Gulfport, MS (June, 1999) Look out couch potatoes. The newest
entertainment center planned for the Gulf Coast, a $32-million combination
water and sports park planned at the intersection of US 49 and Interstate
10, is designed for people who actually enjoy physical activity as opposed
to computer games and movies.
“The park will provide very physical, real experiences,” said Troy
Otnott, a partner in Kern/Otnott Development of New Orleans, which has
signed a letter of intent to buy a 45-acre site in Gulfport for the
Olympus Park project. “There is nothing simulated about it. We’ll get
people away from TV and computer terminals into the real world doing
something that has health benefits. The sport aspect will be very unique.
It is a place where people will be able to participate in interactive
sporting experiences.”
Otnott said the sports park will include activities similar to the NFL
Experience at Super Bowl games where people throw footballs at targets
moving across the field. There will be games surrounding all the major
sports, like football, basketball, soccer and baseball.
Other unique features of the 15-acre sports park include an in-line
aggressive skate park, and the country’s largest man-made outdoor rock
climbing structure. Adhering to the theme of Olympiad sporting
experiences, people will be able to experience the original Olympiad
sports including combat (made safe, of course) and javelin throwing.
A large water park on 15 acres is planned that would be the largest
water park in the region between Austin, Texas and Orlando, Florida.
Olympus Park has been labeled by the Coast media, and part of the park has
a sports theme. But Otnott cautions that some people misunderstand when
they hear it called a theme park, and expect a Six Flags-type operation
with ferris wheels and roller coasters. What Olympus will be is more along
the lines of a regional theme park like Jazzland currently under
construction in New Orleans. Otnott said developers are still working to
finalize financing agreements for the park, and anticipate opening the
sports park in January 2001, and the water park in May 2001.
Three reasons were given for selecting Gulfport for the park. “First,
you have a huge pent-up demand for family recreation in that marketplace,
and you have very little supply,” Otnott said. “Secondly, we wanted to do
something close to home, and didn’t feel we wanted to compete with the
Jazzland project in our market. Third, we’ve noticed that there has been a
very pro business climate for the casino development that has taken place
over there in the last six years, and were pleased to find the same
pro-business attitude for our project. Government and economic development
officials were really wanting to help facilitate this project as best they
could.”
Otnott said the number of visitors to the Coast has grown rapidly in
recent years, which makes it a natural site for the first of five Olympus
Parks planned by the developers throughout the South. Steve Dickerson,
business development coordinator for the City of Gulfport, said the
Olympus Park would be an excellent addition to the Coast’s mix of
entertainment options. The idea with a tourism destination is to try to
have as large a mix of different kinds of activities as possible. “Right
now we have freshwater and saltwater fishing, golf courses, tennis courts,
historical attractions, restaurants, shopping, casinos and beaches,”
Dickerson said. “We’ve got most of the package. A good water park / theme
park would add to what we have to offer as a tourism destination. The city
is excited about it. We think it is a great idea. It is very unique, but
it hits at the spots we think the public is interested in. Water parks are
big right now, but this is not just a water park. The themed sports park
with it, we think, is an excellent idea."
Brynn Williams Joachim, commercial development manager for the Harrison
County Development Commission, agreed the park would be an excellent step
in terms of diversifying the Coast’s tourism product. “We have been
courting theme park developers for many years now, and have been working
on this project for a while,” Joachim said. “Finally, with the signing of
the letter of agreement on the property, it looks like we are one step
closer to making it a reality.”
Joachim said the park would be likely to spawn additional hotels,
retail outlets, restaurants and service-related businesses. More
information about the proposed park is available at the website
www.kernstudios.com Click on the icon at the lower right that says
Kern/Otnott Development.
Kern Studios is the corporate umbrella for subsidiaries such as Blaine
Kern Artists, the largest float building company in the world. Kern
Sculpture, which makes three-dimensional sculptures for theme parks and
other attractions, and Mardi Gras World, a New Orleans attraction that
houses upscale Mardi Gras floats and props for viewing by tourists, and
also serves as a prominent event facility in New Orleans.
