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Wild West World
American cowboy spirit is a richly ingrained tradition in Kansas, and now Thomas and Cheryl Etheredge, developers of new park Wild West World, want to bring the values of kindness, generosity, and bravery to a new generation of families. Paul Ruben saddles up and gets on down to Wichita.
Located geographically in the very centre of the US, in Park City, a suburb of Wichita, Wild West World is the globe’s only “all-Western” theme park, and also the only theme park in the state of Kansas. The new $30-million facility occupies 130 acres, including the Wild West World hotel and space for future restaurants and hotel development. The park itself and adjacent parking lot occupy approximately 80 acres.
Entering the park, visitors find themselves on Old West Main Street with a beautiful hand carved fountain in the centre. A large lake is situated at the end of the street. Wild West World has 24 major rides, 12 retail outlets, 18 food elements, 18 games, four musical venues and a 1,200-seat multi-purpose auditorium. With several lakes intermingled throughout the park, Wild West World has created an oasis on the Prairie.
Although Wild West World CEO Thomas Etheredge has no track record of managing a park, he does have nine years’ experience at family entertainment venues the Prairie Rose Chuckwagon Supper and Hopalong Cassidy Cowboy Museum. With a staff of 50 permanent and 550 seasonal employees, he optimistically hopes to draw 500,000 guests in the first year to Wild West World, including 35 per cent from group sales. He is targeting his marketing towards Kansas families.
Wholesome family entertainment
“We are well known in the state for family entertainment,” he notes, “and we aggressively market through all mediums to reach our audience. In this day and age it is very rare to find wholesome family entertainment. We wanted to help fill that void.”
“Wild West World offers a wonderful variety of rides for all ages,” he explains, “and 100 great family experiences. We have built the park with the kiddie rides, family rides and the thrill rides interspersed so that the whole family can stay together as they go through the park. We also offer exciting games, retail shops, restaurants, great musical entertainment and, coming in June, the National Acrobats of China. The public loves the park. Our grand opening brought rave reviews.”
Ride broker Len Soled, president of Rides-4-U, furnished 18 pieces for Wild West World, helped secure financing and assisted in delivery, set-up and installation. He believes the park will succeed because “it has a very good mix of equipment, an interesting western theme and the focus on family values will help sustain the park. The park also appeals to people's historic interests and shows how the west was formed. Mr Thomas Etheredge is one of the most energetic individuals in the industry and that will create success.”
Within 200 miles of Wichita are Frontier City in Oklahoma City and Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri. Both theme parks are expected to continue to market in Wichita. But Wichita's former local park, Joyland, has closed. “Joyland was a wonderful park that created memories for countless families,” acknowledges Etheredge. “We are looking forward to furthering that tradition with Wild West World.”
Taking a Chance on the Prairie
Located just 15 miles away in Wichita itself, Chance Morgan supplied Wild West World with both a 36ft Classic Carousel and a CP Huntington train. Richard (Dick) Chance believes that the closing of Joyland after 50 years left a void in Wichita. “The metropolitan area is big enough to support a park,” he contends. “The State of Kansas has over two million people. That's his market. Thomas is a good promoter and marketer. After the first year he'll need a big attraction to get people to return, but that's the park business. You need new attractions if you're going to continue to grow. We hope to sell him a steel coaster and other rides as he grows. Thomas is a larger-than-life figure and he will do well.”
“Thomas is a great promoter,” Soled concurs. “He is actively involved in Witchita, so his park will become an integral part of people's daily lives.”
Carrying out the cowboy theme is central to Wild West World. “It helps transport visitors to another place and time,” Etheredge believes. “In our case we are taking visitors back to the cattle drive days of the late 1800s. The park is built on the actual Chisholm Trail, which is one of the most famous cattle trails in the country. It is our heritage here in Kansas and we are proud of that heritage. Guests can visit the Texas-themed area, which has a strong Mexican influence; they can visit the Oklahoma area with its Native American influence. They can also visit the Kansas area, which has a strong cowboy influence. Others parks have western influence but no park is all cowboy like Wild West World.”
Wicked weather almost delayed the park's grand opening in May. “The major problem encountered in the last six months has been the weather, admits Etheredge. “Snow, ice and rain really slowed construction in the last six months. It has been one of the wettest years on record in Kansas. However God was with us and we opened on May 5, right on schedule.”
Open they did, but with several of the rides still awaiting completion. While guests waited to try all of the rides, Etheredge cites the Crazy Mouse (Spinning Coaster) and Moser's Sidewinder to be most popular.
Wild West World’s owner and CEO built the park with plenty of room for expansion and also has an option on additional land. He will be adding a drop tower ride in 2008 and plans a new coaster in 2009. Recognising other attractions in the area as regional tourism partners, he expects to work together to better market the greater Wichita area. Hats off to Thomas! Stetsons, of course.
Wild West Rides
In addition to the Chance Morgan carousel and train at Wild West World, a package of 18 rides was supplied by Rides-4-U, a mixture of new and refurbished equipment. This includes a Reverchon Spinning Coaster; Bertazzon Himalaya (Musik Express); Moser Sidewinder, Fiesta Mexicana, Spring Ride and Flipping Action Arm; OD Hopkins Log Flume; Fujume Wacky Worm family coaster; Visa Rio Bravo kiddie train and Tip-A-Canoe ride; SBF/Visa giant wheel and canoe; Zamperla Kiddie Swing, Tea Cups and Crop Duster; Wisdom Tornado and Mini Himalaya; and IE Park/Majestic Bumper Cars.
Leisure Labs furnished an IE Park Rodeo Trail and Huss Condor. Wood Design delivered a 10-metre Wave Swing. There is also a Larson Flying Scooter and a Stage Coach attraction provided by Werner Wagon Works.
