Giant Iconic Ferris Wheel to go downtown!

[TheArtist]

 

If only it were true. Think of something like the London Eye, say in a park on the East side of downtown.

I mentioned this idea in another thread and thought I would start a discussion about it. Here is what I said in that other thread....

Its that "other cool stuff Tulsa has to offer" which worries me a bit. What exactly are you referring to? As someone mentioned in one of our meetings, there still isnt a lot to do downtown afterwards. Blue Dome and the Brady Arts districts are tiny and arent exactly hoppin areas all the time. A place to eat during the evening or day in downtown may be an exciting improvement to local Tulsans, but I doubt that visiting guests, conventioners, "tourists", etc. would go ga-ga about it.

I thought the idea of a large Ferris Wheel like the London Eye, in a park on the East End was a neat idea. Have some other entertainment venues around that. A museum, childrens museum, the large "touristy" type places to shop and eat like Virgin Megastore, Planet Hollywood, game arcade, martini lounge/bowling alley with miniature golf on the roof (my idea lol), movie theater, etc.

We have, and are getting with the ballpark, the stuff to get em downtown. But we dont have what it takes to keep them there and entertained for a good part of a day or weekend.

I want to emphasize that I dont think downtown should just be a night entertainment spot, it should also have a good amount of living and family friendly living at that. But I think the next phase for making downtown alive and a destination should be the "keeping them downtown" stuff. Having a neat park with the giant Ferris Wheel, child friendly water features, food vendors, giant playground/fountain type area. Perhaps a few other rides in a nice urban, park like setting. Not a fenced in amusement park, but an enjoyable, and well designed public space that had a few rides in it, surrounded by shops, restaurants, a childrens museum, ice cream parlor.... Would be good family friendly fun. Then right behind that have some good urban living options. How great would it be to hear the refrain go out from Tulsa area kids.... Can we go downtown?! I want to go downtown! Then people go downtown and see this great area, and right nearby, see quiet places to live. Now thats the start of a winning combination imo. 



One of the reasons I am bringing this up is because I believe Land Legacy and others are considering doing some sort of park in the East Village area. I know they have their own ideas. But have heard some interesting ideas from others as well, the Ferris Wheel idea is the neatest one I have heard of. For one thing its different from what other cities have, other than London and thats not bad company. We want to do something unique as an attraction and as a place for visitors and conventioneers to go visit. A comment was made that we will actually have a more difficult time competing with comparably sized cities in the convention market. I think we will get the hotel rooms and we need to do that. BUT another factor they consider is "What is there to go see and do near the convention area?" That is where we fall painfully short in competing with other cities. 

[FOTD]

It would look better on the river.....

Besides, they can't even do the ballpark right. So, a ferris wheel would just be more downtown spin.

[patric]

If I had to choose between the two, the Ferris Wheel would give the city a more "fun" feel than the indian sculpture.

[FOTD]

Yes. And Tulsan's need to be portrayed as having fun even if some of us don't attend church.

[TURobY]

It's funny that you mention this because guess what they're thinking of doing in OKC... here's a hint: ferris wheel.

[JoeMommaBlake]

William, you got me all excited with your subject line....then told me to imagine it.

I've been imagining things like that for years. For a split second I thought you had some amazing insider info about someone doing something great and original.

Maybe someday...

[Wrinkle]

Was thinking a bungie jump from the top BOK's east side and a giant target logo on the roof of "City Hall", mere inches above the palace digs.

Of course, it would never happen since very little heavy construction would be required. Perhaps a dirigible mast on top of BOK Tower and a fleet of blimps, requiring the construction of huge hangers at TUL with a brigade of uniformed chase crews. Yeah, that's the ticket.

[Cats Cats Cats]

I think we should move the golden driller downtown and then make him animatronic and make him do the robot every hour. 

[TheArtist]

Well, strike that idea then... I guess just me and Blake think its a good idea.

[sgrizzle]

I'm good with the ferris wheel idea too.

[TURobY]

I didn't mean to steal your thunder or anything. Quite the opposite. I meant to point out that you're not the only one who thinks it is a good idea. OKC agrees and is considering having it the focal point of development.

[TheArtist]

Well, I think we could do it better here lol.

As for having it by the river... I thought about that, and probably up to about a year ago, I would have agreed. But after thinking about the pros and cons of each location and what it could do at this time, I think the downtown, East End location would be better. Here is how I see that... 

I would still like to work on getting that "critical mass" of things to do all in one area. So many have put so much into downtown. Lets carry it on through and really make it stunning. Yes, I get frustrated as any that we so under utilize our river. Its day will come, and we can still make steady improvements along it (thanks again Mr Kaiser and QT).  There is only so much that donors, and or taxpayers can spend and do. We have a tendency in Tulsa to spread stuff around so sparsely that things fall far short of their potential, the potential they would have had, were they done with a little more "clustering".  IF there were some big development going in on the west side of the river, something like this would be great to see there. But, sad to say, I have a feeling we are not going to see that for a while with the economy the way it is.

There are a lot of components falling into place downtown. Entertainment venues, improved convention facilities, hotels, housing, parks, redevelopment of old buildings, some new smaller stuff, the universities trucking along, etc. Each thing we can add at this time, large and small, helps everything else. Where as this by the river, well it would not really be a part of as much. I think the synergies with all the other things that are and will be going on downtown in the next 5 or so years would make the downtown location the best spot.

I could see an amusement park or boardwalk by the river at some time. But that would be really different than what I am envisioning this as being a part of for downtown. This would, yes be something to do and there may be a couple of other things like a neat merry-go-round in the park, and some play fountains, a playground, childrens museum, movie theater, shopping etc. But this would not be an amusement park, but more like an "Eiffel Tower/Champs Elysee" type area. Something eye catching downtown, that draws you to the area. An area that is still bustling, but classy, urban and enjoyable. A beautiful park that also has some fun stuff in it and that is surrounded by shopping and entertainment, and behind that lots of living.  This would not be an amusement park with roller-coasters, lots of rides, games, and a flashy lights/carnival type atmosphere.  Not sure if I am describing the different feels and intents of the places right. You could still have both, they wouldn't be competing with each other, for they could be very different.  But right now, the impetus is on downtown, and there are more things, "in the works" which this would compliment nicely.

[waterboy]

That's all true as long as you don't consider Jenks as Tulsa. What you have described is indeed Jenks right now. A cluster of attractions-the Aquarium, Riverspirit Casino, Riverwalk Shopping ctr., proposed River District and the shopping on the east side of the river at 96th. Throw in the proposed low water dam sporting ferries and you've got what downtown will not see for some time... a critical mass of investment. I still consider Jenks as simply south west Tulsa. It actually would make more sense along the river there than here and we would profit as well.

BTW, are there plans to move that ferris wheel to another location in Europe or just dismantle it?

[Red Arrow]

That's all true as long as you don't consider Jenks as Tulsa. What you have described is indeed Jenks right now. A cluster of attractions-the Aquarium, Riverspirit Casino, Riverwalk Shopping ctr., proposed River District and the shopping on the east side of the river at 96th. Throw in the proposed low water dam sporting ferries and you've got what downtown will not see for some time... a critical mass of investment. I still consider Jenks as simply south west Tulsa. It actually would make more sense along the river there than here and we would profit as well.

BTW, are there plans to move that ferris wheel to another location in Europe or just dismantle it?

East of the river at 96th is, of course, actually Tulsa.  It just shows again how Tulsa and the burbs should try to work together.  Same thing along Memorial between 101st and 111th for Tulsa and Bixby.   Try to make each comlement each other rather than be competitive to the point where both sides lose.  I guess if I had a magic way to make it happen I could be a wealthy developer.

[TheArtist]

That's all true as long as you don't consider Jenks as Tulsa. What you have described is indeed Jenks right now. A cluster of attractions-the Aquarium, Riverspirit Casino, Riverwalk Shopping ctr., proposed River District and the shopping on the east side of the river at 96th. Throw in the proposed low water dam sporting ferries and you've got what downtown will not see for some time... a critical mass of investment. I still consider Jenks as simply south west Tulsa. It actually would make more sense along the river there than here and we would profit as well.

BTW, are there plans to move that ferris wheel to another location in Europe or just dismantle it?

Its there for good. Kind of like the Eiffel Tower, the London Eye is meant to be a large, iconic symbol/attraction for that area of the city. 

I am glad Jenks is doing what its doing, and indeed I consider whats going on there as part of Tulsa. I kind of like the idea of Downtown/an eventual river district across from downtown,,, and the stuff in Jenks/Tulsa as anchoring opposite ends of the river. I dont really think they have to be seen as competitors with each other. Both can evolve differently, have different sets of attractions, feels and audiences/demographic centers.

However, its interesting to consider, that if we ever connect the two with a frequent rail service. They will essentially then be one really great whole. People at a convention in downtown can so easily hop on a train and visit the stuff in Jenks and spend the day doing both areas and not have to have a car.  Someone staying at a hotel in Jenks can go to a convention,concert or event in Downtown Tulsa. Same with living and work, etc. Tulsa and Jenks could really sell it and compete big time by being able to add each others attractions and facilities to the others list of things to see and do, # of hotel rooms available, etc. Someone in Denver pointed out how once they got their rail connecting different nodes and areas, your traditional viewpoint starts to shift. With a good rail connection,(throw in a trolley and a water taxi or two) 2 different areas essentially become one.  We are very lucky to have this potential. Come to think of it, this is one way we could smoke OKC in the future.