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Former Disney official joins Bluffs amusement park staff
BY JULIE ANDERSON
(Omaha) WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
COUNCIL BLUFFS (Iowa) - A former Walt Disney Co. executive has signed on to lead marketing and entertainment efforts for a planned Council Bluffs amusement park.
Joyce L. Gray, 39, has been named executive vice president of marketing and entertainment for Papa's Park, the management company developing the Council Bluffs park.
"She'll be a very good addition to the team," said Steve Minard, president of Papa's Park.
Plans call for a $70 million park on 77 acres of land along the South Omaha Bridge Road northeast of South 24th Street and U.S. Highway 275 in south Council Bluffs.
Developers hope to open the first phase of the park in late May 2003. It would be built over five years, with indoor and outdoor attractions including multiple roller coasters and a river-raft ride.
Gray spent 10 years with Disney, most recently as vice president of entertainment for its global theme parks and resorts. She was responsible for development, promotion and business strategy for entertainment at Disney's six U.S.-based theme parks in California and Florida and four sites in Paris and Tokyo. She also was involved in development of Disney's 11th theme park in Hong Kong.
Gray previously was vice president of entertainment at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., where she was involved in opening the Disney's California Adventure.
Gray recently moved to Red Oak, Iowa, where she has family. The news that a park was planned in Council Bluffs "was just a catalyst that brought me home," she said.
She will work at promoting and marketing the park and developing entertainment.
BY JULIE ANDERSON
(Omaha) WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
COUNCIL BLUFFS (Iowa) - A former Walt Disney Co. executive has signed on to lead marketing and entertainment efforts for a planned Council Bluffs amusement park.
Joyce L. Gray, 39, has been named executive vice president of marketing and entertainment for Papa's Park, the management company developing the Council Bluffs park.
"She'll be a very good addition to the team," said Steve Minard, president of Papa's Park.
Plans call for a $70 million park on 77 acres of land along the South Omaha Bridge Road northeast of South 24th Street and U.S. Highway 275 in south Council Bluffs.
Developers hope to open the first phase of the park in late May 2003. It would be built over five years, with indoor and outdoor attractions including multiple roller coasters and a river-raft ride.
Gray spent 10 years with Disney, most recently as vice president of entertainment for its global theme parks and resorts. She was responsible for development, promotion and business strategy for entertainment at Disney's six U.S.-based theme parks in California and Florida and four sites in Paris and Tokyo. She also was involved in development of Disney's 11th theme park in Hong Kong.
Gray previously was vice president of entertainment at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., where she was involved in opening the Disney's California Adventure.
Gray recently moved to Red Oak, Iowa, where she has family. The news that a park was planned in Council Bluffs "was just a catalyst that brought me home," she said.
She will work at promoting and marketing the park and developing entertainment.
