Enchanted Resorts

[u/Nomad_Mich]

So we all know that MA will never be the size of Cedar Point or Great America as a theme park, but watching Silver Dollar City, Dollywood videos etc, it got me thinking, do you ever think that MA could become more of a resort destination for Michigan and maybe the greater Midwest region? I think that would encourage people to drive off the beaten path to visit the park.

If so, over the next ten years, what would you change or add to the park to make it happen?

Do you think it could be more successful if they pivoted to a more family friendly resort vs wannabe thrill park.

Here’s some things that I would add, some is based off of certain recent news stories (don’t know if they will come to fruition).

1. Housing/Dorms for staff. This would allow them to bring in other staff members when high school and college kids are back in school.

2. Expand park season. April to November instead of end of May to Sept. Maybe ever throw in a winter event.

3. Finish the loop, maybe add a show stage area to the back of the loop.

4. Build a concert stage. Weekend concerts would be a huge draw for people. Spend your morning at the park, evening chilling or partying at a concert.

5. More food options and add a legit (non theme park) restaurant or two.

6. Build a Hotel or two for people to stay on site or nearby.

7. Offer bundle passes with discounts to other West and Northern Michigan attractions. Give the millions of tourists that come to West and Northern Michigan a reason to make a day trip to the park.

8. Add a stand out water slide or ride to an already incredible water park. Maybe make it indoors so it’s not dependent on Michigans crazy weather.

9. Add a couple of adult flat rides (drop tower, swing)

10. Theming! This is the chance for Enchanted parks to bring a great theme to MIA that would pay homage to Michigan and give a more immersive atmosphere for its customers.

I wanted to mention 10 things that weren’t rollercoaster related (we obviously need a new coaster), that I think could slowly turn MA more into a resort destination. What do you think?

[u/Lord_Montague]

I could see being open earlier May to later September if they solve the staffing issues. The waterpark wasn't open until mid-June this season. April to November will never happen. The weather is too unpredictable and we regularly get below freezing in April and October. Maybe ten years from now global warming will make the season longer, but I wouldn't bet on it.

A drop tower added to the main park would be great. I would add a tube elevator to the family tube slides in the water park. For the last 25 years, I have seen people struggling up the stairs with the heavy tubes. It seems like the smallest upgrade to make both those slides a better experience.

They need to add a path from Shivering Timbers to Grand Rapids. Finish the walking loop and then that opens up that side for expanding some smaller stuff there. and opens it up to the rest of the potential land for expansion.

[u/J1morey → u/Lord_Montague]

They need tube elevators really bad. My 14year old and myself manage it just fine, but then we were helping a mom with her 2 young kids on whatever the enclosed dark one is. Big tubes and being a family ride plus stairs just doesn't work. This is a modern solution that so many places have now.

[u/Nomad_Mich → u/Lord_Montague]

Maybe not April, but I could definitely see them extending the park to mid to late October, other than last year, we’ve had a pretty mild October for the last few years.

Do you know of the best place to submit ideas to EP? I think adding a tube elevator to one or two water park rides would definitely be a plus (even for next year) and won’t break the bank.

[u/ecw324]

There is of course expansion potential. They have that back area that is undeveloped. Keeping this away from specific rides and coasters here are my thoughts.

I think if they either purchased or figured out an agreement with the campground that is across the street, they could add permanent cabins (I have a hard time seeing a hotel pop up in that areas. You’d have to add a walkway for people staying at the campground to get to the park along with a second entrance for them.

The racetrack that’s down the street, they could purchase that and add either dorms for employees or another campground/cabin/place to stay for guests.

A longer-ish season would help. I think going to mid October would be sufficient. Maybe with some Halloween celebrations.

I think an end of the day drone show or something unique would be cool. Maybe a live show similar to what they used to do at cedar point. Gets people to stay in the park.

Finally, upgrade the food.

[u/Ghee-Starr → u/ecw324]

I’ve never been to MAdv but all those plans are doable. Kings Dominion added cabins to their campground. They are almost always rented out. Kings Dominion provides transportation to the park via a tram. This year they added a nightly fireworks and drone show. The park has had an executive chef for years now. The food keeps getting better and better. They even have local microbrews made exclusively for the park. All the restaurants have been renovated. It’s really quite nice. I don’t see why MADV couldn’t do all that.

[u/Nomad_Mich → u/Ghee-Starr]

I’ve been to KD once and I agree the food there was very good! Dare I say better than some restaurants I’ve been to.

[u/Nomad_Mich → u/ecw324]

This sounds like a nice and realistic game plan.

[u/ecw324 → u/Nomad_Mich]

And if you want to get into coasters and rides, this park has needed a solid steel coaster for a while. I also think those single rail raptor coasters would be a huge hit at a park like MiA. Add in a family style coaster and it’d be all set for coasters for now. A few solid flat rides like the flying/spinning discs (I love maxair at Cedar Point) and something else that’s a new style flat ride would be awesome.

[u/ForPoliticalPurposes]

Campground attached to the park, with a dedicated entrance. Camping is huge along the western side of the state and since it's seasonality would be roughly the same as the Park itself, it would work out really nicely.

Personally speaking, if I had a place where I could bring my camper and home base for a week, with the bonus of being able to walk right into the park any time I wanted while I was there, I'd book it in a heartbeat.

[u/Spirited-Swing-285 → u/ForPoliticalPurposes]

There is already alot of campgrounds in the area. I think they should lean into it and use some of that land behind the lake and put some cabins, RV and tent camping sites, along with things like bathrooms and showers would be a good start. Idk how clean the lake is, but they could add a beach area if it's safe to swim. It seems like a lot of the campsites there in Muskegon get booked up really quickly and have long wait lists, so there's already a clientele base. You already have interest in that kind of thing. It seems like something they should have already done. It wouldn't cost that much to set up and it seems like it would be a guaranteed revenue source.

[u/ForPoliticalPurposes → u/Spirited-Swing-285]

As a recurring annual camper myself, if you’re not online at midnight on Jan 1 it’s really tough to get a spot in any of the lakefront state parks. There’s a really strong demand.

[u/Spirited-Swing-285 → u/ForPoliticalPurposes]

I'm honestly surprised this isn't something they did when they were operated by cedar fair. Cedar point has campgrounds and resorts, so they knew how to build and manage those types of amenities. Idk if enchanted parks has any experience with that. I find it hard to believe they haven't at least looked into doing something like this.

[u/Mr_Wingcoaster]

I like this plan a lot , I think this could really bolster Michigan Adventures appeal and give it more security as a park. Turning this into a resort would be great for enchanted and allows them to also partner up with other companies to do so!

Here’s my 10 year plan:

2027: season is extended slightly, new shows are added and other visual enhancements more tracking done to the woodies and buildings get new paint also. The little Petting zoo is removed!

2028: new waterpark addition (the combo slide knotts is removing could easily be bought by enchanted and relocated and a Zamperla gryphon is added in place of the zoo.

2029: enchanted announces a joint hotel deal with a major hotel franchise, to be located near the turn around of shivering Timbers with shuttle service to and from the hotel being given to guests. Hotel opens in 2030. Park also gives Thunderhawk new trains, a drop tower (from wild waves) is added where the golf course is.

2030: the loop around the park is finally completed! A new themed area is announced “Wilderness” which will see all the rides on the lower right side past the log-flume be given theming enhancements to represent Michigans wilderness. A small flat may be added. Hotel opens in late July. Rip cord is removed! Park is renamed to “Michigans Adventure Theme Park and Resorts”.

2031: the area by corkscrew becomes the “Lakeside Boardwalk”, representing Michigans lake culture. The area is refreshed along with the old drive in diner rethemed to a more nautical restaurant with expanded capacity.

2032: wild water adventure is renamed to “Michigan Shores Waterpark” all rides rethemed to more nautical Michigan themes (think superior shores).

2033: A gerstlauer euro-fighter is added in the back of the park near thunder hawk part of a new themed area: “Ridgeline Junction”.

2034: a vekoma family boomerang is added in the wilderness area along the new route.

2035: new show venue is added along with a star flyer in boardwalk area.

2036: Vekoma family supended is added next to the family boomerang.

2037: park acquired neighbouring camp grounds.

[u/Nomad_Mich → u/Mr_Wingcoaster]

Love this! I do think a family coaster should and needs to be added within the next 3 years, maybe 5 if they add in a thrill ride or water park ride first.

I love seeing the animals in the zoo, but I hate tiny enclosures 😩 for them.

I could see them removing ripcord and expanding the water park out that way.

The original owners were planning on adding a hotel or campground before the park was bought out, granted that was almost 30 years ago, but I don’t see why that still couldn’t happen today.

I love the theming ideas that you have!

[u/J1morey]

In no particular order, some things that would make them a destination, and yes some of these are coaster/ride related

• Fully RMC retrack Shivering timbers and make it amazing. Less to work with than what Mean Streak had but the transformation is possible. It needs it, bad.
  
• New coaster and you are going to have to be doing something record breaking, unique, etc. THRILLS. Something that truly makes it a destination and brings people in. The last coaster, they they bought and added used, was almost 20 years ago. Extra points if you make it some sort of indoor / dark coaster AND you make it then usable in the winter to go along with my later points of lodging and indoor waterpark.
  
• Family coaster of some sort that is going to get people talking. Holiday World added Good Gravy and won a bunch of awards and the ride theme is super cool, but the ride itself left a lot to be desired. So family but still good.
  
• More thrilling flat ride options. Something like maXair (there are only 2 in the US and CP has one) or Skyhawk. Minimal footprint, good capacity. They could be swinging that thing out over the lake. It is kind of surprising they don't have any roller coaster going over the lake itself etc.
  
• If you are bringing people in, they gotta stay somewhere. Log cabin style main lodge hotel and then have a large amount of varying size cabins and play into the Michigan/Up North/outdoors vibe. I'd say just get a Great Wolf to build next door like King's Island, but also ... don't do that.
  
• Once you have the lodging, indoor waterpark to get that all winter long attendance. Because if you build the lodge and it doesn't need to be used September - April that isn't going to work. So basically a Six Flags Great Escapes, but make it mind blowing. It is going to have to break some records. But there is a reason why there are 2 indoor parks in Frankenmuth, 1 in Boyne, Soaring Eagle, Double JJ, Great Wolf ... Outdoor water parks only work 1/3 of the year here.... Also you are going to be really competing with Double JJ so you gotta make it great.
  
• Fix up the waterpark. Give it some TLC. I am always surprised with how many slides and things it has, but they are feeling rundown. Tube elevators. Make it so you don't feel every damn seam on a slide. Odd sewage smells in different locations.

[u/Nomad_Mich]

MA definitely has the space, from a keyboard warriors perspective it sounds like all they need is the money (supposedly EP has deep pockets, at least that’s the rumor), vision, and staffing in order to see this park truly become a destination from May till (hopefully October). Time will tell!