Park City Waits on Wild West World

April 02, 2010

By Rebecca Gannon

(PARK CITY, Kan.)

We now know what will happen to Thomas Etheridge, but the future of the park he built is still up in the air.

Wild West World closed in 2007, and a developer bought it a year later. The property may have changed hands, but that's the only thing that has changed.

The sign still stands along I-135. The buildings still wait for visitors to come in. This is the third time the trees surrounding the theme park will blossom, unlike the failed venue itself. It's almost like time stands still at Wild West World.

Park City's mayor would like to bring those 100 acres into 2010, and beyond. "I wish that whatever happens there will be stable, and won't be something to start up and then die out," said Emil Bergquist. "This was an anomaly to us. We want to see stable growth, and I'm looking forward to what that is."

Wild West World sits about a quarter mile away from 10 acres owned by the Wyandotte Indian nation.

Eyewitness News confirmed there is a proposal for a casino on this land, and has also confirmed it is waiting federal approval.

Doug Spangler, a spokesperson for the developer, said the federal approval has taken 14 years, so far. He said that timeline is disappointing, but he is confident it will be approved. And when it does, the 10 acres will be developed, as well as the Wild West World land.

Spangler said the finished product could bring as many as 5,000 jobs to the area. But he doesn't know when the casino will earn federal approval. Therefore he doesn't know when construction will begin, or when it will be finished.

A few miles away, Park City residents enjoy a meal out. Many drive by the failed park often ("It's a big waste of space right now," said one person), and residents would like to see more than just weeds on the prime interstate property.

"I would like to see something there," said Park City resident Dennis Jantz. "Park City invested in a big parking lot, and all we have is a big parking lot there."

The parking lot waits for cars, just like the buildings wait for someone to come in. Just like Park City and its residents wait for something to happen.

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