[cwgator]

Here is an article about a new theme park proposed for Spring Hill, TN (south of Nashville). Early rumors suggested it may be a Busch Gardens park, but updates reveal that is not the case. It will be developed by Big International Group of Entertainment Inc of Henderson, NV and will be designed by ITEC Entertainment Corp in Orlando, FL.


http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110303/BUSINESS01/103030346/2275/ENTERTAINMENT05/Spring-Hill-theme-park-plan-raises-big-hopes-big-questions?odyssey=mod|lateststories

[cwgator]

Spring Hill's Mayor Believes in project:
Spring Hill Mayor Believes In Theme Park Project - Nashville News Story - WSMV Nashville

Spring Hill Mayor Believes In Theme Park Project
Mayor Dinwiddie: Imminent Domain An Option If Project Doesn't Work
Reported by Carley Gordon

POSTED: 5:30 pm CST March 3, 2011
UPDATED: 7:59 pm CST March 3, 2011

Festival Tennessee is an ambitious $750 million plan that's supposed to come complete with an amusement park, an NBA team and more. One day after the announcement, Spring Hill Mayor Mike Dinwiddie came forward saying he not only supports the project, but he believes in it.

Right now, I have no reason to doubt this," said Dinwiddie.

Still, Dinwiddie said he's not throwing caution to the wind -- especially since a lot has come out in the 24 hours since the announcement about developer Dennis Peterson and his company's spotty history.

Records at the secretary of state's office in Nevada reveal the charter for Peterson's company Big International Group of Entertainment Inc. has been revoked.

The same is true for at least four other companies Peterson is involved with.

"Did you guys do your research when it came to this company?" asked Channel 4 reporter Carley Gordon.

"Well, we did some. We Googled it just like everybody else," said Dinwiddie. "I just said, 'Hey, you know, there's some things that have popped up online that are concerning. Can you explain it to me?' And he did; he explained the whole situation behind that, and I'm OK with it."

Dinwiddie said the magnitude and 21-month deadline seem a little far-fetched. In fact, he was expecting the announcement to come with a deadline in winter 2013.

"I somewhat think that it could have been a mistake, that the wrong deadline was thrown out," Dinwiddie said.

But he pointed out that Peterson isn't asking for anything -- no incentives or any kind of monetary support.

So to all of the naysayers, Dinwiddie is posing the question: Festival Tennessee: Why not?

"I think the skepticism is natural. It's well-founded, and that's why I say, 'Here we are, proceeding here with caution,'" said Dinwiddie. "At this point, it's in our best interest to move forward with this guy because there's really nothing for us to lose here and everything to gain."

Dinwiddie said he feels as though the city is in the driver's seat when it comes to this project, and that he and the City Council have the ability to pull the plug at any time.

For example, Dinwiddie said, he expects public statements to come forward in the next few weeks from other big companies, such as Itec, that are involved in the project. If that doesn't happen, Dinwiddie said, the city doesn't have to rezone the land.

Also, if the developer doesn't make good on promises made once he has purchased the land, Dinwiddie said the city always has the option of imminent domain.

However the "designer" has no contract as of yet:
Theme park designer: No contract signed | Nashville Business Journal

Florida-based ITEC, which designs and builds theme parks around the globe, does not have a contract with the developer who revealed plans Wednesday to build a massive theme park and retail complex in Spring Hill.

The firm conducted preliminary theme park design work for Dennis W. Peterson, CEO of Big International Group of Entertainment, 10 years ago, said ITEC spokeswoman Trisha Loubier, but a contract related to his most recent plans has not been signed.

Loubier confirmed the company has communicated with Peterson about his latest plans. She was not able to immediately provide a timetable for a decision by ITEC on its involvement in Peterson's Festival Tennessee.

ITEC has handled work for such names as the Walt Disney Co., Universal Studios and Opryland.

Wednesday afternoon, Peterson announced his plans to privately develop a theme park and other retail attractions on 1,500 acres of land in Spring Hill. But Peterson's past business dealings and the size, scope and timeline for his projects has raised questions by some in Middle Tennessee's tourism and hospitality industry. Peterson's plans for a soft opening in November 2012, for instance, seem lofty to some.

Peterson said Wednesday the public can expect more announcements in the coming days and weeks as more contracts are signed and details become available. A call this morning to Peterson seeking additional details about his project was not immediately returned. ...

[TrojanCamMan]

Gah. This thing, if it gets off the drawing boards, is gonna be HUGE!

[cwgator]

Hmm.....Doesn't look good for this project.....

http://assets.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/03/17/festival-tennessee-developer-faces.html

Festival Tennessee developer faces $750k in court judgments


The developer of a proposed $750 million mega theme park in Spring Hill has racked up at least three quarters of a million dollars in civil judgments in three different states, court records show.

A Nashville Business Journal investigation has uncovered a trail of unpaid bills, bounced checks, evictions, troubled business associates and unfulfilled plans left by Dennis W. Peterson.

Peterson, CEO of Nevada-based Big International Group of Entertainment, announced plans earlier this month for his Festival Tennessee project that would include two hotels, a water park and a sports arena that could play host to an NBA franchise.

Some friends and former associates favorably describe Peterson as a dreamer, who has been pitching his vision for a theme park in various states for more than a decade. Others say he has a history of broken promises that have included investors who never materialized.

Peterson, 60, did not return numerous calls from the Business Journal since giving a brief interview following the Festival Tennessee announcement on March 2.

(more in article)

[cwgator]

Even more bad press:

http://www.wsmv.com/news/27299214/detail.html

There are more red flags when it comes to the Festival Tennessee theme park. It turns out one of the top executives on the project is a sex offender who has spent time in prison.

He isn't supposed to be anywhere near children, yet he's a key player in developing a family theme park. Those close to the project, including a town mayor, never knew.

Since Spring Hill's announcement of a new theme park, Channel 4 News has reported several other failed projects and the questionable background behind the park's developer, Dennis Peterson.

Now a company executive who is a sex offender is raising even more questions.

Thomas Maierle is a registered sex offender in Michigan. He was charged and convicted in 2006 for having sexually abusive material involving children.

“As best of my knowledge, he's the chief financial officer with Big Entertainment Group,” said Spring Hill Planning Commission Chairman Michael Glass.

Maierle is involved with the company building Festival Tennessee, a proposed theme park to be built on Jim Warren Road in Spring Hill. It is a park that would attract thousands of children.

John Cordell, a spokesman with the Michigan Department of Corrections, said Wednesday, “If he were operating the theme park where children were there and readily available to this individual on a daily basis, there would be an area of significant concern.”

Maierle spent nearly two years in prison in Michigan and is currently on parole until May 19, which means he has a long list of conditions to abide by, including no contact with children.

He also isn't allowed to travel outside Michigan or own a computer or any other device capable of connecting to the Internet.

Spring Hill Mayor Michael Dinwiddie said by phone Wednesday that he had no idea about Maierle's past.

Spring Hill resident Gary Haydel said he feels the company and its operators should have gone through background checks.

“If I was the mayor of this city, on anything approached to me, I would contact my local sheriff, run it through the FBI and had a background check done. It’s very easy to do and the man should have did it to begin with,” said Haydel.

Glass said this is yet another red flag that the city should not ignore.

“Which is all the more reason we need to take this through the proper processes because if you are allowing individuals of any kind much less some that have sketchy backgrounds, or possibly sketchy backgrounds, I would like to put in all the protections that we can at the city level,” said Glass.

The Michigan State Department of Corrections is aware of Maierle's involvement with Festival Tennessee and said Wednesday that as of last week, he has not violated any of the terms of his parole.

Maierle and Peterson did not return Channel 4's calls.

Spring Hill's Board of Aldermen will be voting on April 18 on how to zone the land for the Festival Tennessee project.

Just four days before that crucial vote, an election could shakeup the entire structure of the board. Currently there are nine aldermen, including the mayor. Two are in a race for re-election: Bruce Hull and Eliot Mitchell. One current alderman is leaving, and a candidate is running unopposed for his seat.

The new aldermen will be sworn in right before the April 18 meeting where they are set to vote on Festival Tennessee's zoning request.

I don't think I'd hold my breath for this park to open anytime soon...

[cwgator]

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110418/WILLIAMSON01/110418050/Spring-Hill-leaders-vote-down-rezoning-for-Festival-Tennessee

SPRING HILL — City leaders unanimously voted down a rezoning request tonight for Festival Tennessee, an ambitiously proposed $750 million development for 1,500 acres east of Interstate 65 just south of Saturn Parkway.

Several aldermen and Mayor Michael Dinwiddie said the developer, Big International Group of Entertainment, never came to the city with information that would lend the project credibility, such as a feasibility study, a traffic study, or a site plan that would indicate what infrastructure would be needed.
Alderman Rick Graham said he agreed with those board members that the project would be better suited as a B4 commercial PUD (planned unit development), which requires more scrutiny and approvals from the board than the straight B4 zoning as requested.


"This is a slam dunk," he said. “I think this is one of those deals when it needs to be up to the elected officials."


The company’s CEO, Dennis Peterson said at a March 2 press conference that the project would include a theme park, two resort hotels with 4,000 rooms each, 80 restaurants, a charter school, sports complex and a shopping outlet.


Alderman Amy Wurth said that lack of information made it difficult for the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to approve a plan of services for a related annexation request, both of which were approved at the meeting.


The nearly 200-acre annexation for the project drew little controversy among board members. At Alderman Eliot Mitchell’s suggestion, the board agreed to extend the 5-year period of time the city has to provide sewer service to 10 years.


It would now be up to the property owner to come back to the city planning commission with a request to rezone the property as a B4 PUD.