Theme Park Still Waiting For Permit
By SHELLEY HANSONArticle Photos
TRIADELPHIA - Ohio County Commissioner Randy Wharton expects permits related to earthwork for a planned theme park at The Highlands to soon be approved.
But exactly when that will happen he is not sure. A "draft permit" was approved last September by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to allow the Ohio County Development Authority to fill in Storch's Run, a stream on the site.
The land is part of the retail development that is home to Cabela's, Wal-Mart and several other stores near Dallas Pike. The Highlands is owned by OCDA, a government body.
However, before developer Steve Minard can go ahead with his plans for a Wild Escape theme park, the state must also sign off on the permit.
Wharton said Tuesday that he didn't know the status of the DEP permit, but noted he expected the process to pick up now that the holidays have ended.
The DEP, he said, nearly approved the permit before Jan. 1, but because of a change in plans - a decrease in the amount of stream to be impacted - officials decided to reassess.
"The holidays tied it up for a few weeks. ... I think the state will issue them very soon. I don't know of any issues as with the Army Corps," Wharton said.
The OCDA waited about two years before receiving the "draft permit" from the Army Corps.
Site work is expected to include creating a level pad of about 125 acres by filling in a portion of Storch's Run, which is located west of the J.C. Penney and Kohl's department stores.
Minard's plans for the theme park include roller coasters, water rides, a hotel, entertainment and more.
He said previously that some of rides already have been built and are in storage waiting to placed at The Highlands, located about 5 miles east of Wheeling.
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TheRealityPolice
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01-18-09 11:28 AM
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Firestarter: I agree 100% - this guy is a total shyster. Anyone recall the park "Paradise Lake" back in the 80's? TOTAL BUST. It takes more money to build a theme park than anyone here can even comprehend. Otherwise, why aren't more built each year? Look at Cedar Fair - they are not building more parks - WHY?? Because it is cost prohibitive and a huge gamble. I fear that our County Commissioners are being taken for a huge ride - pun intended - on this debacle. They will end up leaving Ohio county in embarrassment one day instead of being "Highland's Heroes".
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wonderwhy
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01-15-09 10:32 AM
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Blackrock- although i really don't want to have to go thru the scenario that you just described, i do think there has to be some regulation. there was a landmark suit in ny this week. the woman had topnotch insurance, and ovarian cancer. in ust one year her out of pocket was 47000. turns out the co approving her care was owned by the ins co. and ins co's ceo pay and bonuses are nothing but a rip off to the consumer. i ask this earnestly, what do you think could be a solution? i feel like something has to give
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Blackrock
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01-15-09 9:49 AM
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Same process involving the health care issue. You will be required to get government approval for medical care. Anyone from the private sector who has to deal with government agencies thru an approval process will tell you that it is agonizingly slow due to a variety of causes, chief of which is ineptitude. Second would be laziness. Third would be no accountability. The list goes on and on.
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wonderwhy
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01-15-09 9:43 AM
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Blackrock- although maybe a valid point, what does the theme park have to do with healthcare?
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Blackrock
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01-15-09 9:30 AM
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The real story here is not the viability of a theme park, I for one could not care less, but the delay in investment due to the ineptitude of government agencies. I have dealt with this problem for years and it is getting worse. A sure sign of what is to come if government run health care is forced down our throats. The government is staffed with bottom of the barrel employees and yet the foolish masses want to give all private enterprise over to these bumblers.
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wonderwhy
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01-15-09 9:20 AM
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firestarter- give us some more info. i am looking. it appears that this guy comes in and sells this theme park, gets some dough and leaves? i always thought it seemed rather outrageous to stick a theme park up there , but trying to find out more about the people behind it. thanks
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Firestarter
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01-14-09 10:56 PM
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OK. So, it's preventing me from posting a link. Look. Do your own investigating. Put in the name "Steve Minard" into the Google search engine and research. The guy is quoted as saying "I've invested $10 Million into this...". C'mon. Please LOCAL MEDIA: DO YOUR JOB instead of writing & reporting about Christmas Parades and using police reports as copy. DIG. There is something very wrong here.
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Firestarter
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01-14-09 10:31 PM
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Follow this link and read: ***********omahariverfront****/articles2002/20020205_amuse_park.htm That park was never built. Anything sound familiar? How do you think Steve Minard puts food on his table? Where does his current income from? Why isn't the local media investigating this guy. Rides in storage in Europe for two years? C'mon you idiots WAKE UP!
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Firestarter
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01-14-09 10:19 PM
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The whole thing is a scam. Minard is a shyster. There will never be a theme park. Who in their right mind would build rides and put them "in storage in Europe" for a park that's supposedly tied up with "permits"? This screams "scam". Look at my other posts. Look up Steve Mindard.
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Patterson
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01-14-09 6:24 PM
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It appears everyone is being taken for a "JOY RIDE". Let's suppose the Theme Park is to open this summer....let's see-food on the table or roller coaster ride...hum what to do what to do.
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tmoore
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01-14-09 5:52 PM
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Perhaps Minard will now show us the money and the "hidden " rides!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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UNCOMMONSENSE
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01-14-09 4:56 PM
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Sure wish their year round indoor pool and amusement park were open!! Brrrrrrrrrrr!!
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eersrnumr1
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01-14-09 3:08 PM
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No it is one of the stores in the Power Center. The Theme park isn't allowed to start at all due to permit issues (that has been 2 yrs in the works).
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true2bun
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01-14-09 2:57 PM
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Is that a picture of the theme park entrance with the story? I no longer live in Wheeling so I was just curious?
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MeanStreak
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01-14-09 12:46 PM
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I have spent a great deal of time on this property far before any theme parks, Cabels or anything else was planned. It amazes me that they are going to fill in sludge ponds that used to take as much as $3,000/month in chemicals to keep "clean" back in the late 80's. I just do not understand how this will NOT have some ramafications in the long run. I guess when money is involved and the "betterment" of the people then heck with the environment.
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mernie
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01-14-09 12:34 PM
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When the feds are involved it will take forever...
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DavidF
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01-14-09 11:00 AM
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Steve should pull out....why would he invest in Wheeling without the support he needs....Randy this should be your top priority. DO YOUR JOB! WHEELING NEEDS THIS GROWTH.
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wonderwhy
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01-14-09 10:59 AM
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overseer- i have a sneaky feeling you are right. i do like the highlands though. we certainly needed it. but sad that people will make their inside deals to get it done
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overseerer
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01-14-09 9:31 AM
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If one is wondering why the Theme Park has been taking so long to materialize, did it ever occur to you all the officals involved haven`t been paid off yet. How else do you think they accumulate huge amounts of money in their accounts, live in huge homes and drive expensive cars.
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acousticportal
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01-14-09 8:30 AM
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........Somewhere over the rainbow...way up high....there's a land, that I heard of...once in a lullabye....
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