[Bydand]

Never seen it open. If it was, I guess it was. He was out of money the day he opened it though and already behind. That is why we never went back and finished some of the work he wanted us to do, because he ran out of money and was at least gracious enough to tell us that he couldn't pay, and not just have the work done, and just not pay. So far out in the middle of nowhere that I never even bothers to drive out past the place, I just assumed (I know, prime example right here of what that can do) he never opened because it wasn't finished yet. When you went through, did he have the restaurant open on the bluff, or did he turn that into a observation platform? First plan was to have a 5 star restaurant out there.

Now Treetops on the other hand, has gone like gangbusters from day one when Harry Melling bought it from Lynn Mead. Don't know who has it now that Harry passed away, but they haven't slowed down out there for the last 25 or 26 years, from the look of it now. I left Gaylord before the second portion was even thought of out there, used to live 1/4 mile down the road from the old entrance and did the electrical there as well. The company I worked for was still doing all the work in 2006 when I stopped by on a trip up the the UP.

[Da'one]

The business you speak of was "Project Nature" and it was open for over a year out on Whitmarsh Road. I always liked how they claimed it was "7 miles north of Gaylord" vs just saying it was located in Vanderbilt MI. And yes, they had many animals there. The time that I went there, they even showed movies & had a Kenny Rogers impersonator.

[Bydand]

Did he still have the small theater place with the special lighting and sound effects. It was a bugger getting the timing down right for the lightening and the rain to actually fall at the right time.

[larkim]

The DNR is still waiting for a proposal that is months overdue. My bet is this was a flash in the pan. If you live in grayling remember if this does happen your life will change drastically, no more simple life, traffic hell. Property taxes sky rocketing.

[Da'one]

Yes Bydand, that was still there when I was there.

As far as the Grayling Park, my co-worker lives there & has said the same things as mentioned above.

[wagonman76]

Wow, open for only one year. No wonder nobody I talk to has heard of it and barely anything comes up about it on google. I went to Project Nature for my 6th grade class trip in late May or early June 1988. Recently I discovered a notebook I still had describing the trip and a picture I drew which was a view from the top pavilion. That got me wondering whatever happened to the place, now I know. I seem to remember some kitchenette facilities up there but that was about it. There was a trolley car that was pulled around the trails and we fed the animals. While in the trolley I snapped a pic and my dad thought it was of the tour guide who he said was cute. I remember a giraffe, ostrich, and camel, there was probably more. I dont remember anything for rides or much else but that along with the other things could have come later too.

[YAZ]

Dumbest thing ever.

A pristine wildlife habitat ruined by over zealous, beyond reality thinking. Huge whitetail area, with a gazillion opportunities to promote the outdoor lifestyle. Hunting, fishing, camping, and even golf courses.

They'd be better off gettin' the injuns to build a casino there.


ATV's are popular; make trails.


Ski trails, snowmobile trails, anything but the proposed idea.

Dumbest thing ever.

Folks up there would make more money sellin' bait than workin' at the carnival.

[Bhaalspawn]

Originally Posted by zygnoda

Why a money loser? The location?

Why go to this theme park when Cedar Point is just a couple hours away with much, much better rides than anything this park would have? What am I missing?

[Tyryztoll]

People can't even afford to put gas in their cars anymore. Very few people are going to be going to ANY theme parks ANYWHERE this year.

I don't think the theme park in Grayling has a chance of being successful. Hell, they can't even get a condo project finished up here in Petoskey - there's been a giant hole in the ground downtown for 2 years now! You think a major theme park in the middle of nowhere's gonna fly? C'mon!

I'd very much like to be wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure I won't be.

You watch - even the giant theme parks across the U.S. are gonna suffer big time this year because of the oil companies' continued and relentless rape of society.

[thorgot]

Northman, I do not buy this either. The argument that people would come from the UP instead of driving to cedar point, is a very thin argument at best.
People in the up are not exactly a rich bunch and not from my experience chomping at the bit to go to fun parks.
I think in this economy I would put my money in oil futures ten times before I put a nickel into this folly.
I was in Atlanta a few weeks ago and there was an add blitz saying that six flags was taking its price down for the summer. If six flags is struggling in Atlanta I can not imagine how bad a park in north michigan would hurt. North Michigan can not hold a candle or all of Michigan for that matter to Georgia, or Atlanta. The built in people who take their family to a theme park in the city of Atlanta alone is staggering.
Not to mention the huge cities within 300 miles of Atlanta.
I would bet my last dollar that this if it comes to fruition that it dies in 3 years. I also would first bet that it does not even break ground in the first place, I can not imagine anyone with two brain cells giving funds on such a project in a state that is so broken.