The Return of Disney's America in VA?

[GrnMtnMan]

I can't imagine Disney would have done it any worse.

I'm sure traffic out there would be much better today if America had been built, as they would have built the infrastructure *before* the traffic materialized. They are still playing catch up out there in getting I-66 up to capacity for the number of homes that have been built out there since the idea was proposed.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

"https://athensschool.wordpress.com/...he-sweetbriar-closing-disney-america-is-back/

This post is tin-foil-hat stupid. Two reasons:

1. Anybody who can objectively look at the Sweet Brier financial situation can see that the school is doomed. They've done everything reasonable to get enrollment back up, but it hasn't worked. They can't recruit enough students. And those they've been able to recruit can't pay enough. No conspiracy here, other than fewer and fewer women choosing to have a rural single-gender college education.

2. There are already several resorts in this region, and they've all been struggling. The Greenbrier and The Homestad were once world-class resorts, but they've had very hard times for a very long time and their recovery is far from certain. They've both taken steps to *SHRINK* themselves by selling off resort land for vacation home properties, and that appears to be working at The Greenbrier, but the jury is till out on The Homestead. Throw in the multiple trips to bankruptcy that Wintergreen has had, and you can easily see that this region is not going to thrive as a large scale vacation destination for a generation or two.

I think that we can all safely conclude that this idea was made up by a SBC supporter who's desperately trying to prevent the school from closing.

A map of this area, with the resorts I mentioned:

 

[DrBanner]

How many people would actually go visit this theme park? I know a lot of people who still have an interest for the past may still go but I cant imagine a lot of kids wanting to go there..

 

[maltdizzy]

How many people would actually go visit this theme park? I know a lot of people who still have an interest for the past may still go but I cant imagine a lot of kids wanting to go there..

It was a theme park...with rides. As noted above much the ride designs for America were finally used for DCA...Soaring was originally convinced for America, California Screaming was originally the State Fair roller coaster, and Grizzly River Run was originally Lewis and Clacks Rafting Expedition. There were two or three more coasters planned...including Dogfight! (which some believed became Rock'n'Roller Coaster), civil-war theme steam train, etc. These are all now many of the most popular rides in their parks. If they had built it, it may have been the only Disney Park for years that had one inverted coaster, let alone two or more.

As for the history, its location was a big deal. Tourists flock to Washington for history (monuments, Smithsonian, National Archives); Civil War battlefields are big tourists draws in Va. (Manassas, Appomattox, Wilderness), Md. (Antietam) and Pa. (Gettysburg); Anheuser Busch built the Va. Busch Gardens in Williamsburg for a reason, Colonial Williamsburg is still one of the biggest tourists draws in the Mid-Atlantic. Epcot's World Showcase, which is nothing but idealized historical-fiction for the various countries, still seems very popular; DCA's 1920's Hollywood; DHS Hollywood Blvd; Liberty Square; Orleans Square; Main Street U.S.A; Fountierland are all idealized historic themes...nothings says it had to be more authentic than those.

In theory, there was something for everyone.

 

[cjparker0110]

Put the right incentives in place and it's possible. Maybe I'm being too optimistic but the VDOT project (largest in the state) is down the road from me in Gainesville (VA) and they actually had to stop work because they were too far ahead of schedule and the funding wasn't authorized to continue. Also - where I used to live in NJ they had an interesting deal where the construction company had financial incentives in place to finish by certain dates - bet your bottom dollar they finished ahead of schedule...it's possible if managed right!

Wow. Shocked to hear of anything in VA being ahead of schedule. My experiences are of total incompetence on the part of VDOT...here is an article from the archives that might show a bit of why I am skeptical: http://articles.dailypress.com/2003-08-31/news/0308310195_1_road-interchange-project

There are four pages to it so read through it all. Of course, there is the usual rhetoric going back and forth on who to blame. But since there are multiple contractors I don't think the blame can be placed on the construction crews and such...more like the VDOT people who approved of the terms/plans that were pitched to them. For a while it was literally one thing after another that did not work out in my area. Maybe they have approved since I left the state 10 years ago...but it's hard for me to believe or accept that fact.

 

[Boski]

Wow. Shocked to hear of anything in VA being ahead of schedule. My experiences are of total incompetence on the part of VDOT...here is an article from the archives that might show a bit of why I am skeptical: http://articles.dailypress.com/2003-08-31/news/0308310195_1_road-interchange-project

There are four pages to it so read through it all. Of course, there is the usual rhetoric going back and forth on who to blame. But since there are multiple contractors I don't think the blame can be placed on the construction crews and such...more like the VDOT people who approved of the terms/plans that were pitched to them. For a while it was literally one thing after another that did not work out in my area. Maybe they have approved since I left the state 10 years ago...but it's hard for me to believe or accept that fact.

I think @dwbrewster might have lucked out. Here in SOVA VDOT still takes their sweet time in completing any and all projects going on.

 

[DisneyMandC]

My coworkers and I were discussing this at work yesterday. In addition to the previous statements regarding it essentially being in the middle of nowhere (you really have no idea how far in nowhere it is unless you live here), there is a separate issue regarding the will that bequeathed the land to be a girls school. The school's founder specifically stated the land was to be a school for white girls and young women in her will. Courts are very reluctant to change the meaning or intentions of a person's will, though slight variations have been made. For example, in the 60s it was changed, with the changing of the times, to admit African-American young women. This was a major variation of the will, but was permitted. But one of the problems the school was running into prior to the Supreme Court of Virginia granting the injunction was what would actually be done with the land. The land is specifically intended to house a girls' school. Courts are probably going to be unlikely to deviate from that intention.

Now if there was anyone that had the legal team to pony up and argue to change the will, it's Disney. However, I don't think they're going to do that for a piece of property with a VERY strong alumni presence who is actively trying to save the school (they were all at the Supreme Court hearing trying to bring signs inside and wearing Sweet Briar t-shirts), and because the property is not central to anything. I imagine people probably said the same of Disney World originally, but the people in this area are in the country and I think would be resistant to something like this.

 

[dwbrewster]

Interesting insight @DisneyMandC didn't know about the Will. I have a feeling it is a pipe dream but I'd be super excited if it happens! I think I would learn that 2-3 hour drive like the back of my hand!

 

[Lewisc]

Sounds like a rumor started by a Realtor or land owner. Buy land now, once the D Disney announcement is made prices will go through the roof.

Makes no sense for reasons given by PP

 

[gemologygal]

I'm originally from NoVA and my mom lived and worked there up until a few months ago before coming to my area to retire. She worked in Prince William County for years and has mentioned (without a ton of detail---she just had a few basics to the story) that she heard about the Disney plans there at one point too but also heard that there was a lot of local objection to it because it would make the area too crowded.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

the property is not central to anything. I imagine people probably said the same of Disney World originally

Orlando was served by two major highways prior to Disney: Interstate 4 and the Florida Turnpike. One of the stories I've heard was Walt chose Orlando/the site of WDW because it was the intersection of two well-know highways, and would be easy to get to.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Interesting insight @DisneyMandC didn't know about the Will. I have a feeling it is a pipe dream but I'd be super excited if it happens! I think I would learn that 2-3 hour drive like the back of my hand!

Agreed! I'm about two hours from there on the southside of Richmond and would be there in a heartbeat! It just doesn't seem likely to me though. Now if they were smart, they would have bought up land on the north side of Richmond where King's Dominion presently is. Of course, King's Dominion opened only a couple years after Disney World, so that idea wasn't feasible then.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Orlando was served by two major highways prior to Disney: Interstate 4 and the Florida Turnpike. One of the stories I've heard was Walt chose Orlando/the site of WDW because it was the intersection of two well-know highways, and would be easy to get to.

Ah, that is true. I had forgotten about that! Well, just further proof that this area is definitely not built up to the level Orlando was at the time of Disney World's construction.

 

[maltdizzy]

I'm originally from NoVA and my mom lived and worked there up until a few months ago before coming to my area to retire. She worked in Prince William County for years and has mentioned (without a ton of detail---she just had a few basics to the story) that she heard about the Disney plans there at one point too but also heard that there was a lot of local objection to it because it would make the area too crowded.

Everyone in what they now call the "ex-burbs" had their head in the sand.

More development, more traffic, more congestion, and more people were coming no matter what. But they could have had something better than tract housing and big box stores, which is what they ended up with. That stretch of road has grown exponentially in the last decade alone. Disney would have meant less traffic compared to more local commuters.

 

[dwbrewster]

Everyone in what they now call the "ex-burbs" had their head in the sand.

More development, more traffic, more congestion, and more people were coming no matter what. But they could have had something better than tract housing and big box stores, which is what they ended up with. That stretch of road has grown exponentially in the last decade alone. Disney would have meant less traffic compared to more local commuters.

Bingo! I live in one of the communities that would have never been built had Disney America was built in Haymarket. At the time they were looking at this it was all farmland and people wanted to keep it that way - now the road is community after community and they have had to build at least 4 or 5 elementary schools all within about 5 miles of here to accommodate all of the growth. It eventually developed, but now the county doesn't reap nearly as many benefits as it may have!

 

[rteetz]

Look at that Sweet Briar will remain open

http://apne.ws/1LaLbCV

 

[maltdizzy]

Look at that Sweet Briar will remain open

http://apne.ws/1LaLbCV

I do wish Sweet Briar the best of luck, I have friends and family who went there...but I think the outgoing board has fatally wounded the school's reputation. Who will want to commit to a school with such a shaky future? The original incoming freshman, many of which had received scholarships, were told the school was closing after application (even acceptance) deadlines at other schools, they had to scramble to piece together a back-up plan. That's not something you forgive.

My wife's school went through a similar ordeal. It didn't close out right, but the school that emerged was a completely different school with a different mission (and name) than when my wife went there. There was zero transparency on why the school as in such financial straights or why they went against the wishes of the students and alumni. Since then, alumni giving which averaged $1M per class per year is now less than 5% that.

 

[Mshheaddoc]

I attended Sweet Briar (and lived in NoVA) and that Disney Rumor floats around every few years.

And while the reputation has been damaged, you don't want to mess with Vixen. There are many legacies that attend as well as esteemed alumni who have come together. The current board of the organization that wanted to Save Sweet Briar already has the new members for the board and current ideas there. Now we just need the funding of converted pledges to abide by the settlement.

https://savingsweetbriar.com/

 

[circus4u]

http://money.cnn.com/2015/06/22/new...b_homepage_deskrecommended_pool&iid=obnetwork

 

[dwbrewster]

I heard from the bus driver on my commuter bus that it is still alive...