Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 5, 1994 TAG: 9410110089
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITER NOTE: Above
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Rolfe sent two letters earlier this week in an effort to bag the Mouse. The first, to Walt Disney Co., suggests Disney should consider buying Explore, the living-history park that straddles the Bedford County-Roanoke County line.
The second letter, to the state Department of Economic Development, offers Bedford County as a possible location for the proposed Disney theme park.
What separates Bedford's offer from the numerous other courtship letters sent by local governments in Virginia is that Bedford actually has a proposed site for the Disney park - a 4,600-acre parcel of undisturbed, mostly flat timberland in the southeast part of the county near Smith Mountain Lake.
The only other outfit that has publicly offered Disney a specific tract is the Chesapeake Corp., which has suggested 2,800 acres it owns near Interstate 64 in New Kent County.
"Most places in Virginia aren't like Prince William County, I bet," said Jeff Bridget, a Bedford County community development planner. "We're willing to jump into the Disney game like everyone else in the state."
But even though the Bedford County parcel is bigger, it has no sewer or water or electricity. No infrastructure. Just trees. And the nearest interstate is about 30 miles away. So residents don't necessarily need to start worrying about Smith Mountain Lake becoming the newest Disney water ride. (Big Thunder Smith Mountain Railroad?)
Ironically, rumors about Disney have swirled around the e property ever since its purchase six years ago by an Orlando, Fla.-based real estate broker.
Marry L. Carter, president of Marry L. Carter & Associates Inc., bought the land for about $2.5 million, mostly in one chunk from two private landowners. That caused a lot of Bedford County residents to smell mouse. Or at least cheese.
"The rumors were all over. I had calls from all over," Carter said Monday. He said he didn't buy the property for the Walt Disney Co. but as a long-term investment for himself.
Born and raised in Franklin County, Carter attended Forum College. He said he bought the parcel with an eye toward developing lake-area residential neighborhoods.
"I'm not actively trying to sell it," he said. But when Rolfe called and suggested that the land be pitched to Disney, Carter said he agreed wholeheartedly. "They're a great organization. They've done so much here in Florida."
Carter said his business is not affiliated with Disney, and Disney has never been a client of his firm. But "we have worked with them and discussed things from time to time."
Carter's company owns land adjoining Disney property in Florida, and it owns another 5,000 acres in Virginia - in Franklin, Pulaski, Wythe and Floyd counties.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***