Yeah you are correct here- the Xmas Lights Spectactular always sees huge crowds and is what gave me the impetus for the idea in the first place.
Its probably never going to be a fully fledged theme park in reality, however, the region itself is diversifying and offering attractions and events that are quite popular. The winerys are looking for other attractions and events to keep the tourism dollar pumping into the region and concerts and events have been steadily growing in patronage and scope over the last 10- 15 years. Last August, a new $107 million dollar new out door concert ampitheatre with 22,000 capacity has been announced and is currently being built. The scope also includes a 100 bed hotel and specialist food and beverage dinining options. This is extremely close to the HVG site and will join the Mecure Hotel situated next door to the HVG and also the Crown Plaza resort in the area that is nice and close- adding in amusement park attractions to enhance an already popular attraction such as the HVG seems like a feasible thing to do. As for screams and noise, the site is well enough contained on its own entirety to remove that as an issue for mine.
Here is the details for the new investment- sitting very close to the HVG site which can only help the broader appeal and visitiation of the surrounding attractions.
https://themusicnetwork.com/cedar-mill-hunter-valley-venue/
The HVG is already a gated cost structure. They also have acquired over the last 3 years a permanent Ferris Wheel, a Wave Swinger, a Giant slide and several other smaller kiddie rides that are located in the back area. These are extra cost to the gated admission but if they were to go down the route and offer several more rides and attractions, then I feel that a wristband option would not be an unreasonable way of looking at pricing. As the park grows organically and the amusement section becomes just as big a drawcard as the Gardens itself, it could perhaps change to an all inclusive gated pricing structure.
Wow. Well I did want to generate some discussion. Thanks at least for posting. As @DaptoFunlandGuy has already answered above quite eloquently, Wonderland's closure and sale were not for reasons of "failure"- there were a myriad of events that led to its demise and none of them could really be linked or overlaid on the success or failure of a new venture such as this.
As for your other mind boggling statement regarding the rides choices chosen- well of course they are my picks and my opinions on what I think would work. However , to not call them brand names or rides that any sane person opening a theme park would buy, is one of the more preposterous statements I have ever seen on Parkz, if I am honest. Which of these ride manufacturers have you not heard of? Zamperla? Zierer? KMG? Fabbri? Technical Park? All of these manufacturers are VERY well known within the amusement industry and all of the examples of the rides chosen have multiple units located within amusement parks across the globe- with the exception of the Zamperla Gryphon- which as a new concept has not had an install yet. Remember I also put in very large type the word "Hypothetical" but I feel for added realism that any new regional park couldnt offer Intamin or B&M or any other top tier manufacturer immediately. However , I feel the rides chosen would make for a compelling offer for any park to open with.
Yeah you are quite right here mate- I think that the natural evolution of the place is ripe for this sort of organic expansion. To add all this in one go is not something that will likely occur but the fact that the HVG already have sourced and installed a small collection of permanent rides such as the aforementioned WaveSwinger, Ferris Wheel and Giant Slide means they are looking at diversifying and enhancing their existing attractions. In 10 years they could quite reasonably have a decent collection and could become an nice , well themed regional park.
For a brand new theme park this is absolutely the way to go and I think is the best case and site for NSW to receive a fully fledged , ground up and purpose built theme park.
100% agree here mate- I too have long thought that this site is very conducive for a future theme park. Its right on the M1 an hour in between NSW's 2 biggest cities with the Central Coast at its doorstep- in terms of population reach you cannot get any better. The Australian Reptile Park next door has shown that an attraction like this can survive at this location and if a theme park was located next door , then the 2 attractions definitely offer a compelling reason to visit for NSW residents. It has a lot going for it.