The post-Bell's fairgrounds era

[Aa5drvr]

Conan, I would have posted earlier, but you "No Homies Allowed" comment was exactly what I was thinking.  
I grew up in Tulsa, and my mom would drop us off for "Sym-funny Days" in the 60s.  However we took some neices and nephews there a year of so ago and encountered the "gansta' wannabees" and that was it for us.  
At evening's end, there were more deputies there that there were us honkies.  Of course we had no weapons.
Please note this isnt a "Bells Problem,"  I like the policy at the Riverwalk in Jenks that doesnt allow unattended teens after 7pm, or something like that.

[Conan71]

In hindsight, if they would have raised gate admission and ride prices, the gangstas would have looked elsewhere for trouble, Bell's would have had money for upgrades, been able to pay more in rent, and their public image wouldn't have ended up tarnished.

[sgrizzle]

For those suffering from withdrawals, ride the phantasmagoria:

http://www.secretfunspot.com/phantasmagoria.htm

[Double A]

Randi Miller is dead meat.

[mr.jaynes]

And ya know, I still remember the Wildcat and the Himalaya (and the cool music that emanated from it).

[shadows]

Being of the same generation as the Bob Bell that built the train in a little frame garage for the children to ride, it is inconceivable to think that a home grown industry in the amusement arena would come to a sudden end and the family owned business would not be allowed to remove the assets of their years of hard labor.  

This is another illustration of the silent government of Tulsa and once the 2025 and the other "4" bonds were issued those who would profit wanted to pledge future revenue so they could have their share now.  A dollar collected in Tulsa and spent here is a dollar more than a dollar collect here and taken some where else and spent.

Bell's dream came true but the deflating of the dollar over the years robbed it of the money to keep it in the like new condition.   It was not a story of one mom and pop industry encountering the same conditions but the story is retold by many such in the retail market.

We do not have the money to fix up our bridges and roads with millions of dollars but we condemn an family owned business because they could not raise their revenue to keep it in first class shape.

 

[Shavethewhales]

I'm going to address everything I've heard here that points to Bell's being run-down, and that their business was failing.

Bell's wasn't Disney, but what they had to offer was fun enough to keep guys like me coming back for more all summer. The place was clean, easily cleaner than a dozen parks I can think of off the top of my head. The rides were older, but well maintained. Granted, there were so many areas that a little paint could have greatly helped, but don't let a little faded or chipped paint make you think that the place is falling apart.

I'm not saying the place was fantastic, as it was in a bit of a slum before the eviction, but it was on the verge of a huge comeback. Don't believe me? Here's a few facts: Mind Melt, a 140 ft. drop tower was just added in 2004; this season, the park had a huge make-over project scheduled that would have given the park a new face for the 2007 fair; also for the 2007 season, Bell's was set to build some kind of thrill ride that would have cost them $750,000; and let's not forget the most important sign of revitalization: the huge new roller coaster that was coming in 2008.

So Bell's wasn't as pretty as it should have been for the last few years, but the times were about to change... I think the Murphy Bros. knew this, that might have spurred them on to give Randi Miller that $5,000 'campaign grant'. Hey, wasn't it Randi that started the whole evicting Bell's thing?

Also, are people still complaining about the 1997 death? That was a tragedy - no doubt, but do you know how many people have died at much stricter parks this year? Too many; there's a certain small risk factor involved with amusement parks, albeit much smaller than that associated with driving cars or flying on airplanes.

Anyway, I'm pretty ticked that Bell's is gone, and I really hope they make an announcement as to where they are going soon. Anyone here anything yet?

[waterboy]

We're all sick they left. Where were you, (or some PR guy) when these stories could have been told? Did Robbie make the case to the public? He certainly had plenty of opportunities.

Even though plans are easier to present than to execute, it would have been harder to evict them had the public known they were planning for improvements.

As far as Murphy bros., it is slowly becoming clear to the public that they have been and will be the deciders of that kind of entertainment on the fairgrounds. What they have done to Big Splash is similar to what happened to Bells only they won't be evicted. The big dog gets the best spot in the garage. Amended, the nastiest dog gets the best spot in the garage.

[Conan71]

Robbie got plenty of media attention.  I don't think he made a clear case of the planned investments and improvements to the park, instead he took up the victim card.

[Shavethewhales]

^^He did mention their expansion plans several times, that's how I found out about them. Unfortunately, I got interested in all this far too late, and by the time I decided to do everything, they had already taken down some rides.

^That could be a lot of what it was. If you look at his website, it looks like he was planning to make some sort of protest with a petition and everything, but he decided it was a losing battle and gave up. Besides, he's actually wanted to move for awhile now, remember two years ago when they just about made it to Jenks?  
This way, they got the fair to pay them loads to help remove Zingo and other rides, and they look like unfortunate victims to many.

[cannon_fodder]

Heck Whales, by the time the thought of evicting Bells was made public the decision was already made.  I know many people who are ambivalent on the issue, but I do not know any that are glad to see it go.

Now, if they razed it and had SOME plan for the land, perhaps they would have some support.  But getting rid of a below grade amusement park for a below grade empty lot is not an improvement.

Next up: an abandoned city hall.  Wait, they have to pretend to debate this first.  In my short time here I have learned - what the establishment wants they get.  Everything else is just a pony show.

[shadows]

Having talked with Bob Bell when he was negotiating with fair board it was pointed out that in Tulsa it was what one leaves on the table that binds the lease.   When he move onto the fair grounds, after getting the lease, it could have been removed within two weeks.  Due to his continuing to improve the small amusement park for the children, it grew to where it become a threat to the floating amusement park that was placed on the fair grounds at the fair time.   In the following negotiating of leases, the 120 days for removal was not extended to cover the improvements.   It was impossible to remove the additions over the years in that limited time.  So again what was left on the table put a home grown competitor out of business.

The fair grounds is supposed to be owned by the people, for the pleasure of the people, instead it has become a qua se private venture at the tax payers expense.

Now what is new in the Tulsa politics?   Is it the mayor buying the tensile decorated millionaire choice of buildings, that in a rapid switch of title, helped to bike millions of dollars from the public in flawed stock sales?

You can bet that any councilor that votes against it will be replaced in the next election.        

[patric]

Whatever the county wanted that space for, it must not require shade since they apparently bulldozed every tree on the site.

Tulsa's biggest surface parking lot?

[Shavethewhales]

^I keep hearing two conflicting stories. One source says the area will be used pretty much only for parking, with one part being used in the fair. The other story that a couple of news sources have  been passing on is that some of the land will become parking, while other parts are used for a new entrance, a beer garden, and a couple of shows.

I still don't understand why they would want the main entrance off on the corner like that, but whatever...

[Townsend]

Why'd they have to take all the trees down?