THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 5, 1994 TAG: 9407050055
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
North Carolina's economic development officials may start whistling ``When You Wish Upon A Star'' if it means they can lure the next Disney theme park.
It's not an entirely goofy notion, either.
``We would certainly welcome the project in North Carolina,'' said Watts Carr, the state's top business recruiter with the N.C. Department of Commerce. ``If (Disney) chose not to go to Virginia because of public outcry, I think North Carolina would be the lead site.''
Carr said he has pinpointed several sites, including land in the area that includes Johnson, Wayne and Sampson counties, and the area including Nash, Halifax and Northampton counties.
Disney wants to put a 3,000-acre, $650 million park - which would have a U.S. history theme - in rural Virginia within an hour's drive of Washington. Not everyone there wants the park to come their way.
Opponents, including historians, environmentalists and members of Congress, claim the park would spur unwanted growth and destroy two nearby Civil War battlefields at Bull Run. Disney says the park would be a boon to the area and a showcase for U.S. history.
``You should know that the site we have selected is not a battlefield,'' said Claudia Peters, manager of media relations for Disney's America. ``It is not on a battlefield.''
Opponents say the battlefields will become parking lots for the hotels, souvenir shops, golf courses and fast food restaurants that would accompany the park.
Debate on the park has reached Congress. Lawmakers have argued over whether the federal government should meddle in a state's affairs - in this case, what effect the park would have on the Manassas battlefields.
Mark Pacala, general manager of Disney's America, pledged to ``go the extra mile'' to minimize the effect of the park on nearby communities and the Manassas National Battlefield, one of the most important of the Civil War.
``Disney's America will not impact the battlefield or any other historic site for that matter, nor will any structure on our property be visible from any point on the battleground,'' he vowed.
Virginia Gov. George F. Allen. a Republican who has been a vocal supporter of the park, said ``some well connected folks'' have offered ``one excuse after another'' for blocking the project.
``There is no reason for congressional intervention,'' the governor told the senators.
North Carolina officials have quietly let Disney know that should the company grow tired of the fuss the Virginia site is causing, North Carolina is ready to do business. Since January, Carr has made a handful of calls to Disney officials in California and Virginia, telling them about available Tar Heel land.
Carr stepped up his efforts as opposition got more vocal.
``If Disney has some serious second thoughts, then I think they will naturally look to North Carolina,'' Carr said. ``And we just want to be ready.'' by CNB