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| Science & Technology |
| US Army Considering Military Theme Park |
| 2006-08-08 |
| FORT BELVOIR, Va. - The Army is considering a proposal to allow a private developer to build a military theme park that would include “4D” rides and bars including a “1st Division Lounge.” Military officials said a massive entertainment and hotel complex built next to a national Army museum could draw more than 1 million people a year. But authorities in Fairfax County are objecting because of already traffic-clogged roads surrounding the proposed site. Universal City Property Management III, of Orlando, Fla., submitted the unsolicited proposal for the theme park last year. “You can command the latest M-1 tank, feel the rush of a paratrooper freefall, fly a Cobra Gunship or defend your B-17 as a waist gunner,” according to the proposal, which was obtained by The Washington Post. County officials have no authority over the Army’s decision because the site is federal property. County Supervisor T. Dana Kauffman said he thought the entertainment concept died last year and said he had no interest in turning a military museum into “Disney on Rolling Road.” But the Army notified the county last week it is planning to move the military museum from Fort Belvoir to a site a few miles away that would be large enough for the entertainment complex. This will only work if they hire a professional theme park designer *and* go for Disney-quality standards. Their security will also have to be air tight, given the nuts, fruits and terrorists out there. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #13 Army sez No. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-08-08 22:07 |
| #12 great idea...recruitment tool |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-08-08 21:11 |
| #11 Reminds me of the Tim Allen bit about "Man World". Basically a bunch of walls and a tank to drive through them with. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2006-08-08 19:10 |
| #10 Theme Park, eh? An Arcade sounds like fun. 'Whack-a-Jihadi' and 'Sand-monkey Shooting Gallery' would be sure to please. |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2006-08-08 19:08 |
| #9 If they do something in the DC area, they really should provide a connection with the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum Annex, near Dulles Airport. Everyone here should visit it; they have a Blackbird, the Enola Gay, an AEC Uranium-survey plane, the Enterprise prototype, and many more planes of history. |
| Posted by: Eric Jablow 2006-08-08 17:53 |
| #8 Keep the B-17, it's cool. Add some other historical weapons and ideas to it. Why not have some part of it devoted to the Civil War? That might well be popular. If it can't be in Washington, put it in Orlando next to Disney and MGM. You want the Disney folks to have the management contract anyway, so put it next to the most popular tourist destination in the country. A week in Orlando: a day in the Magic Kingdom, a day at MGM, a day at Seaworld, five minutes at EPCOT, and three days at the Military Theme Park. I'm sold. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2006-08-08 17:33 |
| #7 Nimble, if you thought the Mixing Bowl [the I-95/395/495 interchange] was bad enough now, just see it when this shows up. People will be able to rollerskate to work faster than they can driving. |
| Posted by: Eric Jablow 2006-08-08 16:30 |
| #6 I heard that Cindy Shithan is going to donate her land in crawford to the city after she's done making an ass of herself. Turning it into a military theme park would be great! |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2006-08-08 14:46 |
| #5 Another big target will be MOM. I'll bet plenty of clean cut GIs will be available to demonstrate and explain all the benefits to a young person of enlisting in the Army. And showing how the Army has protected our families in the past. But dump the B-17 snd add an AC-130 H/U. Better yet, a Commanche. As for traffic, at least they build more roads in DC/VA/MD when traffic gets worse. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-08-08 14:10 |
| #4 US Army Considering Military Theme |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-08-08 13:58 |
| #3 This might be a recruiting move aimed at pre-teens and young teens. I'm pretty sure it's NOT being proposed because the military leadership doesn't have enough to do each day. And if it is an indirect PR/recruiting move, then the location is important -- attracts those visiting Washington. Sorry about the traffic. Have lived in the area twice, commuted way too many hours for too few miles for bunch of years, feel your pain. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-08-08 13:55 |
| #2 For phuechs sake! Take it away from the NCR, traffic here is brutal enough. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-08-08 13:50 |
| #1 US Army Considering Military Theme Park I thought that was called Air Force Basic training.../rimshot (ducks and grins!) Semi-Seriously...This sounds like one of the sillier PR ideas deposited by the good idea fairy. |
| Posted by: N guard 2006-08-08 13:42 |