River Bluff Economic
Development Proposal
An Engine For Economic Development
Submitted for
Vision 2025
August 2015
“Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood…”
Daniel Burnham
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AMUSEMENT PARKS IN THE U.S. HAD
300 MILLION VISITORS LAST YEAR
3
The Tulsa World published a story a month ago on places
Tulsan’s miss most. Number One was Bell’s Amusement Park.
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Map 1
River Bluff Site Location
Northwest Tulsa,
Sperry, Skiatook
North Tulsa,
Owasso
East Tulsa,
Catoosa,
Claremore
Sand Springs
Proposed Site
Southeast
Tulsa, BA
West Tulsa,
Jenks, Glenpool
South Tulsa,
Bixby
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RIVER BLUFF PROPOSED SITE CURRENT STRUCTURES
ADULT DETENTION CENTER CLOSED – REPLACED BY COUNTY JAIL
FIRE TRAINING CENTER - REPLACED BY NEW FACILITY OFF SITE
JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTER – REPLACEMENT FUNDED OFF SITE
REMAINING FACILITIES - MOST 45+ YEARS OLD
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Tulsa City
Maintenance
Tulsa County
Juvenile Justice
Tulsa County
Vehicle
Tulsa County Maintenance
Social Service
Tulsa County
Parks
Old Tulsa
Fire Academy
City
Dog Park
Tulsa City
Vehicle
Maintenance
Adult Detention
Center
Proposed Site of River Bluff Amusement Park
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Elitch Gardens, Denver Colorado
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RIVER BLUFF AMUSEMENT PARK
Imagine an amusement park in the heart of the City. It would sit on the
banks of the Arkansas River. The view from the elevated rides would be
spectacular – the downtown skyline and the Arkansas River would
predominate.
The benefits of
creating it would
be great.
Increased sales tax
revenue, seasonal
jobs, and most
important of all a
place where Tulsa
area families could
share good times
and build lasting
memories.
Elitch Gardens, Denver Colorado
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Project Challenges
Cost
To relocate the County and City facilities and to clear the site will be
expensive.
Cooperation
This project would work best if the County and City governments agreed
to the plan. It could move forward with City participation alone but
would probably require the acquisition of private land.
Timeframe
A project of this magnitude could take four maybe as long as five years
to complete.
Relocating Facilities
Relocating the facilities while time consuming and expensive but would
not be a major obstacle. There are alternative sites nearby and the
project budget would provide funding.
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Summary of Costs
County Relocation Costs
County Social Services Building
County Vehicle Maintenance Facility
County Parks Office Building
$6.0 Million
$1.0
$0.8
Total County Relocation
$7.8 Million
City Relocation Costs
City Vehicle Maintenance Facility
Other Maintenance and Storage Facilities
Joe Station Bark Park
Relocate .6 miles of Charles Page Blvd.
$2.25 Million
$1.0
$0.25
$3.0
Total City Relocation
$6.5 Million
Cost to clear and remove the existing structures $1.0 Million
Contingency 20%
$3.1 Million
Total Project Cost (no private land purchase)
$19.1 Million
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Is 42 acres enough land
for an amusement park?
Copenhagen’s
Tivoli
Gardens is 22 acres, and
hosts over four million
visitors annually.
Denver’s Elitch Gardens
is 45 acres (minus water
park). It’s metropolitan
area’s population is three
times the size of our city.
Tulsa’s much loved Bell’s
Amusement Park was
only 16 acres.
Elitch Gardens, Denver, Colorado
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River Bluff Annual Economic Impact
An Engine For Economic Development
$50,000,000 Amusement Park Construction
$25,000,000 in Annual Economic Activity
$910,000 in Annual City Sales Tax
$500,000 in Annual Lease Payments
Estimated Economic Impact Of River Bluff Amusement Park
Estimated Annual
Attendance2,3
Revenue
Admission1
$
30.00
500,000
$
Food, Gifts , Etc.
$
20.00
500,000
$
15,000,000.00
10,000,000.00
Annual City Tax Revenue
Annual Park Gross Revenue
$
25,000,000.00
2.0 % Gross Revenue Land Lease Fee4
$
500,000.00
City Sales Tax @ 3.7%
$
540,000
$
370,000
$
910,000.00
1. Frontier City admission price.
2 . A recent survey found that 50% of Americans plan to visit an amusement park in the next year. Since the
Tulsa MSA has one million residents the attendance is projected to be 500,000.
3. This is 63% of Frontier City/White Water Bay’s "Best Year" and 25% of Silver Dollar City's annual attendance.
4. Bell's paid the Fairgrounds $165,000 per year for 16 acres. This payment is calculated off leasing 42 acres.
Note: Industry’s Rule of Thumb is to invest $100 in construction cost for desired first year guest - $100 x 500,000 = $50,000,000
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Map 3
15
City/Private Property Plan
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