This is not set in stone but rumor has it and their is a good chance that, if it happens, what will be the World's Largest Carousel will be near the banks of the Oklahoma River. It would be imported from Europe and give us a Coney Island type area along the river. Like I said, its not official but is in the works as a possibility for the Centennial.

oh Metro, that would be incredible! Crossing fingers!!

Karried, wouldn't you and the rest like to know what other unannounced and some already underway projects I know about!

Waiting with abated breath! Where's your blog?

Big in terms of circumference or big in terms of height, with big horses or whatever's on it to ride?

Sounds like great news. We need to create a carnival type atmosphere somewhere along the river, to bring back the nostalgia of OKC's historic past along the river.

I am assuming big as in probably wide, this in turn might cause it to be the biggest as in tall as well, I don't know at this point. I'm no carousel expert.

Karried, wouldn't you and the rest like to know what other unannounced and some already underway projects I know about!


I HATE YOU RIGHT NOW!


give us some hints ;)

And all of you thought I was a tease.
And Metro is right. What's to come is far better than what we've seen so far.

Come on, don't do this...

I can't take it ... let us know what you know or I'll have to get the info the hard way and pull out your fingernails one at a time with pliers :poke: (oohh that's gross).



A carousel would be really cool because you could tie in so many other related activites and features such as a mini family/child train ride along the river or other mini rides, invite a carnival type atmosphere with musicians or any type of carnival entertainers - lemonade, hot dog stands, cotton candy stands etc - something for the entire family to enjoy and something for tourists to take pictures of (the Carousel) and buy souvenirs ....

A carousel with buffalo and covered wagons??? I'm there, no matter what it's made of.. I love carousels!

I'm no carousel expert.

Pffft. Then what are we listeing to you for?

;)

I can't take it ... let us know what you know or I'll have to get the info the hard way and pull out your fingernails one at a time with pliers :poke: (oohh that's gross) ....


i laughed at this. but you are soooo right. come on guys tell us!
i think they do this because it makes them feel powerful to know that they have that much control on what info they have and when they release it.
yeah, sit there in your chairs and laugh at us underlings. :)

Or maybe they know nothing, as anyone can say they know these things. So I think they should prove it by letting us know what they know...at least some of it.

nice try Immortal, I think my posts have spoken for themselves in the past as well as my blogs on www.downtownokc.blogspot.com . now i'll just have to keep you waiting for more unannounced projects. hehehehehehe

lol fair enough. I do believe you though. i know my own various things about unnanounced Edmond projects as well. it is just OKC's are more exciting usually.

Anybody here familiar with the place with carousel, small rides, lots of restaurants near Houston? It's called the Kemah Boardwalk in Kemah, TX. This place is booming! When I read carousel and thinking of the river, I immediately thought - that's what we need at the river, a BOARDWALK! The carousel would be the awesome anchor. Look at what they've done south of Houston:
http://www.kemahboardwalk.com/

A boardwalk like that, overhanging the water with restaurants, shops, and the carousel would be awesome. I think it could really help the river take off.


Metro, any chance that you can spill the beans on any of those other projects?!? Or is it still too early?

If you can't tell us about the projects, at lest tell us this, are any of the projects being proposed Large-scale projects? I'm talking on the scale of several condo high-rises around the ballpark, or a large riverfront development...something way up in the millions or hundreds of millions?

I really think we need to focus on multiple uses for the river.....housing, recreation/parks, offices, and a casino area.

If I told ya I'd have to kill ya, no I wouldn't do that but I wouldnt keep you in suspense if I told you now. I'll slightly share some of them piece by piece little by little over the next few weeks and months

Metro is there any info on this project.

When will we know if it is final? Will it be soon or in 25 years? lol

I'm going to need a little proof of past performance. Can Metro point to a project that he had secret advanced notice on that actually was proposed/built. Not dubting that you are telling the truth - just would like a little performance review.

Well actually this makes a lot of sense. Metro will need something gigantic with which to take a random handful of topics for a spin.


I am assuming big as in probably wide, this in turn might cause it to be the biggest as in tall as well, I don't know at this point. I'm no carousel expert.

Oh, but it's what you want us to believe so badly!


I HATE YOU RIGHT NOW!


Oh but he loves you. Hook, line, and sinker.


And all of you thought I was a tease.
And Metro is right. What's to come is far better than what we've seen so far.

Isn't this also metro? I didn't know that the downtownguy was back since giving his account over to a few faithful OKC Talkers.


nice try Immortal, I think my posts have spoken for themselves in the past as well as my blogs on Downtown OKC (http://www.downtownokc.blogspot.com) . now i'll just have to keep you waiting for more unannounced projects. hehehehehehe

I find it hard to believe you wrote the posts at that link. Two of the posts actually go into some depth as to the emotional challenges I've had to overcome with my despised and allegedly-competing urban discussion board. For example:


Hackers and grafitti vandals are annoying me this week.
Don't they have anything better to do?

Anyway, Doug points out a hacker ruined the Oklahoma Urban Forum site.
It's not as well known as www.okctalk.com, and early on, there was friction between the two chat sites. But they are different. OKCTalk is a community board, diverse in interests, filled with debates, conversations and personalities.
Urban Forums was much more oriented toward urban planning issues, much more academic and very pro-downtown.
The old site is hacked, so here's the new site:
(OFFLINE) Board Offline (http://okmetropolis.forumer.com/)

I'll create a new link later this week.

Of course that was the temp forum that was established in the mayhem that followed so we wouldn't loose members. But you get the point. He even called the forums that I've ran "more academic and very pro-downtown" and compliments don't come like that very often. I need only provide some links to some very different things written by metro as smear tactics lately. So you very plainly see that this is not the blog of metro.


Anybody here familiar with the place with carousel, small rides, lots of restaurants near Houston? It's called the Kemah Boardwalk in Kemah, TX. This place is booming! When I read carousel and thinking of the river, I immediately thought - that's what we need at the river, a BOARDWALK! The carousel would be the awesome anchor. Look at what they've done south of Houston:
Macromedia Flash Detection HTML Example (http://www.kemahboardwalk.com/)

I do love Kemah. I have an event up at Rice this summer and I'm planning to do a whole lot of photographing ... hopefully I get down to the part I once owned a timeshare in. Kemah was great. Part of what makes Kemah so great is the originality of the boardwalk. It's truly a real boardwalk, with real boardwalk development, and newer development where it fits. It's a very Seaworld-ish place, too; needless to say it is on the sea. I am not sure if this would be very reminiscent of an Oklahoma project. Or a lone carousel for that matter. We're building our riverfront very differently and in peace-meal fashion.


I really think we need to focus on multiple uses for the river.....housing, recreation/parks, offices, and a casino area.

Bingo, Patrick.


Metro is there any info on this project.

Of course not.

to answer everyone's questions:

No, I currently do not have an update for this project. Honestly I have been so busy lately working on other projects, I have merely forgotten about this one. I'm glad someone brought it up again, and I'll re-investigate with my contacts who informed me of this.

Spartan, although I wrote a few "guest blogs" for the newdowntownguy, I never posted under his name (and he never gave me access), let alone downtownguy. I always emailed them my blogs and they posted them on the old blog site for me. So the quotes you mentioned above about me being "downtownguy" are false. And again, that was not me that called your site "academic and pro-downtown". All of my guest blogs were signed off at the bottom by metro!

Obviously Kerry hasn't been following too many of my posts as he would know of many projects that I posted on before they were officially announced. Heck although the Hampton Inn in Bricktown is public knowledge now, I posted two weeks ago they started construction and the local media still hasn't. Spend a few weeks reading my old posts and you'll find several projects. I believe (but will have to go back to old posts) that I leaked info out on the new Maywood Lofts (although I didn't know the exact project name at the time) back last summer as well.

Well hopefully they'll have a way to batten down the hatches for that Oklahoma wind. Those tarps on the tops of those things act like sails in strong wing....bad mojo.

Such suspense!!!

Well, I for one think that a gigundo carousel would be a brilliant addition. Can't wait to see if this comes to fruition!

So because Metro has posted that the Hampton Inn has started construction, at the point in time that one could plainly see that it has started construction, we should trust him that there will be the world's largest carousel near downtown, even though it's been over a year since he started hinting at this, and, well ....

I don't see how a carousel is much to get excited over, either. As a side note, I will be at the Core to Shore meeting next week and I don't believe even they have included a carousel as a highlight of their highly inadequate yet initiative Riverside masterplan.

OK Mr. Debbie Downer.

Actually Spartan, a month or so later after I reported rumors I heard from reliable sources (many who'd you'd respect if I mentioned names), the local media even started reporting on it. In fact if you have archive access to the Oklahoman (or anyone who does please post) you can search for an article Steve Lackmeyer did on it last year on February 6th and it included a proposed sketch or rendering. I'd post it but I don't have archive access. Also if you will note, the very first post in this thread when I started it I clearly mentioned this project is NOT set in stone, just in the conceptual idea stages.

Not saying it will or won't happen at this point, but heck, we've clearly had more solid promises from developers downtown and fell short and didn't build anything. Hopefully this won't be one of those.

I have archive access. Nothing regarding a carousel on February 6th of 2006.

Okay I think I've given ya enough hell for today, metro. This is from February 6th of 2007 which is a little longer than a "few months" after Metro posted this thread.

Projects still cooking for centennial
Steve Lackmeyer: 475-3230, slackmeyer@oklahoman.com

Three years ago, artist Shan Gray arrived at City Hall, with publicity advisers at his side, announcing he was ready to entertain bids by Oklahoma City and Tulsa to provide a site and infrastructure for a 21-story statue of an American Indian.

Reporters were assured the cities wouldn’t have to provide any funding for the $26 million project — the venture was already financed.

Oklahoma City leaders were privately skeptical, but they gave Gray a tour of prospective sites near downtown and along the Oklahoma River.

Tulsans, meanwhile, showed more enthusiasm for the project, and a month later promoters announced they had selected a site in Tulsa and construction would be complete by the 2007 Centennial celebrations.

Over the next three years, Tulsans were greeted with one announcement after another that construction was about to start, that fundraising was either complete or behind.

“The American” got plenty of press because its promoters claimed to have the needed backing.

The Oklahoma Centennial Carousel did not get any attention because its creators, Bob and Jacqueline Crumrine, never claimed to have anything more than an idea.

They also shied away from publicly unveiling the project. But it was a dream that did turn heads at Downtown Oklahoma City Inc., the Centennial Commission and with some Bricktown merchants.

The Crumrines quietly began courting various players to support their proposed two-level carousel in Bricktown at the same time Gray was holding his first news conferences. J. Blake Wade, director of the Centennial Commission, admits he was impressed with the proposal for a carousel, and he tried to find potential backers.

Since those early discussions, Crumrine, a contractor at the Federal Aviation Administration, has secured a tentative agreement with a Bricktown property owner to construct the carousel. An Italian manufacturer has provided specifications for delivering the ride to Oklahoma City, and Architectural Design Group has completed sketches of how the attraction would fit in with the entertainment district.

The Crumrines also have a three-year business plan to offer up to interested investors.

He estimates the cost of the ride, and site preparation, at $2 million.

According to a history of the rides provided by the National Carousel Association, more than 3,000 carousels entertained young and old across the country during the Great Depression. The museum reports fewer than 150 exist today, but Crumrine is confident his proposed ride would be a boon to Bricktown and become a city landmark.

“It’s not that people quit caring about riding them,” Crumrine said. “It’s just that the rides got old and decrepit, and fell apart.

“But I don’t know a person who doesn’t like riding a carousel.

“It’s something that evokes a lot of joy, and is economical, and appeals to everybody.”

http://olive.newsok.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=DOK/2007/02/06/22/Img/Pc0221300.jpg




There you go. If you wanted people to trust you on this Metro, this is all you had to post.

So where in Bricktown is this going? I think it's a great idea and could be a great centerpiece.

I am predicting that downtown will get a park bench.

How is that American Indian coming along in Tulsa?

Thanks Spartan,I thought maybe since Metro has contacts he could share with us what he knows.Metro anything new since this thread was started?

How is that American Indian coming along in Tulsa?

Yeah. There was an announcement last year that construction will be starting soon. And soon there will be another announcement that construction will start soon.

So to answer your question in a nutshell, no.

Too bad about the Indian. It would have been a great landmark for our state. Sounds like another Factory or Channels.

No, those would have been a great landmark. If you've seen this Indian, it's just plain weird... flashbacks to Apocalypto.

http://theamerican.com/about/resources/Description125.jpg

Does this really need to be 20 stories tall? The tribes are even refusing to contribute funds.

I am glad that the "Big Indian" is not going to end up in Okc. I remember the artist was wanting city money in order to put the indian in Tulsa or Okc and Okc said no thanks, here you go Tulsa.

Maybe Tulsa will eventually get the Big Indian and they can put it next to the largets "Gold praying" hands in the world.

Also I am not that excited about the possibility of this carousel in Okc, but as long as it doesn't cost the taxpayers money, then I am okay with it.

Think I would like to pass on the carousel idea as well...Kind of has the same big time feel as the World's Largest Ball of Twine

It's a little better than that.

Spartan:
There you go. If you wanted people to trust you on this Metro, this is all you had to post.


Actually Spartan, I could care less if someone "trusted me" on this issue of the carousel. You were the one calling me out as a phony and wanted evidence, so I told you where you could find evidence. Many people on this site know and have acknowledged that I've posted information on unannounced projects that have/ or soon will come to fruition. My past posts speak for themselves, just as you have found the evidence you were looking for on this one that proves it was announced what 1 year after I posted it first?? The Centennial Commission has been all over this one quietly and other big names. Hopefully they can come up with a puny $2 million and put this on the river and make a boardwalk. That would be a huge asset to the city.

I don't mind the carousel, as long as it is kept clean and in good working order. There is a fine line between amusement rides being attractions and being eye sores.

Thanks for the update Metro,two million does seem puny with all the development going on in and around downtown.

I like it. I have also mentioned something like this, or a huge Ferris Wheel, as part of a boardwalk-like development along the river.

a huge Ferris Wheel, as part of a boardwalk-like development along the river.

Now this I like! Better than a carousel---just look at what London did! Just think of the view of downtown from the top of the loop.

What did London do?

Redland mentioned it, but I'll give you the scoop. The City of London built a millennium Wheel which, at the time, was very controversial as it went above height restrictions for new commercial building and other things, but has since become a loved London landmark. It has taken on new life with corporate sponsorship as London Eye, which is sponsored by British Airways. You can see it here - it's quite impressive:
The London Eye (http://www.londoneye.com/)

Here's a great picture (full size pic):
http://aycu06.webshots.com/image/14125/2002119204590357412_rs.jpg (http://aycu06.webshots.com/image/14125/2002119204590357412_rs.jpg)

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I have heard some not so good ideas for a landmark,but this is the coolest idea I have seen so far.Impressive indeed.Thanks for the link Writterranger.

Yeah, originally the London Eye was just built for the Year 2000 for milennial celebrations, but it became so popular it's permanent now. It's synonymous with Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and other London icons, only this one is the icon of the new century. Of course should OKC do one, the Oklahoma River isn't the Thames, but it would still be way cool!

I don't think we should copy the London Eye anymore than we should copy the Space Needle or the Gateway Arch.

I don't think we should copy the London Eye anymore than we should copy the Space Needle or the Gateway Arch.

I agree. But there are a lot of ways to build a Ferris Wheel. The "London Eye" is built as air-conditioned capsules that many people can get into. It's unique and should never be copied. But the concept is certainly nothing new to the world. But, can you imagine something of that magnitude near the intersection of two of America's major interstate highways? Talk about pulling off and checking something out. The only other place you would see something of that magnitude in the USA would be Las Vegas (but what isn't in Las Vegas?). Trust me, another American city will make the giant Ferris a major landmark. Why not OKC at the major intersecting east/west interstate highways?

And how about this: OKC-IT-ALL. (or some variation thereof.)

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Well, either way, it would be neat to see and get a boardwalk atmosphere going. It might not happen over night, but if we don't get started on it, it won't happen at all. Now is the time for Oklahoma to dump money back into the state during the centennial celebration (which is halfway over by the way) before we lose the momentum.

I put an amusement ride in Bricktown for families to have a safe, fun time. I'm not getting rich from it but families are enjoying it and it's attracting people to the area (other merchants like it too). That's what it's all about.

It takes action to bring attraction.

What about a 30 - 40 ft tornado shaped monument, with say 5 -10 foot hoops that rotated around in sections at different times so as you were driving or just standing there looking at it you would get the appearance of a rotating tornado funnel. Just something silly I thought up, but might be cool looking if done right.

I don't think we should copy the London Eye anymore than we should copy the Space Needle or the Gateway Arch.

:confused:
Well okay, but I don't want to pave over the Bricktown Canal just because San Antonio had one first!!!

Actually Spartan, I could care less if someone "trusted me" on this issue of the carousel. You were the one calling me out as a phony and wanted evidence, so I told you where you could find evidence. Many people on this site know and have acknowledged that I've posted information on unannounced projects that have/ or soon will come to fruition. My past posts speak for themselves, just as you have found the evidence you were looking for on this one that proves it was announced what 1 year after I posted it first?? The Centennial Commission has been all over this one quietly and other big names. Hopefully they can come up with a puny $2 million and put this on the river and make a boardwalk. That would be a huge asset to the city.

Give me some track history.

I agree. But there are a lot of ways to build a Ferris Wheel. The "London Eye" is built as air-conditioned capsules that many people can get into. It's unique and should never be copied. But the concept is certainly nothing new to the world. But, can you imagine something of that magnitude near the intersection of two of America's major interstate highways? Talk about pulling off and checking something out. The only other place you would see something of that magnitude in the USA would be Las Vegas (but what isn't in Las Vegas?). Trust me, another American city will make the giant Ferris a major landmark. Why not OKC at the major intersecting east/west interstate highways?

And how about this: OKC-IT-ALL. (or some variation thereof.)

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Houston has a Ferris wheel as an accompaniment to the Downtown Aquarium. I suppose that might count.

Houston has a Ferris wheel as an accompaniment to the Downtown Aquarium. I suppose that might count.

Oh, there are a lot of Ferris wheels. I just checked and the "Diving Bell" Ferris wheel at the Houston Aquarium is 100-feet tall - and that's actually a BIG Ferris wheel! But, to put that in perspective, the London Eye is 450 feet tall. No American city has a Ferris anywhere close to that. (Yet, as I said earlier, Las Vegas will soon. But, that's just Las Vegas. Lost in the shuffle.) A huge Ferris along the river would be a huge attraction and quite an eye-opener at I-35 and I-40. An attraction like that brings traffic. Traffic brings people to LBT, Bricktown, Oklahoma City. It brings visitors and money. I honestly feel it's something that would make Oklahoma City, not just a stopover, but a destination and gateway to explore everything else we have to offer. Click on the thumbnail of the London Eye and then view the original image (there's a link at the bottom of the picture). Something akin to this kind of landmark would set the country talking. A big centennial year announcement would be huge.

http://aycu28.webshots.com/image/13187/2006341494510366994_th.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2006341494510366994)



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