Tom Morrow
07-17-2007, 07:31 AM
Massive Earthquest theme park approved for Texas
Perry signing is major boost for planned theme park (http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2007/07/09/daily57.html)
Houston Business Journal - TX
Earthquest, a massive Disney-style entertainment complex north of Houston, is a step closer to reality after Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed enabling legislation for tax incentives to lure the project to East Montgomery County. House Bill 4015, signed on July 12, will provide the equity to leverage investment in the dinosaur theme park project by creating a special tax zone in the area and facilitating bond financing.
The project is expected to cost more than $600 million and cover 250 acres, with a $150 million spa hotel also to be built on the site. The park would be located at Caney Creek near FM 1485 and Interstate 59 on property owned by Marlin Atlantis, a Dallas-based residential community developer. See Dinosaur theme park may roar into Montgomery County (http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2006/11/13/story11.html). The land is part of a 1,564-acre undeveloped parcel once owned by Rice University that was acquired by Marlin Atlantis in 2004 for a proposed Whitestone residential community.
The project is the brainchild of Don Lessem, head of Exhibits Rex LLC and chief adviser to producers of the Jurassic Park Hollywood movie. Through his Dino Don Inc. company, Lessem has created permanent and touring dinosaur exhibits.
The project is expected to open in 2012 and attract more than 2.5 million visitors a year. The eco-friendly project would focus on a Moody Gardens or EPCOT-style mix of entertainment and education, with a dinosaur museum, IMAX-style theater, and walking trails amid life-size dinosaur exhibits.
Sent from Ezra (http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/z/Ezra/)
Perry signing is major boost for planned theme park (http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2007/07/09/daily57.html)
Houston Business Journal - TX
Earthquest, a massive Disney-style entertainment complex north of Houston, is a step closer to reality after Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed enabling legislation for tax incentives to lure the project to East Montgomery County. House Bill 4015, signed on July 12, will provide the equity to leverage investment in the dinosaur theme park project by creating a special tax zone in the area and facilitating bond financing.
The project is expected to cost more than $600 million and cover 250 acres, with a $150 million spa hotel also to be built on the site. The park would be located at Caney Creek near FM 1485 and Interstate 59 on property owned by Marlin Atlantis, a Dallas-based residential community developer. See Dinosaur theme park may roar into Montgomery County (http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2006/11/13/story11.html). The land is part of a 1,564-acre undeveloped parcel once owned by Rice University that was acquired by Marlin Atlantis in 2004 for a proposed Whitestone residential community.
The project is the brainchild of Don Lessem, head of Exhibits Rex LLC and chief adviser to producers of the Jurassic Park Hollywood movie. Through his Dino Don Inc. company, Lessem has created permanent and touring dinosaur exhibits.
The project is expected to open in 2012 and attract more than 2.5 million visitors a year. The eco-friendly project would focus on a Moody Gardens or EPCOT-style mix of entertainment and education, with a dinosaur museum, IMAX-style theater, and walking trails amid life-size dinosaur exhibits.
Sent from Ezra (http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/z/Ezra/)