Two theme parks for East Montgomery County?EMCID talks with developers for a second theme park to compliment the evolving EarthQuest
Kingwood Observer // Kingwood News
JENNIFER SUMMER
Jan. 12, 2013 Updated: Sep. 27, 2016 11:43 a.m.
Residents in the East Montgomery County area may see an additional theme park known as the Grand Texas Theme Park.
The website for the park along with numerous attractions and entertainment including thrill rides, a water park feature, shopping and dining is developed for potential guests to see what is available but with no location yet.
The organizers for the Grand Texas Theme Park recently met with the East Montgomery County Improvement District to scope out a plat of land near U.S. Highway 59 in East Montgomery County near the EarthQuest location.
They are also looking at two other possible locations for the theme park including one other in Montgomery County.
"The Grand Texas Theme Park is a smaller-type theme park which would be a great second park for guests to enjoy along with EarthQuest. The developers for this theme park are having difficulties finding a site for the park. They inquired about property in the EMCID area and they were impressed," Frank McCrady, president of the EMCID board, said.
Board members agreed to sign a letter of intent with the Grand Texas Theme Park at their Jan. 10 board meeting which thanks them for site-seeing property in the district and encourages them to consider settling in East Montgomery County.
The letter of intent is at no cost to taxpayers since it is just a letter sent to the developers of the Grand Texas Theme Park but McCrady added the tax base would be great for the district and if they are high-performing, the developers will get money back on their investment into the county as well.
The developers anticipate attendance to be 650,000 a year to visit their various attractions and a $150-$180 million project.
"A main goal of EMCID is to drive tourism to our area which will benefit all of the businesses in our community as well because families will travel to the area and go to the restaurants and stay at the hotels," McCrady added.
"The addition of a second theme park will give families a reason to stay a night or two at our hotels. We are excited about the possibilities of this coming to our community."
Developers for the Grand Texas Theme Park are expected to make a presentation at EMCID's Feb. 14 meeting at 5:30 p.m.
What about EarthQuest?
The developers of EarthQuest, Contour Entertainment, made a presentation to the EMCID board at their December meeting showing that they are progressing along.
EMCID required for Contour Entertainment to meet three requirements including hiring a qualified investment firm, purchase the land where EarthQuest is set to be situated and present an investment package proposal detailing fundraising and efforts leading them to meet their financial goal.
"We are hopeful with all of the progress that has been made with Contour Entertainment. They have hired the investment firm, Stern Brothers & Co., which is a great sign because of a firm would not put their name to a project is it could not be successful," McCrady added.
The land where EarthQuest will be and the surrounding properties were purchased for $11.85 million by Friendswood Development in April of 2012.
According to McCrady, Contour Entertainment has signed an exclusive agreement with Friendswood which allows Contour to have control of the land through December 2013.
As they continue to progress, this is at no cost to EMCID as Contour moves ahead with the third requirements of fundraising.
Chris Brown, the chief executive officer for Contour Entertainment, is expected to bring an update about the fundraising efforts and potential investor contracts to the EMCID March board meeting.
"We are very positive with the steps that are being taken by Contour Entertainment to make EarthQuest become a reality for the community. It is exciting," McCrady said.
For more information about the Grand Texas Theme Park, log on to www.grandtexas.net/grandtexasthemepark.