If you are in the real estate business I'm sure you hear the phrase location, location, location, over and over and over. Well, to a large degree building a theme park is being in the real estate business. It's sometimes a fine line though between having the right location combined with the right idea. It's my feeling the idea always, even if just barely, supersedes the location. You can have a great location and if the idea is bad then the location really does not matter. On the other hand, if you have a great idea, and it is not very accessible, you are taking a chance with the venture.
The goal with any business should be to find the optimum location giving it the greatest chance for success. As far as choosing a location for a themed attraction such as Ole South, travel time is the critical factor. For a major attraction, 1.5 to two hours in a one-way driving time is generally recognized as the maximum extent of the resident market given the four to seven hour stay time typical at the destination itself. The goal for Ole South is to find a location that provides enough land for future growth, but also is centralized to the overnight and resident market for an adequate capture rate. Capture rate is the percentage of overnight and resident market that would visit the attraction.
We have a few sites in mind...stay tuned. Have a great day!
David Webb
