Could the Magic Kingdom be coming to southwest Missouri?
Speculation is increasing around Branson after a request for road improvements for a $1.1 billion theme park in Newton County.
Such rumors of the Walt Disney Company opening an attraction in Branson were common about a decade ago. But the recent road improvement request has county commissioners investigating whether Disney is involved in the theme park proposal made earlier this month.
A Springfield company called ARM Risk is behind the project. An early proposal includes the purchase of about a thousand acres of land. A hundred acres would be set aside for the park, and construction would include six hotels, 95 shops, 27 rides, 12 stages and 18 restaurants.
Officials at Disney declined to comment on a possible theme park in Missouri.
The Disney link arose when commissioners noticed that two of the three ARM owners have offices in Burbank, California, and Lake Buena Vista, Florida -- the corporate offices of Walt Disney
Company and Walt Disney World Resort.
Perhaps they are building a Walt Disney Museam or something.
I would really like them to put old rides that have been replaced there if it ends up being a theme park!
Or something like it? (I know it was a Ski resort or something along those lines)
I live in the KC area and love the Branson area. I would hate, however, to see Silver Dollar City hurt by adding a major theme park, such as Disney, to the area. Silver Dollar City has been there for nearly 50 years.
Some may remember that Shepard of the Hills (another attraction in the area) and Silver Dollar City were used in the Beverly Hillbillies as their old homestead, before they moved to California. So, that helps date the Branson area as far as attractions go.
Yes, if you like trees, large hills, and water as part of your vacation, then Branson is an ideal destination. There are lots of resorts, golf courses and condos to choose from.
Disney's not stupid, they know the gas "shortage" will continue to drive up pump prices and thereby people will travel less distances for their vacations. So, Disney believes they must adapt and put money into smaller parks throughout the country. Branson is a great option for them - already heavy traffic during vacation times, space, little hassel from government, closed during winter in order to control cost, etc. We may not like it, but youve got to adapt to survive.
Could the Magic Kingdom be coming to southwest Missouri?
Speculation is increasing around Branson after a request for road improvements for a $1.1 billion theme park in Newton County."
I will have to search ksdk.com for this story. One fact I have to point out is that Branson is NOT located in Newton County. If memory serves correct, Branson is located in Taney county. Newton county includes a southern portion of Joplin, MO and extends south of Joplin to Neosho, covering an area south and east from the junctions of I-44 and 43 highway to include the communities of Redings Mill and Spring City.
After this topic of a "Disney of the Ozarks" came up in a discussion during class today, I decided to search out information online. For what it's worth, a classmate stated today that his Aunt sold her property to Disney. Supposedly the remitter on her check was Disney Corp. I'm not sure if all this is rumor or fact, but I do know there is a lot of acreage south of Joplin that has not been commercially developed.
Could the Magic Kingdom be coming to southwest Missouri?
Speculation is increasing around Branson after a request for road improvements for a $1.1 billion theme park in Newton County."
I will have to search ksdk.com for this story. One fact I have to point out is that Branson is NOT located in Newton County. If memory serves correct, Branson is located in Taney county. Newton county includes a southern portion of Joplin, MO and extends south of Joplin to Neosho, covering an area south and east from the junctions of I-44 and 43 highway to include the communities of Redings Mill and Spring City.
After this topic of a "Disney of the Ozarks" came up in a discussion during class today, I decided to search out information online. For what it's worth, a classmate stated today that his Aunt sold her property to Disney. Supposedly the remitter on her check was Disney Corp. I'm not sure if all this is rumor or fact, but I do know there is a lot of acreage south of Joplin that has not been commercially developed.
Hope this link works. After more research, I found this interesting article.
Hope this link works. After more research, I found this article.
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There are plenty of other businesses looking at theme parks these days. And it wouldn't surprise me to see them pull a Disney-adjacent address and float Disney rumors as a way to get the locals to jump quickly on infrastructure and zoning requests.