Gary, Indiana To Build Michael Jackson Theme Park With 'Thriller' Coaster

January 13, 2010 at 2:23 PM | by JetSetCD | 1 Comment

MJ's Neverland Ranch, which will inspire the park

Some shocking news from the LA Times today, something which we oddly expected but truly hoped would never happen. That's right—someone is building a Michael Jackson Theme Park.

Although the obvious location for the King of Pop's playland would be his already theme park-ish Neverland Rand in Santa Barbara County, California. But no...this whole new development is landing in the singer's hometown of Gary, Indiana. They expect to break ground this year, and plan for a full decade-long buildout, to cost approximately $1 billion. Apparently they think that we'll be more ready for an MJ theme park in ten years, but they are wrong.

After the jump, more on a 'Thriller' roller coaster...

[A representative] said the theme park would include rides found at Jackson�s 2,700-acre Neverland Ranch near Los Olivos in Santa Barbara County.
In addition to a zoo, aviary and nature preserve, the Neverland theme park included a carousel, Ferris wheel, bumper cars, passenger train and classic carnival rides such as the Zipper, Sea Dragon and Octopus. A roller coaster with a 'Thriller' theme would be part of the planned theme park, the Daily Mirror reported.

Furthermore, the LA Times reports that the only possibly exciting piece—that Thriller coaster— probably won't be until the end of those ten years it takes to build the thing, since construction will begin with a museum, art center and hotel before even a kiosk goes up for the amusement park and golf course. So many crass jokes can be made and will be made about this project, but heck; we've got ten more years to make 'em!

Related Stories:
· Michael Jackson Theme Park Planned for Singer's Hometown [LA Times]
· Theme Parks [Jaunted]

[Photo: LA Times]

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