredge looking for ways he could expand. Etheredge says, "We began to isolate the idea of a true family theme park, a family theme park with great entertainment for the entire family."

That's how the concept of Wild West World began. With the help of a highly experienced amusement park development team, the theme park is expected to become a reality in Park City in May of 2006. Etheredge says, "The land has been purchased, we'll break ground on the site in May of 2005 as soon as our designs have been finished."

The theme of the park is based on the American cowboy. It will include thrill rides, a roller coaster and kiddie rides for all ages. Etheredge says the park to be open 120 days a year from May to September. He estimates they will employ 100 to 150 full and part time workers.

Etheredge expects the park to pull in about $50 million in revenue over five years. Preliminary numbers for overall impact to the community are now at $75 to $100 million in that same period of time. Etheredge says he hopes other local attractions will benefit from the visitors Wild West World brings to the area.