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Thread: Brainstorming

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    South Bend, IN
    Posts
    199

    Default Brainstorming

    First off it's kinda late and I was bored so I thought I would post this up on here. Any ideas or input would be AWESOME. My wifes family owns a pretty good size piece of land and several businesses/buildings that they rent (gas station, car lot, rental car company etc.) Anyway, in the middle of the property is a small lake (old gravel pit that filled in with water) approximately 55 acres or so. There is only 1 house on the lake which is owned by my wifes family. So we were talking the other day (actually it was a couple weeks ago) on what type of business we could put on the water to try and make some money. The only thing I could really think of was a cable park. I love being on the water and love to wakeboard, wakeskate, kneeboard therefore it was the only idea I wanted to come up with, hahaha. My dilema is I've never been to one nor has my wife. I know there are some smart Moomba owners out there that might have some other ideas. Here's a picture of part of the lake.
    Lake.jpg

    P.S Before anybody asks, OF COURSE THERE WOULD BE A MOOMBA DISCOUNT.....hahaha
    2009 Moomba XLV

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Clermont, Fl
    Posts
    127

    Default

    Well...think supply and demand

    When I 1st started visiting Florida in the early 1980's, everybody that had a small lake operated a jet ski rental/waterski biz. The tourists loved it.

    The cable park here in Orlando is always busy. The tourists are a very small percentage of their business - it's actually the competitions that the watersports manufacturers put on.

    The cable park has a great marketing team and that's what's needed.

    Is wakeboarding in your area well known?

    Do you have many tourists coming to town?

    One thing that might fly well, is if you could market your pond as the place to go surfing... in the middle of Indiana!!

    come on down to Florida and check out what they do here...let me know I'll take you out surfing.

    I don't think the Hansen family wakeboarding school is much bigger than 60 acres.

    They live right up the road - you can check them out too.

    Then there is the SWiss Ski School (again just up the road) and all they have is a series of man made skiing lakes.

    A golf course around a lake draws attention too.
    Last edited by Ed G; 09-05-2011 at 07:40 AM.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Snellville, GA & Lake Sinclair
    Posts
    8,419

    Default

    I understand that the cable park in Cincinnati, OH does well and might be something for you to model after. But, I also know that some folks had a heck of a time getting one going in Atlanta due to zoning, ordances, etc. Do a google search on "Atlanta cable park" and you should find some interesting info. There was also alot on the topic on the site atlwake.com.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Clermont, Fl
    Posts
    127

    Default

    I've been to the one in Cinci and it sucks. NOT a good model for rural Indiana

    It's real close to several highways and very loud from traffic noise. Just driving there and parking is a friggen nightmare.

    However, if your opening a barbeque place, Montgomery Inn of Cinci is a good business to model

    so is Graeters Ice Cream.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    South Bend, IN
    Posts
    199

    Default

    The picture I attached is only half the lake. I was planning on maybe trying to go to the wakepark in Cinci but I read on the website they are closed for unexpected repairs. The wonderful part about my in-laws property is they own all the property around the lake. There is probably 15-20 acres of unused property for that could be used for parking, shops, other business. One thing I am concerned is it might be TOO big for a cable park. Location is alright, about 2.5 hrs from Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit. Only 20-25 minutes from Notre Dame campus. Anyway I'm still in the brainstorming stage on what we could do so any ideas would be awesome.
    2009 Moomba XLV

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Clermont, Fl
    Posts
    127

    Default

    I think I still would go with a wakesurfing park and a pitch and putt golf course.

    Heck wakesurfing isn't big here in Orlando - it certainly ought to be pretty cool in the midwest...especially being near a college town.

    I went to a college in farm country (Slippery Rock State Univ). Nothing to do except drink and run.

    If we had a watersports park nearby, well heck, I can't image the possibilites.

    Move over Drew Daniello.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Posts
    275

    Default

    Are there quarries near by? Are the scuba shpos near bye? if the answer is no/yes then you could look at a scuba destination.
    2003 Mobius LSV Gravity Games
    Total Noob running 1100 in the center, 750s in the lockers.
    JL JX360/4 powering 6 Infinity 621m speakers

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    3,062

    Default

    Heck - I'd be for trying to get it willed to you and your wife and have your own private retreat

    2007 Moomba Outback - going, going, GONE
    2015 "NOT A MOOMBA"

    Why Not? Play Hard! Get wet

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Arkansas
    Posts
    3,952

    Default

    ^^ That sounds like a lot less work!!! I'm with Viking
    2016 Moomba Mojo
    2006 Supra 24SSV - Traded

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    South Bend, IN
    Posts
    199

    Default

    @bkearney, I'll will run that idea past the family. Not sure how big scuba diving is around here.
    @Viking and KG, If I could I would love to keep the property and use it as a personal retreat. Problem is the taxes are hella high. Indiana passed a law a couple years ago which makes it 3%.

    Here's a look at the property from above if the link works: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...43774&t=h&z=15
    Last edited by Lawdog; 09-07-2011 at 09:51 AM. Reason: Link did not work
    2009 Moomba XLV

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