Here at Theme Park Tourist we now have new unofficial information regarding the World’s First Eco Theme Park and Resort Coming To The Midwest which we first reported on back in January. Here is the latest update.
“The project is planned for the Midwest in the general Chicago area. The exact location will not be released until the zoning details are finalized with the communities involved and those surrounding the project.”
“The project will feature several phases over a period of consecutive years. Among these include a large indoor, year around facility with numerous attractions and small animal environments. This building will serve as the gateway to a large theme park based around animals both real and fictional. Various lands are styled after the locations from which the animals originate and will include the food, music, merchandise, and culture of these exotic locales.”
“Each land will also contain rides and attractions all with subtle messages of a “green” earth. The messaging will range from educational attractions similar to Disney’s The Land to outright fun attractions such as coasters where messaging will be provided via displays or signage in the queues. These types of attractions are being included so the facility can provide the best care for our animals, and offer numerous educational and internship opportunities by being financially self sustaining.”
“The animal enclosures will all be designed to replicate the natural habitat of the animals and will be some of the largest of their kind. All of the animals will come from sanctuaries, zoo overflow, and those seized from roadside attractions and illegal private ownership. Others will be acquired from facilities that sadly breed exotics solely for the purpose of hunting.”
“The only animals that will be taken from the wild will be those slated for annual culls and those species that are invasive and destroying the natural eco system which they have invaded. Hunting permits will be filed, and working with the USDA and DNR they will be taken alive and brought to spacious enclosures within the park.”
“Other features that make this park the first Eco Theme Park include the use of extensive energy generating systems including solar, wind, and other new technologies. These include products being tested such as power generating pavers in queue lines among several others.”
“In addition, a planned resort with a massive indoor water park will be double plumbed so that water from sinks and showers will be filtered and used for watering landscaping. The roof tops of large show buildings housing attractions will be covered in solar panels or covered in insulating grasses and bee attracting flowers.”
“These are just a few of the ways this project hopes to provide fun and exciting experiences and “green” education without becoming preachy. Fun comes first with messaging added in creative non invasive ways. More information will be released in the near future as the project clears various hurdles.”
So, to summarise we now know that this new World’s First Eco Theme Park will be coming to the Chicago area. The “green” theme will be portrayed through the attractions in entertaining and non-preachy ways and there will be a large focus on producing energy for the site through renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. New technologies and products will also be used such as power generating pavers in queue lines.
Animals are set to feature heavily in the theme park and we are promised that they will have large enclosures and care will be the top priority. Animals will come from sanctuaries and zoos or places where they are not being looked after properly such as those seized from roadside attractions and illegal private ownership. Animals will only be taken from the wild that would otherwise be killed. Nature and conservation are key to this project.
Many people may question how an eco park can be fun but it is clear that fun sits at the heart of the attractions and experiences that will be on offer at this new theme park.
A number of images showing new concept art for this upcoming eco park have also been unofficially released for us to share with you…
Morocco Land
This first new piece of concept art shows Morocco which is said to serve as the gateway to the entire Africa area. It will feature a major coaster that will have one almost vertical drop then burn off its G Forces zooming around, over, and through a series of sand dunes.
There will be a marketplace featuring native craftsmen and a variety of authentic goods. It, like many lands, also will have a restaurant with a patio that will sit waterside and offer a variety of special dessert and drink parties for viewing the nighttime spectacular.
Mythical Beasts Carousel
Above are some of the sketches of the carousel figures which will be in the land based on fictional animals. The carousel is set to have about 50 animals, each done in different color pallets. The fictional animal land will contain many family attractions and has a storybook feel to the front half. The back half is said to be much darker and will include a dark ride based on a local cryptid that has become quite popular lately. It’s been featured in several SyFy type films and on numerous cryptid hunting shows. It will be like you are riding through a 1950’s Drive-In movie.
Also in this fictional animal land there is going to be a signature coaster but we currently don’t have any further details about this as of yet.
Flume Ride
This piece of concept art shows a planned flume ride where guests are said to be able to get brief views into the 5 acre Black Bear enclosure.
These new details about the upcoming World’s First Eco Theme Park certainly give us further insight into what guests are to expect and from what we can currently see it sure looks like an extremely exciting project. We will keep you updated with the next installment of information including the name, actual location and more detailed plans for the numerous attractions there will be on offer as soon as we have them, here at Theme Park Tourist.
Do you want to visit the World’s First Eco Theme Park? Does the concept art get your imagination going? Do you think “eco” can be fun? What animals would you like to see? Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
