Disney bought land in South Louisiana ????

[bellefan12]

I have heard the rumors too. I have confirmation from a very good source here in Livingston. Disney has bought land and everything is not finalized yet. Should be hearing more about it soon. Where the land is located is under wraps.

 

[Londyn]

I am also from Satsuma. Lived there for 15 years. What's your last name?
Small world.

 

[TLHB70]

I am also from Satsuma. Lived there for 15 years. What's your last name?
Small world.

I sent you a PM.

 

[Magic Kingdom Rocks]

I think this is true also as i live around there and have herd rumblings about this as well.

 

[ColleenG]

Is there a state which hasn't had a rumored land transaction where Disney was suggested to somehow be responsible?

Just of the top of my head, I can think of Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee, Colorado, Hawaii, Missiouri, and Texas.

I'm sure Disney isn't looking in New Jersey. There is no more space left!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I'm sure Disney isn't looking in New Jersey. There is no more space left!

I still remember the oh-so-serious posting a number of years ago from someone who claimed he had learned that Disney was buying Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey to convert it into a Disney park.

 

[disneygang]

nmnm

 

[Vemnox]

WAFB television in Baton Rouge reported today that Livingston Parish is investing $100,000 to Disney to scout the area again. Anyone else heard any more on this?

 

[TLHB70]

My mom sent me an email about this past Thursday's Livingston Parish News (local paper). She said that there was an article on the front page which said that Mike Grimmer confirmed the rumors that Disney is "considering" Livingston Parish as a place to build a "theme park." I put quotation marks around those words because Mom said that they were the words used.

I will try to see if I can find the article.

 

[TLHB70]

Here is the article:

http://www.livingstonparishnews.com/articles/2008/03/20/full_edition/news/01loop.txt


You have to read down a little bit before you get to the Disney part.

 

[disneygang]

Here is the link to the local news website. Sounds promising. I have friends in the investor circles whom I do business with from time to time and they are really aggressive when it comes being creative.

http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=8062767

Geaux Tigers!!!

 

[PrincessGrandma]

To TLHB70: I'd love to read the Livingston Parish News article but I can't log in. I signed up but it won't accept my log-in. Did it say the same thing that WAFB reported? Mike Grimmer said the Parish Economic group paid $100,000 for the Disney site study. Why would they do that unless it was a GOOD possibility of it happening??? He is suppose to be on WAFB's morning show on Tuesday. He wouldn't be going on all of these local TV shows/news unless he thought it was going to happen!!! I live in WBR (Brusly) but Livingston parish is a lot closer than Orlando!! We love RV camping. I sure hope they build a nice campground like Fort Wilderness!

 

[Vemnox]

Can anyone please tell me WHY Disney would even think about going out here? Yes, yes ... I know people asked the same thing when Walt did this 55+ years ago in Orlando, but still ... times have changed. The #1 vacation destination in the world is just 3 states over; I don't see what a theme park in Louisiana would do. And if it was just a resort, why in Satsuma, Louisiana of ALL the places in the country? What's the attraction? I'm from Louisiana before you start accusing me of being a LA hater.
Livingston Parish just gave Disney $100 grand for nothing. Disney owns land in all 50 states and this is just some councilman getting way too enticed by some "possible" attraction. My point is, why would people go to Louisiana when they can go to Walt Disney World?

 

[TLHB70]

To TLHB70: I'd love to read the Livingston Parish News article but I can't log in. I signed up but it won't accept my log-in. Did it say the same thing that WAFB reported? Mike Grimmer said the Parish Economic group paid $100,000 for the Disney site study. Why would they do that unless it was a GOOD possibility of it happening??? He is suppose to be on WAFB's morning show on Tuesday. He wouldn't be going on all of these local TV shows/news unless he thought it was going to happen!!! I live in WBR (Brusly) but Livingston parish is a lot closer than Orlando!! We love RV camping. I sure hope they build a nice campground like Fort Wilderness!

This is exactly what the article says; I have copied and pasted it for you.

"Grimmer said Monday there is truth to the rumor that Disney is seriously considering a theme park in Livingston Parish, but cautioned that no decisions have been made yet. "

 

[TLHB70]

Can anyone please tell me WHY Disney would even think about going out here? Yes, yes ... I know people asked the same thing when Walt did this 55+ years ago in Orlando, but still ... times have changed. The #1 vacation destination in the world is just 3 states over; I don't see what a theme park in Louisiana would do. And if it was just a resort, why in Satsuma, Louisiana of ALL the places in the country? What's the attraction? I'm from Louisiana before you start accusing me of being a LA hater.
Livingston Parish just gave Disney $100 grand for nothing. Disney owns land in all 50 states and this is just some councilman getting way too enticed by some "possible" attraction. My point is, why would people go to Louisiana when they can go to Walt Disney World?

I hate to say it, but I have wondered that also. Don't get me wrong; I would LOVE for them to build there. It would be a great treat for me. I could visit a Disney park while visiting relatives. It would honestly be perfect. However, I ask the exact same thing you are asking. Why would they do that? I would think they would consider another area, maybe midway between WDW and Disneyland. I would expect somewhere in the middle of the country would make more sense.
Also, my biggest question is about the landfill there in Satsuma. Why on earth would Disney build that close to the landfill?!?!?!?! I have to tell you, I grew up living in Satsuma. After getting married, DH and I lived in Walker before we moved out of state. I could smell the landfill and the odor was HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I go down to visit now I can smell it!!!!!!!!!!! It is just horrible!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why would Disney want to build a park where guests would complain about the odor? Not only would the odor nauseate the park visitors, it could also be a possible medical liability for them. If they can prove that the landfill gives off toxic fumes, then that could be a serious problem.

 

[tsd1202]

This is copied from WAFB- Baton Rouge, LA news station, it was an article regarding Livingston Parish Developments-

Livingston Parish is the fastest growing parish in the state, with nearly 115,000 residents, and it's going through some major development changes. Some people wonder if those changes in Livingston include plans for projects as big as Disney World and maybe even an actual theme park. 9NEWS sorts out the Livingston Parish development details with Parish President Mike Grimmer.

"It'll be bigger than Wal-Mart. I can say that." The population boom in Livingston Parish has Parish President Mike Grimmer excited about future developments. He says they may even attract a Disney theme park. "1954, Walt Disney actually looked in Louisiana in Livingston Parish. Things just weren't happening then, so they didn't go there. What a change it would be today huh?" he says. "We're taking preparations for sites with a study." Grimmer says the Livingston Economic Development Council paid $100,000 for a Disney site study. He's hoping to hear from Disney within the next couple months.

 

[Vemnox]

This is copied from WAFB- Baton Rouge, LA news station, it was an article regarding Livingston Parish Developments-

Livingston Parish is the fastest growing parish in the state, with nearly 115,000 residents, and it's going through some major development changes. Some people wonder if those changes in Livingston include plans for projects as big as Disney World and maybe even an actual theme park. 9NEWS sorts out the Livingston Parish development details with Parish President Mike Grimmer.

"It'll be bigger than Wal-Mart. I can say that." The population boom in Livingston Parish has Parish President Mike Grimmer excited about future developments. He says they may even attract a Disney theme park. "1954, Walt Disney actually looked in Louisiana in Livingston Parish. Things just weren't happening then, so they didn't go there. What a change it would be today huh?" he says. "We're taking preparations for sites with a study." Grimmer says the Livingston Economic Development Council paid $100,000 for a Disney site study. He's hoping to hear from Disney within the next couple months.

An absolute waste of taxpayer money. Disney is NOT going to build a theme park in rural Louisiana - it's simply NOT going to happen. The best they can hope for is something like a water park and, even then, there are a million better places for it in this country. It really grinds my gears to see overenthusiastic, uneducated politicians falling for ridiculousness like this.

 

[tsd1202]

Here is another article from the Baton Rouge Business Report from October 2007-
I am not counting on it either but I would be the first in line if they built it. Seems to me that with all of the tax incentives being giving to movie makers, maybe it will be something like the Disney Studios for making movies and also a theme park. Also, just as a side note, Disney is doing a movie, The Frog Princess about a frog from New Orleans due in 2009. Maybe a sign

Livingston eyed for entertainment destinationsLivingston Parish officials say they continue to be approached by theme park companies and others who are interested in building a large family attraction off of Interstate 12. The parish has commissioned a feasibility study to look into the likelihood of building a 1,500-acre to 2,000-acre attraction, says Paco Swain, president of the Livingston Board of Realtors and a member of the parish's economic development council. The plan is to have the study completed by around the end of the year; at the same time the parish will approach several large landowners to gauge their interest in selling property for a theme park. "There's a tremendous void between Houston and Orlando for family entertainment," Swain says. "The timing is right for us to go after this." There have been rumors about world-renowned theme park and entertainment operators looking at Livingston for everything from a water park to a baseball complex. Recent published reports about the feasibility study led to Swain getting calls at his home on a Sunday from potential tenants, he says. Eric Edwards, the parish's director of tourism, says Livingston is poised for a big development because of available land and growth along the Interstate 10-Interstate 12 corridor. But parish leaders want to be cautious, Edwards says, because of the recent situation involving the Louisiana International Speedway in Tangipahoa Parish. That project was proudly announced by economic development officials, but fell apart after it was revealed the developer had a spotty background, including a fraud conviction. --Timothy Boone

 

[Cloudwatcher]

I can see them maybe having another park rather then further up north because of the weather. Louisiana doesn't get snow like other states do and you would want a park you could keep open for longer. Louisiana does similar weather as Florida. I would hate to visit Disney in the winter if it was in a snowy state.

 

[darlene9947]

OMG! That's why you would only want parks that are open 365 days a year to be in the lower south.

Could you imagine all us southern drivers on the roads trying to go to MVMCP in snow/sleet/ice???