Wild Escape’s ‘Draft Permit’ Approved
By SHELLEY HANSONArticle Photos
WHEELING - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued a "draft permit" related to the planned Wild Escape Theme Park site at The Highlands, said Steve Minard, president of Wild Escape.
But before the earth work can begin, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection first must issue its own permits, Minard added.
"This is a major milestone. This is a good milestone," Minard said Friday of the draft permit.
It's been two years since the Ohio County Development Authority originally applied for the permit. Minard said he learned of the draft permit during his bi-weekly conference call with Army Corps officials on Thursday. The actual paperwork, he noted, is expected to arrive in the mail sometime next week.
Officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could not be reached Friday for comment at press time.
The site work is expected to include creating a level pad of about 125 acres by filling in about 8,000 feet of Storch's Run, which is located west of the J.C. Penney and Kohl's department stores.
"We're happy to reach this milestone," said Ohio County Administrator Greg Stewart. "But we still have to go through the DEP permit process."
Stewart said there is no timeline in place for work at the site to begin, but one will be established as soon as DEP permits for the project are approved.
"It's a large, complex process," Stewart noted, adding the Corps permit approved this week begins to clear the way for construction of the theme park, a hotel and additional development at The Highlands.
Minard said the state permits will also include those related to water quality. State officials, he said, likely will have to conduct field visits at the site and review the county's mitigation plans. The state's process will be similar to that of the Army Corps, but "maybe more stringent in some cases."
"It's a massive project. We're going to move 15.9 million cubic yards of earth and impact a mile of stream," Minard said.
He noted that although the project will impact some aquatic life, it also will "clear up" acid mine drainage.
"It's a significant effort. ... It's pretty normal to take two years," he said of the permit process. "We're excited, but keep in mind this is a massive effort. This is a marathon, not a sprint."
Minard's plans for the theme park include roller coasters, water rides, a hotel, musical entertainment and more. He noted previously that some of the rides already have been built, and are in storage waiting for their destination at The Highlands, located about 5 miles east of Wheeling.
For this project, Minard created a limited liability company named Crystal Mountain, which is doing business as Wild Escape Theme Park.
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ElmGroveMan
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09-28-08 12:09 AM
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not to sure about how to meet up. Maybe we will have to set a time and place. Just let me know.
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Michael
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09-24-08 7:38 PM
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ElmGroveMan, I would like to hear more about the land that was up there the next time I’m in Wheeling. How do we arrange to get together?
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ElmGroveMan
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09-23-08 8:16 AM
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Michael I do know where the appel orchard used to be. If what I am understanding where your land is the apple orchard was across the hollow. It is at the end of the large flat expanse behind the Distribution Center. It had some delicious apples from the trees that were left.If you ever want to get together I would be happy to share the knowledge of the land that I had. I spent thousands of hours up there. I miss the pre Cabelas times.
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Michael
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09-22-08 8:54 PM
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ElmGroveMan, it’s a good climb from the bottom but flattens out some near the upper property line. When I was little, I remember my father telling me there had been an apple orchard up there. Have you ever heard or do know of anyone who has ever heard of an apple orchard being up there? Do you know anyone who might know about it?
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ElmGroveMan
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09-22-08 11:04 AM
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Michael your land is fairly steep and it is part of what we used to call "The Big Mountain"
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Michael
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09-21-08 8:51 AM
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AgricolusTheDwarfEngineer, the proposed Highlands Interchange is projected to cost $30 million. Since the DOH does not believe a second interchange is needed, it will not be built using state and federal matching funds. I think the OCDA hopes to sell sales tax revenue bonds to raise the money. That $30 million, together with interest, will then be paid using sales tax revenue from the theme park. That’s a lot to pay for an interchange that no one but the OCDA thinks is needed. I was also told by the DOH that the main reason the OCDA wants to build the second interchange is to remove the trucks from the Cabela’s Interchange. Once again, an alternate route may be a more cost effective solution to the problem. The Dallas Pike Interchange already exits and is used mainly by trucks. Fort Henry Drive already runs from the Dallas Pike Interchange to the Highlands. It should cost much less than $30 million to upgrade and extend Fort Henry Drive to Bob Wise Drive for truck traffic.
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Michael
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09-21-08 8:50 AM
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AgricolusTheDwarfEngineer, in the last Interchange Justification Report the OCDA conceded the proposed Highlands Interchange is not presently needed for projected traffic and won’t be necessary until the year 2025. The OCDA also conceded that there is no present or reasonably projected need for an interchange which leads onto Middle Wheeling Creek Road. And I learned from DOH personnel that the State of West Virginia is not building the interchange because it’s not necessary and probably won’t be needed for another 20 years. I also learned from a conversation in September 2006 with the developer of the Wild Escape Theme Park that he doesn’t feel it’s needed because expected traffic can adequately use the present Cabela’s Interchange. Finally, I was told that the proposed Highlands Interchange has not been approved and is considered dormant by the Federal Highway Administration because the OCDA has been unable to establish a need for a second interchange to the Highlands.
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Michael
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09-21-08 8:49 AM
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AgricolusTheDwarfEngineer, I already mentioned a number a reasons to divert local Highlands’ traffic onto Route 40. Let’s talk about problems with the proposed Highlands Interchange. The proposal to locate the interchange around a blind curve at the bottom of two-mile hill by which time westbound trucks routinely reach speeds of 80 to 90 miles per hour is a serious safety concern. It will be an even greater safety concern once the Wild Escape Theme Park is built. In light of the expected traffic load when the theme park opens each day, there exists the very real possibly that stacking at the park entrance and at the “T” in the valley access road could cause traffic to back up onto the interstate. Vehicles could also be expected to stop in the right-hand travel lane while attempting to exit the highway without waiting in the exit lane. A disaster would surely occur if a westbound truck came around the blind curve and ran into stalled cars at 80 to 90 miles per hour.
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Michael
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09-21-08 8:48 AM
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ElmGroveMan, I apologize for the delay. My land is located between the interstate right-of-way and the proposed Wild Escape Theme Park at Phase V of the Highlands. It’s on the westbound side of the highway near the bottom of two-mile hill and ends just before the curve. The barn is after the curve at the bottom of two-mile hill. The location of the land is marked on the Conceptual Plan for Expanded Phase V from June 2008 which can be reviewed by clicking on the link in the story at the Highlands Gazette posted on July 31, 2008. Google: Highlands Gazette. I also agree the development access road could run up Storch’s Run. That’s where the road was before they moved it onto my property in the Summer of 2006. Why’d they move it? I think the access road was moved onto my land to get around the new law prohibiting the taking of land for private development in West Virginia. The new law took effect in June of 2006.
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ElmGroveMan
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09-17-08 10:38 PM
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Diverting the traffic through Triadelphia in my opinion would not be very smart. First the grade of the road would be extreme, seeing how steep the mountain actually is. Second I do not believe that area could handle that amount of traffic. You are right that there is atleast one poperty owner that would be willing to sell but her property is full of ladnfill debri, coal mine debri, hidden hey have the ability to take the road up either side of Storch run. (I didn't even know this actually had a name)I do not think that it will ever be built atleast not in the next ten years. I also do not think that the theme park will be built. The wind alone on that mountain should be enough to deter the building of high rides that might be suseptable to the wind.
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ElmGroveMan
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09-17-08 10:31 PM
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Thanks Michael for the info. I am extremely familiar with that property and way before it became the famed Highlands. I miss those days. I spent a lot of time there. Were exactly is your property located from the barn at the bottom?
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Michael
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09-17-08 8:51 PM
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AgricolusTheDwarfEngineer, I can think of a number a reasons to divert local traffic to and from the Highlands onto Route 40. I’ll try to be back tomorrow evening to discuss them.
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Michael
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09-17-08 8:51 PM
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AgricolusTheDwarfEngineer, of course, there are other ways to configure the pad for the theme park. The problem is that all the different ways involve moving more dirt and, therefore, cost more money. The cheapest way is to push the top of the hill into Storch’s Run. They estimated the cost of that groundwork at $24 million in November 2007. But they need some of my land for that to work. Now, they have been forced to submit an alternative plan that doesn’t involve my land by the Corps of Engineers. The new plan involves moving an additional 2.2 million cubic yards of dirt, at least some of which comes from borrow areas. The cost of the new groundwork plan is $56 million. That’s an increase of $32 million just to avoid buying my property and the other land they don’t own at $1.5 million. Compare for yourself the documents that can be downloaded from the story at the Highlands Gazette posted on July 31, 2008. Who is going to pay the extra money? Ohio County taxpayers.
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Michael
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09-17-08 8:50 PM
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ElmGroveMan, why haven’t they been more aggressive? I think they have been - in their own way. In July 2006, Greg Stewart told me that he wasn’t going to negotiate their $15,000 offer for my entire 20 acre parcel and would instead take what he wanted for the road and leave the rest. In February 2007, Tim McCormick told me he wouldn’t vote to pay over $300,000 for the land and, if I wouldn’t take that, they would take my property for the road. They even filed plans with the Corps of Engineers and the DEP with retaining walls and the access road on my property. And I believe they intended to file a petition to condemn my land once they got the permits. The problem for them was they didn’t get the permits. Month after month they waited hoping for the permits the following month. Don’t you remember the stories? Finally, this past spring, the Corps told them to submit plans with everything off my property. Those plans were submitted in June 2008. And the permits are expected this fall.
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Michael
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09-17-08 8:49 PM
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ElmGroveMan, you may be right about the land ownership. I heard that the OCDA was buying up land between the Cabala’s Distribution Centers and Route 40. I also know of one property owner who might be willing to sell a substantial parcel for the right price. However, you might be right that they haven’t purchased all the needed land just yet. I also agree the OCDA could build the proposed interchange without my property. There are also alternative routes the development access road could take to reach the theme park. That is obvious just by looking at the Conceptual Plan for Expanded Phase V from June 2008. It can be downloaded from the story at the Highlands Gazette posted on July 31, 2008. However, even if all three Commissioners themselves now carved it is some kind of stone, I still wouldn’t believe that they don’t want my land for that access road. And, regrettably, I am forced by their threats to use eminent domain to continue the fight to protect my property.
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Michael
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09-16-08 8:55 PM
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ElmGroveMan and AgricolusTheDwarfEngineer, I’m a little pressed for time tonight. I’ll be back tomorrow evening to discuss your concerns.
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AgricolusTheDwarfEngineer
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09-16-08 11:40 AM
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Quote: "TheRealityPolice 09-13-08 8:41 PM Minard standing in front of a PAINTING of his proposed park. I agree with Valley Senior: the guy has never had any project come to fruition. Why does Ohio County get to be the "guinea pig"? It takes a HUGE amount of money to develop a park and keep it running. Geauga Lake was a loser to Six Flags - they DUMPED it! Cedar Fair scooped it up. I just hate to see the county lose any money needlessly due to this guy that just looks like a scam artist. Remember the park someone tried to develop in the 80's near New Concord Ohio? Paradise Lake? WHY will this be any different??" Answer - Hey Reality Police - I see where you're coming from, and it's a question that is reasonable to ask. One word, three times - "location, location, location". Is there really an easier park to get to? Plus his money will come from investors, who will want a complete economic study before they buy into it.
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AgricolusTheDwarfEngineer
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09-16-08 11:40 AM
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Quote: "TheRealityPolice 09-13-08 8:41 PM Minard standing in front of a PAINTING of his proposed park. I agree with Valley Senior: the guy has never had any project come to fruition. Why does Ohio County get to be the "guinea pig"? It takes a HUGE amount of money to develop a park and keep it running. Geauga Lake was a loser to Six Flags - they DUMPED it! Cedar Fair scooped it up. I just hate to see the county lose any money needlessly due to this guy that just looks like a scam artist. Remember the park someone tried to develop in the 80's near New Concord Ohio? Paradise Lake? WHY will this be any different??" Answer - Hey Reality Police - I see where you're coming from, and it's a question that is reasonable to ask. One word, three times - "location, location, location". Is there really an easier park to get to? Plus his money will come from investors, who will want a complete economic study before they buy into it.
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AgricolusTheDwarfEngineer
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09-16-08 11:31 AM
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Michael, Michael, motorcycle. Why on God's green earth would you want to divert a potentially voluminous traffic flow from the Highlands to Rte. 40? The decrepit road is a nightmare, slow, full of its own traffic problems, and the entrance would be difficult to find in the first place. Imagine coming off of I70 and having to wait at the light at Riesbeck's, for example, to get there. No one will leave the Highlands and say, "hey, here's a quaint little store, let's stop there." As far as traffic is concerned on I70, I70 is I70. There will always be trucks crawling up the hill and tile-induced backups going downhill. There will always be wrecks along it. There is a healthy mix of good drivers and total idiots using it from all over the eastern states, constantly. The Highlands may be the perfect remedy to their transportational inadequacies - give them some place to stop and clear their heads on the way down the hill.
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AgricolusTheDwarfEngineer
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09-16-08 9:38 AM
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Michael/PoorRichard/etc.: From what I've seen of the plans, which are available to all, it would seem that the County would have little to change to build the pad for the amusement park and avert using your property. There is land, land and more land available just by changing direction and moving to the west and south. As a matter of fact, it may all work out for the better by circumnavigating it, as many of the parcels along I70 were changed structurally when the interstate was built and are presently borderline unstable. Ignoring your property would be the best thing for it, as runoff would probably be diverted away from it. The best thing I can suggest to you would be for you to save face in the view of the public (and relieve them of your torturous whinings) and donate the property to a Nature Conservancy or public trust and provide another safe haven for Bambi, Rocky and Bullwinkle. Everyone would be eternally grateful for your generosity.
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ElmGroveMan
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09-15-08 11:19 PM
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Michael you are wrong!!! The county does not own land that would take them to Rt 40. They only own a portion of the land down over the hill. They never aquired the entire mountain. They could still build an interchange from I70 without using your land. There are several other places they could send the roadway that would bypass your couple of acres. If they were truly concerned about using your property do you not think they would have pursued it more agressively?
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ElmGroveMan
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09-15-08 11:19 PM
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Michael you are wrong!!! The county does not own land that would take them to Rt 40. They only own a portion of the land down over the hill. They never aquired the entire mountain. They could still build an interchange from I70 without using your land. There are several other places they could send the roadway that would bypass your couple of acres. If they were truly concerned about using your property do you not think they would have pursued it more agressively?
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Michael
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09-14-08 7:13 PM
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Federal matching funds would be used if the DOH were going to build the proposed second interchange. As noted below, the DOH will not build it. According to an official at the DOH, “In regard to financing, the DOH position also remains the same, i.e., if the interchange is to be built in the future, the OCDA or other local entities will be financing its construction.” That means Ohio County tax money and it’s going to cost $30 million which is why I suggested an alternative route for local traffic between the National Road and the Highlands in Triadelphia.
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hbdelux
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09-14-08 6:48 PM
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Interstate projects are 90% federal funds and 10% state DOT funds - not county money.
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Michael
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09-14-08 3:20 PM
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Instead of spending $30 million in Ohio County tax money to build a new interchange, a more cost effective solution might be to build an alternative route for local traffic to reach the Highlands. Such a route could be built along land already owned by the OCDA and lead from the Highlands to Route 40 in Triadelphia. Most people from Woodsdale to the east could then take the National Road to the Highlands. The people who try to avoid using interstate highways as they age would be able to avoid I-70 and take the National Road. And people coming from West Liberty would no longer need to use Dallas Pike Road to reach the Highlands. The alternative route from Route 40 to the Highlands in Triadelphia should also alleviate potential congestion at I-70’s Elm Grove Interchange. Lastly, enticing eastbound traffic from Ohio to use the Elm Grove exit on the way to the Highlands should also provide more customers for businesses located along Route 40 in Elm Grove and Triadelphia.
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