from sddt.com
Legoland California has submitted plans to the city of Carlsbad for a water park with rides, outdoor dining and shops on a 7.3-acre portion of its 350-acre property.
Legoland officials declined comment on the plans but Van Lynch, a Carlsbad senior planner, explained that Merlin Entertainment Groups, an entity largely owned by Blackstone Capital Partners (NYSE: BX), submitted plans on Aug. 25 for a project being dubbed the “Waterworks Cluster.” The cluster would be constructed in multiple phases.
These would include the “Lazy River” with family raft rides; water spray features and fountains; slides and pools for tots and older children; and more vigorous rides for older children and adults.
A key component would be an inner tube ride dubbed “Mini-Boomerango” that would push patrons up a waterslide before taking the inner tube over a ramp and dropping it back down into a pool.
While Dieter Ronchetti, Legoland spokesman, wouldn’t provide details about the Waterworks Cluster, he indicated he hopes to “unveil the new land next year.”
So does the sluggish economy warrant adding to the theme park? Ronchetti said yes.
“Last year was a record year for us in terms of attendance,” Ronchetti said, without revealing numbers, “and we are currently running ahead of 2008.”
Ronchetti, who added that his theme park is about to celebrate its 10th birthday, said Legoland is still years away from buildout.
As plans become clear for park rides, the California Coastal Commission is scheduled to consider a measure next week that could create a campground at the park.
Plans are subject to change but currently call for tent/shelters on site, bathroom facilities, a hospitality tent, central fire ring and a small outdoor amphitheatre.
“Additional overnight camping facilities, the main source of lower cost visitor and recreational facilities, are needed throughout the San Diego coastal region,” the Coastal Commission staff stated, before adding that additional camping facilities should also be provided in a regional park within the city.
That in turn, the staff report stated, should be in conjunction with such low cost facilities on private lands.
Coastal Commission staff has been pushing for lower-cost options at multiple properties around the county during the past two years.
Of higher priority than a campground to Legoland is a proposed 254-room, three-story, 121,000-square-foot Lego-themed hotel, with meeting areas, 11,000 square feet of retail and a pool.
“We’re still at the technical drawing stage, but that would be a very exciting project at the entrance to the park,” Ronchetti said.
While reasons for the hotel’s removal from next week’s Coastal Commission docket were not immediately clear, hotel financing has proven to be elusive during the past year.
Although the hotel is now not expected to come to the commission before early 2010. That could be a good thing, as consultants such as Robert Rauch aren’t predicting a rebound in the hotel market before 2012. If the new hotel is built, it will have no shortage of competition.
Carlsbad already has more than 3,500 rooms, including Grand Pacific Resorts’ neighboring Grand Pacific Palisades Resort with its 161 timeshares and 90 hotel rooms, and the Carlsbad Sheraton Resort & Spa with its first phase of 250 hotel rooms and 44 timeshare units operated by an affiliate of Hilton Grand Vacations.
Tim Stripe, Grand Pacific co-president (with David Brown) said while he has one timeshare building with 12 units currently under construction, the economy will dictate how quickly the rest of that project comes online.
Stripe said while he might eventually be competing with a Legoland Hotel, the theme park has proven to be a huge boon to his business.
“We are probably their largest purveyor of tickets outside the park,” Stripe said. “We’ve had an excellent relationship for a long time.”
Another neighbor of Legoland on the Carlsbad Ranch property is the Gemological Institute of America in its 236,000-square-foot headquarters constructed in 1997 on 17.7 acres at 5345 Armada Drive.
In the last couple of years, the GIA had been considering a 150,000-square-foot expansion of its Carlsbad headquarters but that was before the recession changed the dynamic.
In early 2004, the GIA acquired a vacant 10.87-acre adjacent to its headquarters for $5.37 million.
With the U.S. economy as it is, the GIA said it plans to focus any expansion in countries such as India.
I’ll never go back until the serve beer again.
It is the only way that place is tolerable.
…In the last couple of years, the GIA had been considering a 150,000-square-foot expansion of its Carlsbad headquarters but that was before the recession changed the dynamic…
R-O-T-G-L-M-A-O! The diamond industry makes the RE and Automobile industry look like saints. The majority of diamond salespeople have NO CLUE on the value of what they are pushing. The AGS and GIA certs are akin to home appraisals during the bubble. That was a good one Jim.
These people are on glue.
I was worried about buying a one-year membership to Legoland because I wasn’t sure they’d be in business for a year (we won’t renew – Sea World and the Zoo/Wild Animal Park are better values).
If “attendance” is up, it’s likely repeat visits from local families with annual passes who don’t bring a lot of revenue.
If they sold put options on this bitch, I’d buy them.
If they build a water park I’m going and snow-blinding every patron in the process. Never been to the actual Legoland, and from the sounds of things I’m not missing much. You don’t need beer vendors btw; just fill up some water bottles with gin, vodka, moonshine, whatever.
Concerning diamonds, how have their values fared over the past year? I bet they held up better than most commodities.
Ha! The GIA has already let go a significant portion of their American staff and moved operations to India. Oh yeah, that’s right, the Gemological Institute of AMERICA has moved much of their grading operations to India.
Dolly parton would be proud.
I literally take my 2 kids to Legoland every other weekend for the last 5 years. It’s a great safe environment. I have definitely noticed every year an increase in attendance. It’s a fun place that our family really enjoys.
Dan–I’m with you–Clean, safe, good food and not nearly as commercialized as some other parks have become! We have two young ones as well. We bought 4 Lifetime Passes 3 years ago–absolutely love it. Living close, we use it like a park–go for 2 or 3 hours without feeling like we have to stay all day. The only negative–The Sea Life Aquarium isn’t much to see and feel that it should have been offered as part of the rest of the park–If someone were to out of there way to visit only Sea Life, it would be quite a letdown. I feel the park is financially sound–if they were struggling they would not be planning these exapansions–they are NOT in jeopardy of closing.
I love water parks!
I have two boys and the absolutely love Legoland!
Legoland has really good food too. Shrimp pasta, steak and cheese, rice bowls, good salads and 20% off for members.
The 4th of July fireworks are really well done. They have entertainment, free glow sticks, free glasses, music to fireworks, and no drunks. Went there last weekend and the whole family got free $15 Bionicle Robots for a total of $60 free.
LOVE LEGOLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i’m with Dan and Local Boy. All things considered, Legoland is just as great a place as Seaworld or SD Zoo.
If one *needs* beer, go to KStrauss 3 minutes down the street.
Good thing San Diego isn’t in a drought and doesn’t have to import the water it does have, otherwise a water park would be a bad idea. Oh wait…
Do you think there is enough Legoland visitors to provide adequate demand for the surrounding restaurants/economy?
The Transcript had another story about PF Changs opening:
The city of Carlsbad is experiencing a restaurant boom that will bring new eateries for just about every taste, budget and dining style. More than two-dozen eateries spread throughout all corners of the city are either opening or in the works, with choices ranging from Mediterranean cuisine to nationally renowned burgers, enormous fluffy omelets and margaritas the size of a birdbath.
“This influx of new restaurants is great for our community, especially in today's economy,” said Sandra Holder, community development director. “Residents can enjoy new restaurants close to home, and our local economy gets a boost.”
In a recent survey, Carlsbad residents were asked to identify the No. 1 way that Carlsbad could improve the city’s economy. Expanding and improving shopping and dining was the most popular response, cited by 32 percent of those who provided an opinion. The survey was part of Envision Carlsbad, a city-sponsored visioning process that invites community members to work together to create a vision for Carlsbad’s future.
Among the familiar names that diners might recognize is Hodad’s, long an Ocean Beach institution for burger lovers, which is set to open its second location in the Carlsbad Village. Another transplant is Diane Powers’ Casa de Bandini, now open in its new home at The Forum, following a long run in Old Town State Park.
The downtown Village area is among the areas benefiting from the infusion of new dining establishments now under way. City redevelopment efforts have focused on establishing the village as a focal point of community life, a vibrant and pedestrian-friendly place with plenty of shopping, dining and entertainment options, from galleries and high-end shops to award-winning theater.
Other parts of Carlsbad have no reason to feel left out. New eateries and cafes have opened, are under construction or in the planning stages in many different locations around the city. They include a new P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse that are being built at the Carlsbad Paseo project on Paseo del Norte, across from the Carlsbad Premium Outlets.
I love BJ’s Pizza!
I like all the commerce in Carlsbad. Why doesn’t this happen in Carmel Valley?
No doubt this will bring in more revenue for the city of Carlsbad but the tourist service industry jobs that come with it won’t exactly be high income folks looking to buy C-bad McMansions. Maybe the city can use the revenue to build low income housing.
Pacific Highlands Ranch in Carmel Valley is building a shopping complex / outdoor mall. So to answer your question, it is.
Too bad you still have to drive 10 miles to get to a Target/Home Depot.
I’ve been hearing about that Pacific Highlands Ranch deal for a while, but all I see is a patch of dirt. I read somewhere that the project will start when the 56/5 Southbound connector is finished, but I haven’t seen any signs of that starting, either.
We have been Legoland members for 5 years and I love that place for the same reasons Local Boy expressed. It is great for all day or just a 2-3 hour play time. I have a system to arrive just in time to get front row parking and how to beat the crowds. (we don’t drive a volvo:)
I have to say I usually stay away from Legoland during the summer and treat it like the plague cuz I hate crowds. Not this summer! The place is empty! I have noticed a HUGE decline in attendance. I have NEVER been able to go in the summer and walk on rides. This happened several times this year. I have several friends that also attend and have remarked the same thing. I am calling bluff on attendance. I don’t buy it for 1 minute!!!
My favorite place to escape from the desert is Carlsbad.
Awesome news for us. We live in Leucadia, it’s nice to just go for a few hours whenever. Great way to tire out the kids. Bring on the water park…PF Changs too!
Leucadia is an AWESOME PLACE! I am jealous
I’ve been going to Legoland since it opened, I have extreme difficulty believing 2008 had record attendance (even though they don’t disclose attendance numbers). Ten years ago it was typical to wait in line for 30-60 minutes, now there’s seldom more than a 10 minute wait ever, usually the park seems empty. If there was ever increasing attendance, why would they keep shortening the hours it’s opened? Really, it closes at 6o’clock but they’re supposedly busting at the seams? Give me a break.
KBoy, The park has greatly expanded since it opened. If you have been going for 10 years you’d know that. It’s true, in the beginning they had long lines but there was WAY less to do and not as spread out as today. If attendance was contracting do you think they would have expanded over the years and have plans for additional expansion?? Of course not.
Carlsbad rules,
It keeps Vista employed!
I took my boys to legoland last week because we had out of town guests. I’m NOT an annual member – but have gone most years, 1 time, for the past 5 years.
To me – it’s a rip off. The kids like it – but if you’re not a member then, even with costco discounted tickets, you’re out $130 for an adult and 2 kids. Add in parking and it kicks up from there.
The lines were MUCH shorter last Thursday than I remember in previous years. I chalked it up to the economy.
IMO, legoland has the same issue as most real estate – nothing price won’t fix.
I notice the folks saying how wonderful legoland is all have passes – they don’t feel the price pain each visit.
Saying attendance is up is just like saying homesales are up. I didn’t see any revenue, profit/loss numbers being thrown around in the article.
Diamonds are a girls best friend = It’s a great time to buy
We also love Legoland! They have excellent (healthy!) food and the place is clean and well-run. You guys have gotten me all excited about the lack of lines/people, as we haven’t been yet this year (we alternate Legoland, Zoo and Sea World passes).
UCGal, you should get annual passes, and venture up north more often. 🙂
Dawg, I love Ya, but Legoland isn’t exactly your demographic.
Great place for the kids, especially the little ones.
Legoland is perfect for kids because it was desogned for them. Disneyland is fun, but it is designed for adults who might also have kids.