Wild Escape up the Highlands

Alpha Mike Foxtrot for Wild Escape at Screamscape. Google the Highlands Gazette.

The story was “Store May Leave The Highlands” Posted at The State Journal on August 17, 2011. Mostly about the announced closing of Fashion Bug at the Highlands. Ohio County Commissioner Tim “McCormick also said the commission hopes to see construction begin ‘in the next two months’ on one of two hotels in the works, while the developer pushing for a theme park is ‘getting very, very close’ to working out the financial details that would allow that project, in the works for six years or more, to move forward. ‘He's getting very, very close. He's working on some bond issues to secure funding,’ McCormick said, adding that a sour national economy and tight financial market in recent years had proven to be a stumbling block. ‘He's still moving forward.’” Good News? SSDD? What do you think Ohio Valley?

If the county pays their bills consistantly, we may see the rides auctioned on Storage Wars.

"YAWN!!" Anything different? Or "still waiting"..... Those rides "in storage" must be rusting away. Damn, who's paying the storage fees? ;-)

The announcement came five years ago today. On July 26, 2006. By Ohio County Commissioners Randy Wharton, David Sims and Tim McCormick. Up the Highlands: “Strap yourself in and prepare for the ride of a lifetime: the Wild Escapes Theme Park is a reality at the Highlands. … Ohio County Commission President David Sims said the first phase of the three-year, three-phase Wild Escapes project could be completed and open for business next summer ‘if things go well.’” The story was “The Highlands In for a Wild Ride”. In the Wheeling Intelligencer. By Mario Muscar. On July 27, 2006. Everyone was excited. Mr. Sims was “pumped up”. The report was “Amusement Park Planned For Highlands Development”. At WTOV-TV. Channel 9. On July 26, 2006. But things didn’t go well. The Commissioners got into a fight with that landowner next to Wild Escape. Reread “Cry, Havoc! And Let Slip The Dogs Of War” At the Highlands Gazette.

Monday, July 18th was the 5 year anniversary of the first meeting between that landowner from New Jersey and Greg Stewart. Stewart said that he wasn’t going to increase his offer of $15,000 for the land, that he would take what little he needed for the highway, and that he would work around the land for the Highlands. The owner fought back. He still owns the land. There’s no second interchange on I-70. No Wild Escape. But, during those 5 years, Ohio County taxpayers paid Greg Stewart $750,000. And now Stewart wants the OCDA to hire more engineers to conduct another traffic study. Fire Greg Stewart!

Curly wants a cracker? Lately Curly doesn’t seem to get what Curly wants. Like Talbots, Ann Taylor, Victoria’s Secret, Banana Republic, American Eagle, New York & Co., Kay Jewelers, Funny Bone/Fat Fish Blues, Red Lobster, West Point Products, Cabela’s Distribution Center III and Wild Escape. And. Lest we forget. Starbucks, Crone’s Clothiers, Daniel’s Men’s Wear, Wings To Go and, of course, Indigo Joes. Say, does that water fountain work yet? I know. It’s not Curly’s fault. He’s a democrat. It’s the economy, stupid! Right?

Reactionary, that is a great idea. Moe could be in charge. Larry could be pumped. And Curly could, well, drink some beer. And if Shemp could borrow a dozer to cut some trails and a really long water hose to hook up the new tank across the road, you could have mud slides for drunks down to Storch’s Run. A real wild escape!

Randy, I really don’t know. That said, the OCDA bought some 957 acres from Fort Henry/Nickolozakes between 2001 and 2005. The last deed to the OCDA excepts unspecified previously conveyed coal, oil and gas rights. The OCDA also bought small parcels of land from other adjacent owners. According to the Intelligencer, the OCDA leased 835 acres to Chesapeake. Thus there appear to be at least 122 acres for which the OCDA never acquired the gas rights or transferred the gas rights to the retailer getting the land. Did Cabela’s and Target get gas rights along with their free land? I don’t know. Moe, Larry and Curly probably don’t know either. And Shemp’s not talking.

Poorrichard,Do you know if the county owns the mineral rights, and if so, does this include gas? Many times, when a coal company sells, they do not relinquish the rights to the minerals. Also, does Cabelas get free land and gas royalties?

This summer is the 5 year anniversary of Greg Stewart’s meeting with the out-of-state owner of that land next to the Highlands. During the meeting Stewart threatened the use of eminent domain. It’s also the 5 year anniversary of the announcement of Wild Escape. What’s happened in those 5 years? The owner fought back. He still owns the land. No dirt’s been moved at Phase V. They lost their storm water construction permit this spring. There’s no second interchange on I-70. No TIF money for a second access road. No Wild Escape. Kathie Hoffman’s carrying the ball paying for lawsuits to over taxes she’s going to lose. And there’s a lawsuit with the engineering firm that designed the Highlands. But, during those 5 years, Ohio County taxpayers paid Greg Stewart $750,000.

In case you haven't figured it out... "PoorRichard" IS "Skunky". What a loser...when you have to use 2 names to keep you own discussion alive. Hey Rich, everybody changes the station when you call radio shows and I'm suspect they have the very same level of interest when you comment online. Here's a thought.....get a job and contribute something. Maybe then, SOMEBODY may care about what you think!

The audits are online for FY2010. Big debt. Money transfers from OCC to OCDA for the Highlands. Google the Highlands Gazette.

The Environmental Quality Board vacated the Storm Water Construction Permit for Wild Escape. Permit Wars. Google the Highlands Gazette.

It was a white elephant from the beginning. It was a good idea but I just don't think it will work here. Maybe I am wrong but we shall see.

Oh Jamboree can make money with there drunken fans who come from all over. Why not have a Jamboree escape and bring all the drunks together to have a big bash. Does anyone know that alcohol is the worst in West Virginia statistics and no one is trying to get our people off booze and drugs like cocaine. You worries about smokers but you do nothing about the drunks. Just watch them after a WVU game. Something has to be done to bring pride back to our state. Lets licenses 4 wheelers so we can identify them. Make them have roll bars. Test them for drunk driving. Save some lives make some new laws. Save some kids from liver desease or a bashed in head on the road.

The powers that be know there is no money in them there hills. We are a sanking ship. Why spend money for a beautiful place when no one has the money to pay for a day in the sun fun. We are out of work and a drunken out of work steal worker is worse then a charging elephant. The only thing worse is his maryjuanna smoking daugther who is pregnant, unmarried, and has no job. So, were do they get the money for their cocaine? Why they rob banks, churches, bingo parlors, and then old people who can't fight back. Do we want a Wild Escape when we are already in our own wild escape. Just grab the 4 wheeler and go for a wild ride. There are no rules for 4 wheelers. They can drink and drive and kill themselves.

There’s hidden news about Wild Escape and the Highlands Interchange. Check out the stories under the Economy in State of the Valley. Greg Stewart wants to get everyone pulling in the same direction. What do you all think?

Yeah, that's going to be a shopping mecca that puts the Highlands out of business.

Mama Hoffman set the price. Time to build another access road to the Highlands. Maybe Wild Escape. Google the Highlands Gazette.