Theme Park and Animal Kingdom Planned for Bonifay

Welcome to Atlanta! The best place in the world to study the urban heat island effect.

i thought it was phoenix.

i thought it was phoenix.

:lolabove: ...I thought it was Dallas!

I'm pretty sure "Joe the Produce Guy" and his buddy Arnold won't make the "A-List" to feed the Big Cats (which will probably be one of the daily shows). More likely than not, they'll be mucking out pens, fixing fences or trimming bushes under the hot, steamy August sun--and dreaming of the good old days when they polished apples at the (air conditioned) Bonifay Piggly Wiggly.

Bonifay wishes it had a Piggly Wiggly. Oh wait. Here come wild animals and Publix. :razz:

Bonifay wishes it had a Piggly Wiggly. Oh wait. Here come wild animals and Publix. :razz:

And a mall, according to this morning's News Herald.
And a "treehouse" hotel for viewing the wild animals.
But none of this will happen overnight. They think it will be two years before the wild animal park opens, and the 15,000 seat amphitheater will not get going for another nine months or so.

And a mall, according to this morning's News Herald.
And a "treehouse" hotel for viewing the wild animals.
But none of this will happen overnight. They think it will be two years before the wild animal park opens, and the 15,000 seat amphitheater will not get going for another nine months or so.

Chirs Mitchell's news story states, "Groundbreaking for the Jim Fowler park is scheduled in two years once all the permits are in place." If true you can expect an opening no sooner than 2010. Perfect timing for the new airport, located just down the road.

We now have artist's renderings:

http://www.epaperedition.com/Reposi...MDEwMA==&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

"When nature calls

Jim Fowler?s Life in the Wild safari park is the first of several attractions planned near Bonifay"

Interesting how the story also confirms the Crestview rumors that were floating around last year.

there surely not calling it 'when nature calls'?!?!

By DUSTY RICKETTS

BONIFAY ? Orlando was largely swampland before Walt Disney started building what has become the world?s largest theme park there more than 40 years ago.

Similarly, Bonifay today is a small city with fewer than 3,000 residents just north of Interstate 10 in Holmes County. But that?s bound to change if plans to bring the first major theme park to Northwest Florida move forward.

Blue Dolphin II Inc. recently announced it had partnered with the Mutual of Omaha?s ?Wild Kingdom? co-host Jim Fowler to develop more than 1,000 acres as a recreational and education theme park south of I-10 and east of State Road 79.

More than 500 animal species ranging from raptors to giraffes will live in their natural habitat inside the park. Visitors will be able to see the animals on safari trips in specially-made vehicles and walking tunnels, said Barbara Farris, owner of Blue Dolphin II.

?We want the people to be able to walk out and see the animals (in their natural environment),? Farris said. ?The park is going to be open to the animals; the people will be in the cages. It really will be like in Africa.?

The groundbreaking on Jim Fowler?s Life in the Wild theme park is expected in about six months, Farris said.

Construction will take about two years before the park will be ready to open.

The safari park is already drawing some national attention. Farris said she has spoken to the Animal Planet network for a television series to be shot at the park after it opens.

No agreements have been reached yet.

Farris has been working on the plans for the Life in the Wild theme park for four years. The park originally was going to be located near the Shoal River in Crestview, but the land deal Farris was working on fell through.

At that time, Farris had discussions with Dollywood, country music star Dolly Parton?s theme park in Tennessee, and Busch Gardens about possibly bringing one of those parks to Okaloosa County.

Farris ultimately decided to go with a safari theme, which attracted Fowler?s attention.

?When I met Jim Fowler, he was just a swell character,? Farris said. ?It?s not only a park; it?s going to be educational.?

After the Crestview deal fell through, Farris moved the project to the Bonifay area, where she recently negotiated for the final tract for what will eventually be a 7,000-acre development that will take seven to 10 years to build.

Jim Fowler?s Life in the Wild safari park is just the first phase of the larger project. The larger park will also feature a 15, 000-seat amphitheater that will have an estimated 30 to 40 music acts performing throughout the year.

The Celebrity Coast Theme Park will be a more traditional theme park and initially have five roller coasters and other exhibits. That will be completed after the safari park, Farris said.

The theme park will also eventually feature a golf course, restaurants and lodging designed to look like tree houses.

Speaking of wild animals...did you know there is a Wolf Sanctuary in Chipley?

Speaking of wild animals...did you know there is a Wolf Sanctuary in Chipley?

The South Walton Montessori Academy took a field trip there and I heard it was amazing.

Speaking of wild animals...did you know there is a Wolf Sanctuary in Chipley?

Interesting: http://www.seacrestwolfpreserve.org/index.php

....anyone know the status of the Animal Theme Park?

.

Fowler had still been talking about plans on his own. Blue Dolphin II has moved on without him on a similar park, but not sharing its location. There had been talk of folks taking each other to court.

That's the news I've read over the last year.

The Blue Dolphin folks recently updated their website with it's new plans -- http://www.bluedolphinii.com/
It's close to the original plans, only no Fowler and a slightly different name.

I had posted the link to Seacrest Wolf Preserve yesterday, but it's not here now. Hmm?