Six Flags Entertainment Village was the working title for a proposed 134-acre (54 ha) entertainment complex in Gurnee, Illinois, across and west of Six Flags Great America, located near Interstate 94. Owned by Six Flags and developed by Prism Development Co., the complex would have cost US$400 million. This project was intended to generate over US$5,000,000 a year. The complex was projected to draw in 400,000 visitors annually and would have been built in multiple phases.[1]
 Concept art for Six Flags Entertainment Village, released in October 1997 | |
 | |
| Location | Gurnee, Illinois, USA |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°22′02″N 87°56′37″W / 42.36711°N 87.94364°W |
| Opening date | 2000 (planned) |
| Developer | Prism Development Co. |
| Owner | Six Flags |
| Architect | Richard de Flon |
Phase one of the entertainment complex was planned for 1999, and phase two was planned in 2002 before the final date of opening was planned for 2000. Opposition to Six Flags Entertainment Village arose in 1998, with disapproval from the president of Long Grove, Illinois. He was joined by a citizens group entitled Citizens United, a Residential Village of Gurnee which formed to cancel the project. They cited congestion and rising tax prices as reasons for the disapproval of the entertainment village. Plans for the complex fell through in 1999 after residents had mainly voted against the village.
History
edit1997: Announcement and planning
editPlans for a 136-acre (55 ha) entertainment complex were announced at a Gurnee board meeting on October 29, 1997. Described as "pedestrian-friendly," small shops, a theme park, resort, and a stadium were also included in the plans for the entertainment village. The feasibility of the entertainment village would be studied by a panel appointed by the then-mayor of Gurnee, Richard Welton.[2][3] A day later, the panel announced it would need more time to study and discuss the plans for the project, as they needed to develop recommendations on the project.[4]
Gurnee officials later created an oversight committee on November 3, 1997, to keep the Gurnee village board updated on details, after a trustee voiced concerns about the board being "out of the loop." This committee would operate independently from another committee that operates with developer Prism Development. The details of the project were also elaborated upon, with the project including a four-star hotel, water theme park, and an 8,000- to 12,000-seat stadium complex.[5] The Gurnee board postponed the appointment of the oversight committee a week after, on November 10, 1997, after the board had voted to invite Prism Development. Richard Welton recommended that the board should be updated on the project's status before trustees were appointed for the oversight committee.[6]
Prism Development proposed an interchange near Washington Street after stating that it was "absolutely required" for the project "to become a reality," as it would divert traffic from the main entrance at Grand Avenue and would allow guests to instead get into both properties from either side. Originally, an interchange was planned in 1973 by Marriott Corporation on the highway but was rejected because the interchange could not lead into private property.[7] Part of the plan also included widening Washington Street to become a four-lane road. Despite the proposition, consultants from Metro Transportation Group Inc. stated that the interchange would be necessary once later phases of the project began, with the estimation of phase one starting in 1999 and phase two starting in 2002. Additionally, the interchange would also require approval from the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, Lake County, and the village of Gurnee. Mayor Richard Welton said the project was still preliminary and would have to go through the Plan Commission of Gurnee and the Village Board. However, Welton stated the interchange would create additional opportunities.[8][9]
1998: Resident and government opposition
editIn a letter to a Lake County board chair on June 10, 1998, village president of Long Grove, Illinois, Lenore Simmons, said Gurnee "failed to be a good neighbor" after concerns over Six Flags Entertainment Village's potential to deplete highway funds to work on the four-lane expansion on Washington Street. Welton charged back by stating developments near Washington Street had to pay impact fees, including Gurnee Mills, which also had to pay US$4 million in infrastructure payments.[10] Welton also stated the street was already congested before the proposal of the complex, and the complex would be used to solve the problems.[11]
Changes to the initial proposition were announced at a joint meeting on June 18, 1998, with officials from Prism Development and Six Flags Great America, along with architect Richard de Flon, with the area of the project being reduced to 134 acres (54 ha) from the initial 136-acre (55 ha) size, and excluding the 8,000 to 12,000 seat stadium, and opting in for building a water park, hotels, housing for employees, restaurants, shops, a theater along with other buildings. The changes included a request for a special-use permit to use the planned site, initially zoned for industrial use. However, the zoning board disagreed with the proposition and suggested Six Flags and Prism meet at a different time.[12]
The Gurnee plan commission officially endorsed the proposal for Six Flags Entertainment Village in November 1998, although it sparked opposition within the village towards the entertainment village.[13] Later that month, the 10-member citizens' group named Citizens United for a Residential Village of Gurnee (shortened to CURV) was formed, stating how commercial development is negatively impacting the village, and cited congestion as the main reason for opposition.[14] In the following month, a petition by CURV was created so the village could include a question on every ballot whether or not the entertainment village should be built.[15]
1999: Village vote and cancellation
editIn early-February 1999, the question of whether or not the entertainment village should be built was included in the ballot after the petition had reached its signature goal.[16] Later that month, on February 24, 1999, traffic planners had suggested expanding the Tri-State to Washington Street, which had planned to divert traffic from the Grand Avenue interchange. The suggestion came with opposition from business owners within the Grand Tri-State Business Park, citing that the park was a limited access area and did not want traffic towards the business park, affecting property values. The election results were released in April 1999, and it was revealed that more than half of Gurnee residents disagreed with the village board's plan to construct the Six Flags Entertainment Village.[17] The project was officially canceled in October 1999 after three years of planning and development.[18]
Complex layout
edit| Type | Proposed date | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water park | October 1997 | Intended to be a "water theme park" | [5] |
| Shopping mall | October 1997 | Outdoor shopping mall | [2][3] |
| Stadium | October 1997 | 8,000 to 12,000 seat stadium; removed | [2][3] |
| Employee housing | June 1998 | Housing for seasonal employees | [12] |
| Restaurants | June 1998 | Part of the shopping area | [12] |
| Theater | June 1998 | A performing arts theater | [12] |
| Movie theater | December 1998 | Intended to replace original performing arts theater | [15] |
| Resort-style hotel | October 1997 | 500 rooms, intended to be a four star hotel | [5] |
| Conservation area | August 1998 | 25 acres (10 ha) | [19] |
| Convention center | October 1997 | — | [2][18] |
| Pond | June 1998 | Intended for paddleboarding and ice skating | [1] |
See also
edit- Marriott's Great America (Maryland–Virginia), a proposed theme park which was canceled due to resident opposition
- Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago, a water park next to Six Flags Great America, which opened in 2005
References
edit- ^ a b Stark, Steven J. (1998-02-12). "New Entertainment Village still in works despite sale". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
- ^ a b c d Flink, John (1997-10-29). "Residents view plans for huge resort 'village' near Six Flags". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ a b c Silverstei, Scott (1997-10-29). "A lot of entertainment". Daily Herald.
- ^ Silvestri, Scott (1997-10-30). "Panel wants more time to study project at Six Flags". Daily Herald.
- ^ a b c Silvestri, Scott (1997-11-04). "Gurnee creates committee to keep tabs on Six Flags Plan". Daily Herald.
- ^ Flink, John (1997-11-11). "Board wants more information on Six Flags events center plan". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ Stark, Steven J. (1998-05-01). "Proposal looms as new Gurnee traffic magnet (continued)". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ Flink, John (1997-12-01). "New access to tollway mapped out by Gurnee". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ Flink, John (1997-12-01). "New access to tollway mapped out by Gurnee (continued)". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ Silverstei, Scott (1998-06-10). "Gurnee under fire from Long Grove". Daily Herald.
- ^ Silverstei, Scott (1998-06-10). "Gurnee under fire from Long Grove (continued)". Daily Herald.
- ^ a b c d Silverstei, Scott (1998-06-18). "Six Flags project starts wending through Gurnee". Daily Herald.
- ^ Flink, John (1998-11-09). "Plan Commission endorses proposal for Six Flags village". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ Grano, Laurie (1998-11-16). "Great America expansion not amusing to all". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
- ^ a b Grano, Laurie (1998-12-28). "Six Flags faces roller-coaster ride over plan". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
- ^ Kuczka, Susan (1999-02-07). "Highland Park mayoral foes divided over development". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ Bukro, Casey; Beeler, Amanda (1999-04-14). "Forest preserve request wins; school vote mixed". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ a b Spencer, Mark (1999-10-04). "Lake County tourism tidbits". Daily Herald.
- ^ Flink, John (1998-08-20). "Unnamed section". Chicago Tribune.