|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
09/16/2006Officials mum on theme park planGRAYLING — Local and state officials remain tight-lipped about a proposed theme park for Crawford County, possibly a Main Street USA or Six Flags location. Talks are under way to bring an 1,800-acre amusement park to a site south of Grayling, near Interstate 75 on Four Mile Road, state officials acknowledge, thought they shed little light on the deal. "Right now we don't have any formal proposal," said David Freed, chief of land and facilities for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The proposed location for the development is on state land set aside as an industrial or commercial park. Rochester-based Axiom Entertainment, on behalf of investors, has been in talks with state officials to build a $160 million theme park. The attraction would employ 2,000 seasonal workers and 700 employees year-round, according to the company's initial estimates, Freed said. Axiom officials declined to comment. "As I understand it, we're still waiting for the principles involved to line up their financing," said Michael Shore, spokesman for the Michigan Economic Development Corp. Axiom is seeking $25 million in state aid for infrastructure improvements, but Shore said he could not yet discuss details. Shore said state and economic development officials have been working for months with the "folks behind the project" and are anxious to finalize and announce the plans. Freed said a formal proposal must come from the Crawford County Economic Development Partnership. Gaila Gilliland, director of that agency, declined to comment. Ilene Geiss-Wilson, director of the local tourism bureau, said a possible theme park so close to Grayling would benefit existing businesses and likely spur new ones. See related story:
|
|
