THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 2, 1994 TAG: 9409300246
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Bill Reed
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
Is it a Goofy idea for this area to pursue the theme park that Disney couldn't locate in Northern Virginia?
Maybe even Dopey or Mickey Mouse?
The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce doesn't think so.
The chamber fired off an electronic communication Thursday morning - the same morning headlines bannered the news that The Walt Disney Co. had decided to seek a new location for its proposed historical theme park - telling state and Disney bigwigs to ``Come on Down!''
That basically was the message, sent by Mike Barrett, chairman of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce.
``We had previously expressed interest to Bob Skunda, the state's secretary of economic development, in how Disney's plans tied in with our Plan 2007,'' said Barrett.
Plan 2007, for those not in the know, is a strategy formulated by area chamber and business leaders to mobilize resources - including investment capital - to add 25,000 jobs in Southeastern Virginia in the next decade.
``In fact we faxed our renewed interest to Bob's (Skunda's) office and the governor's office this morning,'' said Barrett.
Since the chamber represents the Hampton Roads region in general, it is not promoting any one city, he added.
A Disney American theme park within a 50- or 60-mile radius would be fine.
``Location of a theme park anywhere between here and Richmond would be ideal,'' Barrett said.
``I hope we're in the race. I hope that they really find that Disney is interested in Hampton Roads. We have good highway access. We have an incredible visitor base already.''
Barrett refers to existing attractions such as Busch Gardens, Colonial Williamsburg, the beach, Nauticus, the Virginia Marine Science Museum, the Virginia Air and Space Museum, Water Country USA, and Yorktown and Jamestown historical parks.
Surely a Disney park here in the southern end of the state is an idea that would gain widespread local acceptance.
Henry Richardson, president of the Virginia Beach Hotel and Motel Association, thinks so.
So does City Councilman Linwood Branch, who represents a good chunk of the resort area.
Richardson, a resort hotel owner, would like to see Disney locate its theme park right here in Virginia Beach. And, he would like to see a race track open in Virginia Beach.
``I think we've got the land down here. We've got the industry down here. We've got everything in place,'' he said. ``I think we can offer a lot to a Disney park or a race track and I think we should go after it 110 percent.''
Dreaming a little, which an industry representative has every right to do, Richardson can see the city as the ultimate home of a theme park, a horse track, a riverboat gambling outlet, a country-western theater, an amphitheater and a dozen new public golf courses.
In case some of the larger items on the wish list go elsewhere - preferably close by - Richardson believes Virginia Beach still would benefit.
Past experience has shown that many resort hotel customers venture off to Williamsburg or Busch Gardens to vary their vacation fare.
A newer and bigger attraction within easy driving distance would geometrically increase the number of local hotel customers and the things they can do once they arrive at the resort, local merchants reason.
Branch, who has been thumping the tourism development drum for the last five years, sees a Disney park in Virginia Beach as an answer to a long whispered prayer.
``Obviously it's something we've had on our shopping list for years,'' he said. ``We're in an area with a good population base and a good tourist draw - obviously a Disney operation like this would enhance those things.''
It may be the stuff of pipe dreams at this point. Then again, maybe not. ILLUSTRATION: Mickey Mouse
by CNB