Corydon, IN - Proposed Indoor Water Park
Corydon Water Park Proposed
By Grace Schneider
gschneider@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
A Chicago-area developer has been meeting privately with Harrison County officials and Corydon business leaders to pitch a $20 million hotel and indoor water park complex at the former Keller furniture factory in Corydon.
Although the proposal is far from a done deal, tourism advocates view it as a bold move to create an unusual regional attraction.
"This certainly could be a huge thing for this community," said Sean Hawkins, community-development director for Harrison County's Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Don Peeples, a former Holiday Inn executive from Johnsville, Ill., envisions transforming part of the 14-acre site north of downtown Corydon into a 108-room hotel with an enclosed 35,000-square-foot water park.
An adjoining amphitheater and convention center inside the 111-year-old Keller plant also is being considered by county tourism officials and Main Street Corydon Inc., which promotes downtown revitalization.
Peeples and Brian Hasler, a former Democratic state representative from Evansville who now works for an Indianapolis construction firm, have been meeting with Harrison County representatives since last summer.
The unused plant, adjoining buildings and acreage were purchased by the non-profit Main Street group with county tourism money in spring 2004.
In recent months, the Estopinal Group of Jeffersonville has worked with Main Street to explore redevelopment plans for the Keller property -- and highlighted two environmental studies that say contaminants must be cleaned up before construction can start, according to Bud Bennett, president of the Main Street board.
The Keller site also sits in the floodway of Big Indian Creek, which could restrict development.
Despite the uncertainties, tourism supporters think there's enormous potential, Hawkins and Bennett said.
Bennett said he will discuss the plans this month with the Board of County Commissioners, the County Council and town leaders.
If they are receptive, the next step would be to sign a letter of intent April 12 to give Peeples and Hasler exclusive rights to pursue the project -- for now.
The sides already have discussed using tax-increment financing for the project. This arrangement allows communities to finance road projects and commercial development and then use the resulting property-tax revenue to pay off bond debt.
This would be a key component in Corydon, Peeples, 59, said in a telephone interview.
Although there are no similar parks in Louisville, such attractions have become popular in the Wisconsin Dells and in several Great Lakes states.
Families with children pay $200 or more for a weekend night, and each guest receives an entry pass to the water park. "They're a proven concept, but they're a new idea," Peeples said.
Peeples and other partners are preparing this month to sign a contract -- with tax-increment financing -- to create another park and hotel in Fox Lake, Ill., northwest of Chicago and five miles south of the Wisconsin border.
Corydon officials have reserved their opinions until they learn more about such developments and about how Peeples and Main Street would fund the project.
Some Corydon officials may drive to Caribbean Cove, the closest such park and hotel, which is in suburban Indianapolis, said Fred Cammack, president of Corydon's Town Council.
He favors any reuse of the Keller site that would generate taxes for the county and town. As for the latest plan, Cammack added, "I don't think we know enough about it."
By Grace Schneider
gschneider@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
A Chicago-area developer has been meeting privately with Harrison County officials and Corydon business leaders to pitch a $20 million hotel and indoor water park complex at the former Keller furniture factory in Corydon.
Although the proposal is far from a done deal, tourism advocates view it as a bold move to create an unusual regional attraction.
"This certainly could be a huge thing for this community," said Sean Hawkins, community-development director for Harrison County's Convention and Visitors Bureau.
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Don Peeples, a former Holiday Inn executive from Johnsville, Ill., envisions transforming part of the 14-acre site north of downtown Corydon into a 108-room hotel with an enclosed 35,000-square-foot water park.
An adjoining amphitheater and convention center inside the 111-year-old Keller plant also is being considered by county tourism officials and Main Street Corydon Inc., which promotes downtown revitalization.
Peeples and Brian Hasler, a former Democratic state representative from Evansville who now works for an Indianapolis construction firm, have been meeting with Harrison County representatives since last summer.
The unused plant, adjoining buildings and acreage were purchased by the non-profit Main Street group with county tourism money in spring 2004.
In recent months, the Estopinal Group of Jeffersonville has worked with Main Street to explore redevelopment plans for the Keller property -- and highlighted two environmental studies that say contaminants must be cleaned up before construction can start, according to Bud Bennett, president of the Main Street board.
The Keller site also sits in the floodway of Big Indian Creek, which could restrict development.
Despite the uncertainties, tourism supporters think there's enormous potential, Hawkins and Bennett said.
Bennett said he will discuss the plans this month with the Board of County Commissioners, the County Council and town leaders.
If they are receptive, the next step would be to sign a letter of intent April 12 to give Peeples and Hasler exclusive rights to pursue the project -- for now.
The sides already have discussed using tax-increment financing for the project. This arrangement allows communities to finance road projects and commercial development and then use the resulting property-tax revenue to pay off bond debt.
This would be a key component in Corydon, Peeples, 59, said in a telephone interview.
Although there are no similar parks in Louisville, such attractions have become popular in the Wisconsin Dells and in several Great Lakes states.
Families with children pay $200 or more for a weekend night, and each guest receives an entry pass to the water park. "They're a proven concept, but they're a new idea," Peeples said.
Peeples and other partners are preparing this month to sign a contract -- with tax-increment financing -- to create another park and hotel in Fox Lake, Ill., northwest of Chicago and five miles south of the Wisconsin border.
Corydon officials have reserved their opinions until they learn more about such developments and about how Peeples and Main Street would fund the project.
Some Corydon officials may drive to Caribbean Cove, the closest such park and hotel, which is in suburban Indianapolis, said Fred Cammack, president of Corydon's Town Council.
He favors any reuse of the Keller site that would generate taxes for the county and town. As for the latest plan, Cammack added, "I don't think we know enough about it."
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