News: Bring'em here all year

http://www.pointbuzz.com/news.htm?id=1086

That's very smart thinking, trying to expand the tourism demographic and season. I think Sandusky really has the potential to become a substantially larger tourist destination than it already has become. Now there are three big draws: Cedar Point, the lakeshore and islands, and the burgeoning new wealth of waterparks. I think as the market continues to mature, they really need additional, non-waterpark indoor draws, whether that be (okay, nobody flame me) casinos, indoor dry ride parks, etc.

Smith, you're forgetting about the GREAT location. You have both OH-2 AND I-89/90 running right through. If they could just take out a few of those lights on US-250 or make a dedicated exit for CP, we'd be all set.

Ensign Smith said:
I think as the market continues to mature, they really need additional, non-waterpark indoor draws, whether that be (okay, nobody flame me) casinos, indoor dry ride parks, etc.

Ensign,

No flames from here, I couldn't agree more. Sandusky needs to be more than just a CP seasonal destination. I always saw it as being the future Pigeon Forge of the Midwest. I always thought that the next step was an indoor amusement park/entertainment destination. They are beginning to take off elsewhere. Texas is building an indoor ski resort, Kansas has a large indoor entertainment complex going up. I think that Sandusky should promote something similar, not everyone is into water parks. Maybe CP should consider an indoor amusement park similar to the one in Canada (the name escapes me) that even has an indoor coaster. The resorts could then be a draw year-round. After all T&T (CP Blog) commented on moving CP to Texas so they could be open year-round. Why not bring Texas to Ohio instead? OK flame me now. :)

Pigeon Forge is a nice analogy. The distinction is, and you touched on it, Sandusky is considerably further north than Tennessee. The 'on' season is shorter, and the winters are much more severe. I think the indoor ski park is a great idea. Ideally, it would be neat to have a sprawling complex of interconnected parks and attractions, with indoor connections so patrons never have to go brave the lake winds in January. Las Vegas is learning the value of comfortably connecting attractions with their air-conditioned monorail system - even competing attractions. The lesson is that the whole is greater than the parts, and everybody wins when they cooperate.

And Hopman is right; Sandusky really is a great location, sandwiched between the Lake and a tangle of major interstates.

Indoor ski resort, huh? Has anybody considared an arena/convention center? Maybe something along the lines of a minor league baseball park.

I can just see it now: CP arena: Home of the "Avalanch Runners" hockey team, or the "Mavericks!" Think of all the cross promos.

Maybe somebody is crazy enough to do a dragstrip (forgot, Norwalk already has one)

A casino would help stop the exodus of hundreds of millions of Ohio dollars to Detroit, Windsor, Indiana, etc. Family attractions are mostly utilized when school is out (summer) so Ohio could benefit from mega-shopping outlets and other attractions for adults and seniors.

>>"Las Vegas is learning the value of comfortably connecting attractions with their air-conditioned monorail system - even competing attractions."

The LV Monorail is a very bad model from my observations. At 6 pm it is as stuffy and crowded as a Tokyo subway. It took us 45 minutes to traverse from Sahara to Bally's (a 45-minute walk). We had to change trains at the midpoint in a crush of complaining tourists. It pointlessly stopped for 15 minutes at the Convention Center but doesn't stop at all at several megaresorts like Aladdin or anything south of MGM. When it does stop it's a 1/2 mile walk through the hotel to the strip, plus you have to cross LV Blvd if your destination is on the other side. There were cost overruns and it opened months behind schedule. It also charges to ride (it used to be free when it only ran from MGM to Bally's) and it breaks down a lot. Check the archives of the LV Sun newspaper - it is considered a mistake.

CP-DAD said:

...Maybe CP should consider an indoor amusement park similar to the one in Canada (the name escapes me) that even has an indoor coaster...

You mean the one that John from Canada works at? ;) I think what you're looking for is the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta.

Tip said:

A casino would help stop the exodus of hundreds of millions of Ohio dollars to Detroit, Windsor, Indiana, etc.

From my point of view, it seems as though the Casino boom of 7 or so years ago has ended. For the longest time Windsor was the only casino around so we had no competition but then they started popping up in Detroit. With Ontario going smoke free, Casino Windsor (soon to be Caesars Windsor) is really suffering. Right now they're building a $400 million expansion hoping to bring back its patrons. I read in the paper the other day that they are building a new casino in Pennsylvania which will also hurt Casino Windsor.

Tip said:
A casino would help stop the exodus of hundreds of millions of Ohio dollars to Detroit, Windsor, Indiana, etc.

Yes, because casinos have created an economic boom in Detroit.

The argument that we can't let the money leave the state is extremely simplistic. We've beaten the casino topic to death on numerous occasions around here, and I certainly don't want to go through it again, but those who think it's that simple need to take a harder look at the issue.

I don't care if it's a casino or an indoor ski resort or whatever. All I'm saying is that the Sandusky tourism market is growing and capable of supporting a greater diversity of attractions for a longer season, provided they are well thought out and innovative.

Once upon a time there were no indoor waterparks. Somebody thought up that idea, and now they're proliferating like wild bunnies on mistletoe. What Sandusky needs is the next big thing, whatever that is. So maybe some smart fellow (or lass) reading this thread should be that person and come up with something to bring in the feet. Hey, it has to be somebody, why not a Pointbuzzer? Right?

I think the idea of making Sandusky a destination for a variety of things is a great ideas. Water parks are great, but some other things are necessary. I'm clueless as to what, but something different is needed.