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I missed the appended story when it was first reported in August. In the ensuing months this crazy proposal has, mercifully, been shot down. That said, it's too good (and too important) not to share. The principles described are not going away.
Here's an excerpt.
Army officials say they are considering allowing a private developer to build a 125-acre entertainment, hotel and conference center complex next to a national Army museum at Fort Belvoir that could draw more than 1 million people a year to traffic-choked southern Fairfax County... The Army is considering the entertainment venue to help offset the cost of the $300 million museum, which a spokesman said is scheduled to open in 2013. No federal funds are being sought for the museum... A Florida developer has submitted an unsolicited proposal for a military theme park that would include the "Chateau Belvoir" hotel and an entertainment district with bars like the "1st Division Lounge" and several "4D" rides. "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...
"It seems fairly clear that the Pentagon brass has decided the only way they can succeed with the Army museum is to make a museum wrapped in an amusement park," Kauffman said.
And to give current relevance, here's a snippet from an article by George Monbiot published earlier this week. It was titled "The Disneyfication of war allows us to ignore its real savagery."
The Imperial War Museum in London is currently running an exhibition called The Animals' War. It features stuffed mascots, tales of the "desperate plight" of 200 animals trapped by the fighting in Iraq, and photos of dogs wearing gas masks. It tells us about the "PDSA Dickin medal - the animals' Victoria Cross", which has been awarded to 23 dogs, 32 pigeons, three horses and one cat for "acts of conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in wartime". The museum resounds with cries of "aaah!" and "how sweet!". War is now cute.
I'm surprised the Army passed up this opportunity to have a Military theme park build upon a Military base. The idea sounds like what some would call a real "win-win". It's possible they are holding out for a better proposal from the Disney Corporation.
Scott
--- begin quoted ---
August 8, 2006
Army Ponders Amusement Venue, Hotel At Ft. Belvoir
By Timothy Dwyer - Washington Post Staff Writer
Army officials say they are considering allowing a private developer to
build a 125-acre entertainment, hotel and conference center complex
next to a national Army museum at Fort Belvoir that could draw more
than 1 million people a year to traffic-choked southern Fairfax County.
The possibility of adding what county officials call a military theme
park arises as about 22,000 employees prepare to be transferred to Fort
Belvoir in the next five years because of the federal base realignment
and closure recommendations, designed to save $49 billion nationwide.
The Army is considering the entertainment venue to help offset the cost
of the $300 million museum, which a spokesman said is scheduled to open
in 2013. No federal funds are being sought for the museum, but Fairfax
has donated $240,000.
A Florida developer has submitted an unsolicited proposal for a
military theme park that would include the "Chateau Belvoir" hotel and
an entertainment district with bars like the "1st Division Lounge" and
several "4D" rides.
"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 by Universal City Property Management III of
Orlando. The company has no connection to NBC-Universal, which owns
Universal Studios, a spokeswoman said yesterday.
Fairfax officials, who have no say over the Army's decision because the
site is federal property, said they are worried about an entertainment
complex's impact on traffic.
Supervisor T. Dana Kauffman (D-Lee) was so upset after hearing about
the Universal City proposal last year that he threw company
representatives out of his office. He said he had no interest in
turning a military history museum into "Disney on Rolling Road." After
the meeting, he said, he thought the entertainment concept for the Army
museum was dead.
But last week, the Army told Kauffman and other Fairfax officials that
it intended to move the museum from the Fort Belvoir entrance to the
Engineer Proving Ground a few miles from the post because it needs to
increase the size of the complex from 75 acres to 125, which Kauffman
said is a prelude to an entertainment complex.
"It seems fairly clear that the Pentagon brass has decided the only way
they can succeed with the Army museum is to make a museum wrapped in an
amusement park," Kauffman said.
At last week's meeting, county officials pressed the post's commander,
Col. Brian W. Lauritzen, about the plans for a large entertainment
complex. Lauritzen, who did not use the phrase "theme park" to describe
the plans, said the demand for more space for the museum complex seemed
to be coming from Army leaders above him.
An Army spokesman, in response to written questions, said the Army is
studying what it calls "a visitor destination concept" for the museum
but did not elaborate.
"Should the concept be approved, the Army will publicly solicit
expressions of interest in the visitor destination concept from the
private sector."
The spokesman would not comment specifically on the Universal City
proposal but said, "No special consideration is or will be given to any
individual or company."
Fort Belvoir was chosen as the site for the Army museum in October 2001
over a location in Carlisle, Pa. The spokesman would not discuss plans
for the museum, saying, "Plans are in the development stages and being
reevaluated by the Army and are not ready for release."
A source familiar with the museum development process said the Army is
considering the public-private partnership for the museum as a way to
fund the project. The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity
because he did not want to jeopardize his role in the project, said the
Army did not solicit the Universal City proposal.
"I wouldn't say it was still on the table," the source said. "I would
say the Army received it and said: 'Noted.' Now they are going to do a
request for information and see if there is something that is
compatible for the museum." The source said the Army will probably ask
for other proposals, not necessarily theme parks. "I think they will
start from scratch."
He added: "Whatever solution the Army picks, not everybody is going to
be happy. There is going to be unhappiness in some quarters somewhere."
Officials with Universal City Property Management in Orlando did not
respond to two phone messages. They told the Army that their concept
would attract 3 million visitors a year, more than Hersheypark in
Pennsylvania or Busch Gardens in Williamsburg.
Supervisor Gerald W. Hyland (D-Mount Vernon), who was instrumental in
persuading the Army to choose Fort Belvoir for the museum, said the
Engineer Proving Ground is "the wrong place to put it."
He said the original idea of putting the museum near the post's main
gate would be better for traffic flow and would place it in closer
proximity to other tourist attractions, including Mount Vernon.
In 1994, the Walt Disney Co. pulled the plug on a theme park near
Haymarket and the Manassas battlefield after running into a groundswell
of local, national and international criticism. Disney officials
estimated that the park would have drawn about 6 million visitors a
year.
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