The Kentucky State Fair Board unanimously approved a lease that moves the Koch family one step closer to reopening the shuttered Kentucky Kingdom as Bluegrass Boardwalk:
This afternoon’s unanimous vote by the Kentucky State Fair Board to approve a lease with Bluegrass Boardwalk, Inc. moves the reopening of the 57-acre amusement and water park closer to reality.
“We can’t wait to get started!” says Bluegrass Boardwalk’s Dan Koch*. “We’ve got a lot of work to do to get the park reopened in just 15 months, but we’ll get it done. We’d like to thank the Fair Board for putting their faith in us and the community at large for their tremendous cheers of support.”
Following today’s lease approval, Bluegrass Boardwalk’s next steps are to secure financing and continue the application process for economic development incentives from Kentucky’s Tourism Cabinet. Bluegrass Boardwalk will not request public monies from the Kentucky Legislature.
Bluegrass Boardwalk’s plans are to invest $15-$20 million to reopen the park in May of 2013, with continued investment in future years.
“We’re bringing our business model of exceptional safety, cleanliness, friendliness and value for families,” says Natalie Koch. “That means free soft drinks, free sunscreen and free use of inner tubes.”
Bluegrass Boardwalk, Inc. is a partnership of four members of the Koch family in Santa Claus, Indiana: Holiday World president Dan Koch, his sister Natalie Koch, their cousin Kathy Kamp, and her husband, Michael Kamp, who is a General Manager at Holiday World. Dan, Natalie and Kathy are grandchildren of Holiday World’s founder, Louis J. Koch, who opened the park (originally called Santa Claus Land) in 1946.
Bluegrass Boardwalk updates will be posted online at http://BluegrassBoardwalk.com, on Facebook: http://Facebook.com/BluegrassBoardwalk and via Twitter: @BluegrassBwalk.
We wish the Koch family the best of luck as they give new life to Kentucky Kingdom!
Will there be a new website to buy passes ?