THE FOLLOWING IS A MEDIA RELEASE ISSUED BY BLUE DOLPHIN II DEVELOPMENT COMPANY AND NATURALIST JIM FOWLER, ISSUED ON APRIL 4.
Bonifay, Fla - Leaders of Blue Dolphin II Development Company and Jim Fowler have delayed plans to develop Jim Fowler's Life in the Wild animal safari park, Celebrity Coast Theme Park and amphitheater. The original plan for the 7,000 acres project was to develop the theme attractions on the southeast corner of Interstate 10 and Highway 79, but negotiations with some investors failed to produce a timely financial agreement comfortable to all parties.
Barbara Farris, owner of Blue Dolphin II Development, says she's disappointed the Bonifay plans have not materialized. "We worked hard to bring this exciting development to Holmes County because of the significant economic impact that such themed attractions that are both educational and entertaining would have on this region of the panhandle," she says. "However, we're still looking forward to making the first phase of the project, Jim Fowler's Life in the Wild, a reality, somewhere."
Jim Fowler's Life in the Wild is a multifaceted project conceived by, and named for, naturalist Jim Fowler, former co-star of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. Mr. Fowler's concept for the park is a collaboration of safaris that visitors can tour as they would in other regions of the world. "It's a dream of mine to share my experiences in Africa and Asia with the people of my own country where they can drive across an open safari filled with spectacular animals, just as I had done years ago," he says. "It's going to be a park where guest are in the Mobil cages and animals are in the open plains." He says the mission of the park will be to educate visitors on the importance of saving the natural world and protecting wildlife. "I'm even designing a huge, one-of-a-kind birds of prey exhibit for the park, never seen anywhere else in the world," he says.
Ms. Farris says she may have to delay plans to develop the attractions until an economically feasible solution materializes. "We did everything we could, right up until the moment we were signing contracts for the land," she says, "but at closing two small investors became unreasonable and wanted to renegotiate a higher return on there investment which was not what they previously agreed to and negatively impact the economic feasibility of the project," she says. "We now have to consider all of our options, which include the future of the project in Bonifay."
Mr. Fowler says he's disappointed that plans for the park development may be delayed, but he says he's looking forward to working with Blue Dolphin II. "I've been working with Ms. Farris for the last 2 years on this project, and I'm impressed with how she's been able to maneuver through such a complicated land acquisition process involving so many land owners, investors, and government agencies. I'm also touched by her willingness to sacrifice so much of her own resources to secure the land for Jim Fowler's Life in the Wild. She's committed to bringing this project to fruition, and I am too. We'll make a good team as our project continues to unfold," he says.
"Jim Fowler and Barbara Farris express our heartfelt thanks to the wonderful people of Bonifay," says Ms. Farris. "We also thank everyone at the Holmes County Development Commission that gave this project a real chance to come here, as well as the Holmes County Commission that supported us, the Florida Department of Community Affairs and to the Washington County Chamber of Commerce for their encouragement and input. We especially reach out to the great people of Bonifay who cheered the project on and gave us hope to bring this project to this very special region of the Florida Panhandle. "
The office in Bonifay was closed Monday..
Bonifay, Fla - Leaders of Blue Dolphin II Development Company and Jim Fowler have delayed plans to develop Jim Fowler's Life in the Wild animal safari park, Celebrity Coast Theme Park and amphitheater. The original plan for the 7,000 acres project was to develop the theme attractions on the southeast corner of Interstate 10 and Highway 79, but negotiations with some investors failed to produce a timely financial agreement comfortable to all parties.
Barbara Farris, owner of Blue Dolphin II Development, says she's disappointed the Bonifay plans have not materialized. "We worked hard to bring this exciting development to Holmes County because of the significant economic impact that such themed attractions that are both educational and entertaining would have on this region of the panhandle," she says. "However, we're still looking forward to making the first phase of the project, Jim Fowler's Life in the Wild, a reality, somewhere."
Jim Fowler's Life in the Wild is a multifaceted project conceived by, and named for, naturalist Jim Fowler, former co-star of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. Mr. Fowler's concept for the park is a collaboration of safaris that visitors can tour as they would in other regions of the world. "It's a dream of mine to share my experiences in Africa and Asia with the people of my own country where they can drive across an open safari filled with spectacular animals, just as I had done years ago," he says. "It's going to be a park where guest are in the Mobil cages and animals are in the open plains." He says the mission of the park will be to educate visitors on the importance of saving the natural world and protecting wildlife. "I'm even designing a huge, one-of-a-kind birds of prey exhibit for the park, never seen anywhere else in the world," he says.
Ms. Farris says she may have to delay plans to develop the attractions until an economically feasible solution materializes. "We did everything we could, right up until the moment we were signing contracts for the land," she says, "but at closing two small investors became unreasonable and wanted to renegotiate a higher return on there investment which was not what they previously agreed to and negatively impact the economic feasibility of the project," she says. "We now have to consider all of our options, which include the future of the project in Bonifay."
Mr. Fowler says he's disappointed that plans for the park development may be delayed, but he says he's looking forward to working with Blue Dolphin II. "I've been working with Ms. Farris for the last 2 years on this project, and I'm impressed with how she's been able to maneuver through such a complicated land acquisition process involving so many land owners, investors, and government agencies. I'm also touched by her willingness to sacrifice so much of her own resources to secure the land for Jim Fowler's Life in the Wild. She's committed to bringing this project to fruition, and I am too. We'll make a good team as our project continues to unfold," he says.
"Jim Fowler and Barbara Farris express our heartfelt thanks to the wonderful people of Bonifay," says Ms. Farris. "We also thank everyone at the Holmes County Development Commission that gave this project a real chance to come here, as well as the Holmes County Commission that supported us, the Florida Department of Community Affairs and to the Washington County Chamber of Commerce for their encouragement and input. We especially reach out to the great people of Bonifay who cheered the project on and gave us hope to bring this project to this very special region of the Florida Panhandle. "
The office in Bonifay was closed Monday..
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Why am I not surprised by this announcement....
