Did disney buy land in oklahoma?

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I feel like this rumor happens every few years in different parts of the country. I've heard it 5 or 6 times about Disney buying massive amounts of land in East Tennessee. I'm convinced that these rumors have been created by real estate agents trying to sale homes for a premium... Now excuse me while I go polish my tinfoil hat.

So I'm going to hold out hope for East Tennessee. That would be wonderful. More than wonderful.

At my age I never thought I would move back in with my parents, but if Disney opens a park in East Tennessee, Mom and Dad, here I come.

Disney, there is some wonderfully cheap and beautiful land right next to my parents' home. Ridiculously low property tax. For now, anyway.

Of course, they'd have to compete with Dollywood. Unless they are buying Dollywood. Now that might be a good investment. And my husband and I could both get our retirement dreams. His to have a home in the mountains. Mine to work at Disney.

Oh, it's so perfect!!

 

[AngiTN]

So I'm going to hold out hope for East Tennessee. That would be wonderful. More than wonderful.

At my age I never thought I would move back in with my parents, but if Disney opens a park in East Tennessee, Mom and Dad, here I come.

Disney, there is some wonderfully cheap and beautiful land right next to my parents' home. Ridiculously low property tax. For now, anyway.

Of course, they'd have to compete with Dollywood. Unless they are buying Dollywood. Now that might be a good investment. And my husband and I could both get our retirement dreams. His to have a home in the mountains. Mine to work at Disney.

Oh, it's so perfect!!

Oh, let's just start the rumor that Disney is buying Dollywood. All good rumors gotta start somewhere, right?
Too bad they tore out and dismantled Opryland. They could've bought it for a song (see what I did there? )

 

[Planogirl]

Isn't Dollywood successful though? There are lots of regional parks that struggle or have closed. Let's start lots of rumors.

 

[AngiTN]

Isn't Dollywood successful though? There are lots of regional parks that struggle or have closed. Let's start lots of rumors.

Yes, it is doing well. Dolly is almost as magical as Mickey. Silver Dollar City was barely surviving when she came in to buy it. DH was working there at the time. Pigeon Forge was a big ole nothing then too. Dolly swooped in, bought the park and saved it and Pigeon Forge. If you can call turning it in to the vast run of t shirt shops and arcades that it is today saving it. It is a huge economic boon, there is no doubt about that. We drove through, well, around it, last weekend. We don't drive through Pigeon Forge. Shudder at that traffic.

 

[Lynne M]

I suppose Disney could buy land almost anywhere as an investment opportunity. A land parcel doesn't have to be a theme park.

Bingo. Disney has a few other businesses they're in besides theme parks.

 

[playnascar]

pls let this one be true I am in okahoma

 

[Dfan79]

Bingo. Disney has a few other businesses they're in besides theme parks.

Yeah, but Oklahoma isn't exactly Hawaii or South Carolina. Not many people say "I gotta get away... lets go to Oklahoma." There isn't any local attractions that would bring families to a hotel or resort in this area. What is Oklahoma really known for attraction wise "The Cowboy Hall of Fame"? "Shattuck Windmill Museum"? "The American Banjo Museum"?

In defense of Oklahoma though, Florida wasn't exactly a destination in the 60's. It was just a bug infested swamp when Walt first started secretly buying up land for cheap. Now look at it, it's the greatest theme park resort in the world.

Of course a major difference between the two states is weather. Oklahoma is known for its very bad and sometimes destructive weather. The theme parks and resorts would all have to be completely indoors.

 

[kleph]

That was primarily one guy in the Dallas area that somehow convinced a lot of gullible people that Disney was coming. Luckily he was caught fairly quickly.

Thomas W. Lucas Jr. His 17.5 year prison sentence was recently upheld.

 

[Micca]

Yeah, but Oklahoma isn't exactly Hawaii or South Carolina. Not many people say "I gotta get away... lets go to Oklahoma." There isn't any local attractions that would bring families to a hotel or resort in this area. What is Oklahoma really known for attraction wise "The Cowboy Hall of Fame"? "Shattuck Windmill Museum"? "The American Banjo Museum"?

In defense of Oklahoma though, Florida wasn't exactly a destination in the 60's. It was just a bug infested swamp when Walt first started secretly buying up land for cheap. Now look at it, it's the greatest theme park resort in the world.

Of course a major difference between the two states is weather. Oklahoma is known for its very bad and sometimes destructive weather. The theme parks and resorts would all have to be completely indoors.

But the point is that Disney could buy land for some use totally unrelated to any kind of entertainment enterprise. They could in fact buy it as an investment to re-sell to another party.

And I'd argue that while Central FL was not a big destination in the 60s, South Florida was always a popular tourist destination.

 

[Dfan79]

But the point is that Disney could buy land for some use totally unrelated to any kind of entertainment enterprise. They could in fact buy it as an investment to re-sell to another party.

And I'd argue that while Central FL was not a big destination in the 60s, South Florida was always a popular tourist destination.

Who would want to buy land in Oklahoma from Disney? "The Piggly Wiggly"? If Disney is buying land in Oklahoma, it must be for a theme park. A good reason for such a large purchase could be... Marvel. They can use all of the Marvel characters in this part of the country, since it is West of the Mississippi River. Thus they could build an indoor Marvel theme park and Universal couldn't do anything about it.

Southern Florida may have been popular in the 60's, but that is 100's of miles away from the Central Florida Swamp.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

If they were to build anywhere else in the USA, then near Houston would be the best bet. It's not too cold in the winter and cruise ships can dock close. Big airport and big city nearby, and Dallas and San Antonio, pretty large cities, are within driving distance for a day trip.

 

[Lynne M]

Yeah, but Oklahoma isn't exactly Hawaii or South Carolina. Not many people say "I gotta get away... lets go to Oklahoma." There isn't any local attractions that would bring families to a hotel or resort in this area. What is Oklahoma really known for attraction wise "The Cowboy Hall of Fame"? "Shattuck Windmill Museum"? "The American Banjo Museum"?

In defense of Oklahoma though, Florida wasn't exactly a destination in the 60's. It was just a bug infested swamp when Walt first started secretly buying up land for cheap. Now look at it, it's the greatest theme park resort in the world.

Of course a major difference between the two states is weather. Oklahoma is known for its very bad and sometimes destructive weather. The theme parks and resorts would all have to be completely indoors.

What I was getting at is that nowhere does it say the (rumored) land purchase was made by the Disney Parks division of the company. They have multiple media networks, divisions that make video games and consumer products. Music. Publishing. Not to mention the film and TV divisions. And no one says it has to be a consumer-facing operation. All of their divisions need back office support. It could be a data center for their internet operations for their TV networks. It could be a call center for their video gaming division.

 

[Dfan79]

If they were to build anywhere else in the USA, then near Houston would be the best bet. It's not too cold in the winter and cruise ships can dock close. Big airport and big city nearby, and Dallas and San Antonio, pretty large cities, are within driving distance for a day trip.

I think it would cost too much for the land in the Houston area. Cheapo Disney is more likely to inquire about land they can get for cheap. Like cursed Indian burial grounds or cult compounds where they did human sacrifices.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Yes, it is doing well. Dolly is almost as magical as Mickey. Silver Dollar City was barely surviving when she came in to buy it. DH was working there at the time. Pigeon Forge was a big ole nothing then too. Dolly swooped in, bought the park and saved it and Pigeon Forge. If you can call turning it in to the vast run of t shirt shops and arcades that it is today saving it. It is a huge economic boon, there is no doubt about that. We drove through, well, around it, last weekend. We don't drive through Pigeon Forge. Shudder at that traffic.

I think she owns an interest in the park- and not even a majority interest. Herschend Family Entertainment still owns the majority interest, right? I could be wrong about that, but I thought they still maintained control when she added her name to it.

Regardless, Dolly is 71 now, and she isn't going to live forever (sadly- I really admire her). That is where Mickey Mouse really has an advantage. The park and the resort area are really growing. The Dreammore is a beautful resort- reminds of a mini Disney deluxe resort- for less than half the price. I was wondering if they can continue to draw the crowds they do now after Dolly is gone. Maybe. She is pretty influential, but it could be interesting to see what happens to the park and resort in the next decade. It could be a good time for someone else- say, oh, Disney- to step in and take over.

 

[Planogirl]

I think she owns an interest in the park- and not even a majority interest. Herschend Family Entertainment still owns the majority interest, right? I could be wrong about that, but I thought they still maintained control when she added her name to it.

Regardless, Dolly is 71 now, and she isn't going to live forever (sadly- I really admire her). That is where Mickey Mouse really has an advantage. The park and the resort area are really growing. The Dreammore is a beautful resort- reminds of a mini Disney deluxe resort- for less than half the price. I was wondering if they can continue to draw the crowds they do now after Dolly is gone. Maybe. She is pretty influential, but it could be interesting to see what happens to the park and resort in the next decade. It could be a good time for someone else- say, oh, Disney- to step in and take over.

I question how well Frozen would fit though.

Seriously, I think that Disney Parks has enough on their plate.

 

[Q-man]

The North side of Houston is pretty much the only one of these rumors that makes sense. Both north-south and East-west interstates pass thru, 2 airports, two cruise terminals, large cheap work force availability, ~20 million people within a 6 hour drive, relatively plentiful water, far enough inland that a tropical storm is only a one day event, gets 1-3 freezes year, already a Latin American tourist destination, etc.

 

[DanBoris]

Who would want to buy land in Oklahoma from Disney? "The Piggly Wiggly"? If Disney is buying land in Oklahoma, it must be for a theme park. A good reason for such a large purchase could be... Marvel. They can use all of the Marvel characters in this part of the country, since it is West of the Mississippi River. Thus they could build an indoor Marvel theme park and Universal couldn't do anything about it.

Southern Florida may have been popular in the 60's, but that is 100's of miles away from the Central Florida Swamp.

I doesn't really make sense for Disney to build another DL/WDW style resort in the US. The two existing resorts are convenient to most of the US population and most international destinations. A new park in the middle somewhere wouldn't dramatically increase the number of people who are going to US Disney parks.

 

[manning]

Heard Disney bought ocean front in Kansas

 

[WaywardMemphian]

I hear rumors like this all the time about Oklahoma and parts of Texas. Don't think that there's any truth to them. However, I do think it might be cool for Disney to open up a ranch as a DVC property. Similar to Aulani but with a western theme, it could have cabins, horseback riding, wagon rides, campfires, and maybe some rodeo exhibits. Not that I think they will do this. Much more likely to build a new park in South America.

East Tenn would make for a nice DVC. So would Branson Mo. I wish they had stuck with National Harbor. The need Jackson Hole in the Portfolio as well.

If disney was to build a new park especially for Marvel. I would hit up San Antonio Austin area. Hell, just the traffic from Dallas and Houston would keep it afloat.

 

[bladiator]

large cheap work force availability, ~20 million people within a 6 hour drive

It's the veritable Asia of America.