By Rick Howlett
Louisville, KY – A state representative whose Louisville district includes the Kentucky Kingdom amusement park says he's optimistic an operator will be found to reopen the park. Kentucky Kingdom has been closed since early 2010, when its previous operator, Six Flags, declared bankruptcy.
The Kentucky State Fair Board had a tentative agreement with developer Ed Hart that gave him the rights to negotiate a permanent lease with the board, but that agreement expired last week with no deal, and talks with Hart have ended. The board will hold discussions with other companies interested in operating the park and may ask the 2012 Kentucky General Assembly for financial help in getting it reopened. State Rep. Jim Wayne says any prospective operators seeking state help must have a solid business plan.
"It has to be shown that the state of Kentucky, the commonwealth, would be taken care of in terms of increased tax revenues."
Hart had secured nearly $30 million in private funds and wanted the state to add a $20 million appropriation to get the park back up and running. The board declined an offer from Hart to extend his tentative agreement until the funding request was considered.