Plans for Rosemont water park dry up
Plans for a $100 million water park resort in Rosemont have dried up, at least for now.
Mayor Bradley Stephens blamed infighting within the Chicago development firm behind Grizzly Falls Resort water park. Village trustees terminated the deal Wednesday just as officials announced they were in preliminary talks with other water park developers.
Landmark Resorts & Hotels LLC proposed building a 400-suite resort featuring a water park to rival Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. It would have been the centerpiece of Rosemont's entertainment district being built around the site where it has long wanted to bring a casino.
When Landmark failed to meet the village's deadline to present architectural drawings, the village was forced to cut ties, Stephens said.
"The village is not going to have them lead us on anymore," Stephens said.
Landmark officials didn't return calls and e-mails seeking comment Wednesday.
The park was due to open early next year.
But the mayor said the setback won't derail other plans for Rosemont Walk, the development that was announced in May 2006 that will feature hotels and a multi-screen movie theater.
The movie theater is expected to open next month.
With other water parks opening in neighboring suburbs such as Arlington Heights, could this mean the market for more water parks is drying up?
Stephens said he doesn't think so. This was just a matter of the company and the village not being able to agree on terms, he said.
Landmark sought more money from Rosemont than the village was willing to pay up front to get the project off the ground, he said.
Rosemont already has fielded interest from two other companies floating water park plans, although talks are still preliminary.
"We're still interested in the water park," Stephens said.
One plan is a partnership between Nickelodeon Television and Marriott International Inc.
"We'll have SpongeBob (SquarePants) running around," Stephens joked, referring to the popular kids television character.
Rosemont will return the $250,000 that Landmark fronted the village for the project, officials said.