
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, October 4, 1994                   TAG: 9410050053
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

WILL DISNEY ABANDON PARK IDEA ALTOGETHER?

The Walt Disney Co. may never turn a shovel of dirt on construction of a theme park in Virginia, or anywhere else for that matter, according to some observers.

State and local officials, on the other hand, are still saying Disney will find another site in the Washington area for its proposed American history theme park.

``We really want to be optimistic,'' said Lou Ann Ladin, a Virginia Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman. ``We're still supportive of Disney and hopeful they'll stay in Virginia.''

Disney announced abruptly last week that it was abandoning a site near the Prince William County town of Haymarket for its $625 million theme park. Historians and environmentalists opposed Disney's America, arguing that the development would create pollution and traffic problems in a region rich with history.

Stephen Fuller, a professor at the Institute of Public Policy at George Mason University, thinks Disney is now more interested in concentrating on its highly profitable animated movie business than theme parks.

``I wouldn't be surprised if Disney never builds in Virginia or anywhere else,'' Fuller said. ``The return on an investment like `The Lion King' in six months is better than the return on a theme park in 15 years. Why would you want to do a theme park?''

Fuller said there may be a corporate rethinking at work on the value of theme park developments. The struggling Disney theme park in France, the opposition to the project in Virginia and sagging attendance in Florida and California may spell the end of the Disney's America project.

Disney officials say they are committed to the project and want the park built in Northern Virginia.

Spokeswoman Claudia Peters said the company will regroup before starting anew on a search for a site.

If Disney does proceed with its plans, some opponents of the Haymarket project doubt it will be of the same scale as that project. The General Assembly approved a $163 million incentive package for the Prince William County project.

``I think they could probably find sites for just a theme park, but I'm doubtful they could find a large site for a huge development to do around a theme park,'' said Robert Elliott, an attorney for a citizens' opposition group that filed three lawsuits against Disney's America.

``My best guess is they'll look for a period and declare they're unable to find a suitable site and leave,'' he said.

by CNB