GRAYLING -- State officials are expected to agree to a $5.2 million sale price for a nearly 1,700-acre chunk of state land in Crawford County, the site of a proposed amusement park.
Land in the Au Sable State Forest may be sold to Axiom Entertainment of Rochester and could one day host roller coasters, waterslides and other themed attractions, including a land-locked aircraft carrier.
The proposed sale is on the July 10 discussion agenda for the Michigan Natural Resources Commission meeting in Munising, though developers have yet to prove they have the financial backing to pull off the project, a requirement for the sale.
The matter could return to the NRC's August meeting agenda for final approval by Rebecca Humphries, director of the state Department of Natural Resources.
"We're very anxious, to say the least. We're hoping it happens sooner than later," said Patrick Crosson, Axiom's lead developer for the theme park.
The property sale may be staged in three phases: the first for the theme park area and remaining phases for planned campgrounds, a hotel, and other commercial sites.
Crosson would not speculate on a timeline for park construction. The company has the money to buy the land, he said, but declined to release details about investors.
This is the latest step following two years of discussions with state officials about the proposal, intended to be a $161 million amusement park with roller coasters, a water park, the world's tallest Ferris wheel, the world's biggest Christmas tree and an old military aircraft carrier on display. The park would be built near Interstate 75 and Four Mile Road in Grayling Township.
State officials insisted the developers provide proof of financial backing for the entire park, not just the land sale, before the property is sold. That hasn't happened yet, but the DNR wants to get the public input and review process under way, said David Freed, the agency's land and facilities chief.
"We want to know there's financing for the entire project before we sell the land," Freed said.
The state won't back off from that requirement, he said.
Financing details also haven't been submitted to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, said Bridget Beckman, agency spokeswoman.
Many in the community are anxious for the theme park project, and hope it will create jobs and better economic times. About 2,000 people signed petitions of support for the project in recent months.
"It's not just our county. It can only benefit everybody in the north," said Kay Cosgray, chairwoman of the Crawford County Economic Development Partnership.
Projections call for 700 full-time, year-round park jobs, with as many as 2,000 positions during busy summer months.
Project opponents have expressed environmental concerns for the Au Sable River watershed and the possible use of public dollars on the venture.
Written public comments can be mailed to: Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Attn: David Freed, Mason Building, 530 W. Allegan St., Lansing, MI, 48909.
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