Does the "Bells" toll?

[Rowdy]

Bell's Amusement Park Sells Ride To Tulsa County
KOTV - 1/17/2007 6:07 AM

Bell's Amusement Park has sold one of its most popular rides to Tulsa County.

The Tulsa County Public Facilities Authority has voted to buy the Sky Ride for $600,000. The sale is subject to a final review by the authority's legal counsel.

The Sky Ride has historically been the fair's top-grossing ride, carrying up to a thousand people an hour.

It was installed in 1966.

[Rowdy]

Does selling this ride mean the final blow?

[sgrizzle]

It means they've accepted that they are moving. The skyride was unique in that it is the only ride that it operated outside, as well as inside, bell's property.

The fair without the skyride would be like the OKC fair without the monorail.

Oh yeah, they tore it down. Along with the baseball stadium, and they're taking the airplanes down...

[tim huntzinger]

I hope the County is making overtures regarding Zingo, as well.

If Bell does not remove his property by the time the clock runs out does the County own that property?

[Hawkins]

quote:Originally posted by tim huntzinger

I hope the County is making overtures regarding Zingo, as well.

If Bell does not remove his property by the time the clock runs out does the County own that property?

Technically yes, but they've said they are going to work with Bells throughout this process, so I don't think it will happen that way.

[Aa5drvr]

I thought the story on the Local TV News last night was priceless.  
The talking head told about the sale of the Skyride, but the video showed the little ski lift operating inside Bells confines.

[waterboy]

I wonder what that skyride would cost today? That was probably a good deal for both.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Aa5drvr

I thought the story on the Local TV News last night was priceless.  
The talking head told about the sale of the Skyride, but the video showed the little ski lift operating inside Bells confines.

nice

[AMP]

Seems I read somewhere that that size of lift with that many cars costs around 3 Million installed today. That could be on the side of a Mountain where most are used and not on flat ground.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by tim huntzinger

I hope the County is making overtures regarding Zingo, as well.

If Bell does not remove his property by the time the clock runs out does the County own that property?

I can't imagine trying to move the Zingo coaster, dismatle it or whatever.  In my mind, it has become part of the real estate, real property as a permanent fixture.  If there were a fixture like that on my home property, it would be considered real property, part of the real estate if you wish, not personal property.  I think the county fairgrounds should buy it from Bell at a mutually agreable fair price, and leave it just where it is.  Just like they have done with the skyride.  All of the other Bells rides seem to be more portable and can be removed.

I remember when the fair installed the skyride in 1966.  Seemed so cool back then, and that was in the day when the IPE was a big annual attraction at the fair grounds, as much as the annual state fair was.

[AMP]

Is it just me or did the private sector seem to have much more cash to spend on cool buildings and attractions in those days than now.  

Guess most large sums of cash is in the Middle East today.

Wonder which had this idea first, Tulsa or Abu Dhabi?

Saadiyat Island is an island 500 meters off the coast of Abu Dhabi island. A Dhs.100 billion (US$ 27 billion) mixed commercial, residential, and leisure project is currently under construction on the island, expected to be completed in 2018. According to government officials, Saadiyat Island is expected to become Abu Dhabi's cultural center.

The Saadiyat Island development has been described as an intention to create an "up-scale cultural district to enrich Abu Dhabi".
Many cultural projects have already been announced including the development of a Guggenheim Museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art.

The Frank Gehry designed building is due for completion in 2011 and will be the largest Guggenheim Museum at 30,000 square metres (320,000 ft²),with an estimated cost of $400 million.

Saadiyat Island will eventually house around 150,000 residents and will be connected to Abu Dhabi via two ten-lane causeways.

Plans to build a world-class performing arts center and a concert hall are underway.

Saadiyat means happiness, "Island of Happiness"

[AMP]

Is it just me or did the private sector seem to have much more cash to spend on cool buildings and attractions in those days than now.  

Guess most large sums of cash is in the Middle East today.

Wonder which had this idea first, Tulsa or Abu Dhabi?

Saadiyat Island is an island 500 meters off the coast of Abu Dhabi island. A Dhs.100 billion (US$ 27 billion) mixed commercial, residential, and leisure project is currently under construction on the island, expected to be completed in 2018. According to government officials, Saadiyat Island is expected to become Abu Dhabi's cultural center.

The Saadiyat Island development has been described as an intention to create an "up-scale cultural district to enrich Abu Dhabi".
Many cultural projects have already been announced including the development of a Guggenheim Museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art.

The Frank Gehry designed building is due for completion in 2011 and will be the largest Guggenheim Museum at 30,000 square metres (320,000 ft²),with an estimated cost of $400 million.

Saadiyat Island will eventually house around 150,000 residents and will be connected to Abu Dhabi via two ten-lane causeways.

Plans to build a world-class performing arts center and a concert hall are underway.

Saadiyat means happiness, "Island of Happiness"

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by PRH

I bet it cost nowhere like $600,000 when it was built.  Probably more like $200,000.  Seems strange to me it would be worth more now than when built, after 40 years have passed.  It is fast becoming an antique amusement ride.

I noticed neither Bell's nor the Fair Board told the public what Bell's paid for it in 1971.

My guess is Bell's paid very little for it, operated it for years at a profit, and now is selling it back to the Fair Board for more than they paid to buy it.

You're probably more familiar with the business process of investing capital, using the capital goods to create revenue, depreciating them annually to offset profit, then selling them at a depreciated price in order to avoid a large taxable gain. I don't think that's whats happening here. This is a going away gift. But both sides do well with it.

Zingo is a different animal. Build in 1969 out of wood, it may be nearing a point when it will need increased maintenance and maybe even repair/replace decisions. Don't want to see the county saddled with that.

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by PRH

Zingo opened in 1968.  I was one of the very first persons to ride, as I was a child of personal friends of the Bell family.

Thanks for the date correction. '69 was probably when I first got the courage to ride it! Sounds like you have some good memories there. We spent alot of our jr. high, sr. high summers there.

[pmcalk]

PRH--You have some great memories of Zingo.  I can remember when it was being built, though it was a number of years until I was old enough (brave enough) to ride it.  

I strongly disagree with you, though, about tearing it down.  I went on Zingo at the fair this year, and was amazed what a great ride it still was.  Yes, some only enjoy the faster, twisting metal coasters, but there are still plenty of us who believe that the best roller coasters are wooden.  Some things just get better with age.  Take the Cyclone (1927)--it still gets listed as one of the best, and has hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.  I regret that I didn't ride it when I was at Astroland, but the wait was over 2 hours.  IMO, Zingo is another of Tulsa's potential great historic landmarks that may get torn down simply because some see it as old.  Whether it goes with Bells or stays at the fair, someone should preserve it.