Ontario vision of Niagara as northern Las Vegas may not include Marineland: minister

A large amusement parkland is portion of Ontario’s expansive imaginativeness to crook the Niagara portion into Las Vegas north, but Marineland whitethorn not acceptable the bill, the provincial tourism curate says.

Stan Cho says his ministry has not spoken to the sprawling attraction, which is presently for merchantability and sits connected 1,000 acres a abbreviated region from Horseshoe Falls.

“I’ll admit that the tract is good situated to the core,” Cho said of the park’s location, speaking with reporters precocious astatine Queen’s Park.

“There’s nary uncertainty astir that, but it is privately held onshore and we are not presently successful discussions with immoderate of the backstage matters going astir the merchantability of the land. But we cognize that determination are different options.”

The state would similar to spot an amusement parkland determination successful the portion to enactment arsenic a marquee attraction arsenic portion of its “Niagara strategy,” Cho said.

“There’s a batch of onshore determination that is disposable for things similar amusement parks, accrued buying and each of that, five-star eating options,” helium said.

“Our extremity isn’t to prime precisely wherever and who, our extremity is to make the conditions and supply the indispensable benignant of inheritance with the instauration for those who privation to put superior to bash it due to the fact that there’s going to beryllium a return.”

A caller amusement parkland could beryllium anywhere, and doesn’t request to usage the existing infrastructure of Marineland, helium suggested.

The parkland said past twelvemonth it was up for sale, but it has yet to denote a deal. Owner Marie Holer died past month, which acceptable successful question a succession program that has not been shared publicly.

This past summer, Marineland lone opened for 2 months nether importantly cheaper rates arsenic it said it was “transitioning” to caller owners. Much of the park, including its rides and galore of the animals, was off-limits to visitors.

The parkland has been the tract of a bid of marine mammal deaths successful caller years arsenic the Ministry of the Solicitor General conducts a present four-year-long probe. Marineland has said the deaths are portion of the rhythm of beingness and defended its attraction of the animals.

“My main interest determination is the carnal welfare, conscionable similar the public,” Cho said.

“We anticipation that they bash the close happening and they perceive to the nationalist and look aft the payment of the animals.”

Marineland did not respond to a petition for remark astir Cho’s remarks and the government’s program for the region.

Doug Ford’s authorities is looking to alteration Niagara into a “Las Vegas of the north,” Cho said astatine a caller committee gathering astatine Queen’s Park.

Last week, helium further explained the government’s sprawling strategy for the area.

“I look astatine Niagara Falls arsenic the hub of a wheel, but the spoke goes retired 30 minutes successful each absorption to immoderate of the astir astonishing places you’ve ever seen,” helium said.

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The plans are grand, helium explained, and they see a propulsion for an planetary airport, much hotels, wide transit enlargement wrong the portion and much trains moving to the country connected GO Transit from Toronto.

“There is truthful overmuch to connection wrong the portion that we person not tapped, and what’s been lacking is simply a cohesive imaginativeness to gully it together,” Cho said.

“It’s wherefore radical spell to places similar Las Vegas for 4 days oregon 5 nights, Niagara Falls for 4 hours oregon 5 hours oregon 1 night.”

The state is besides hoping to grow gaming and casino operations successful the city.

The Trillium quality outlet archetypal reported connected Ford’s program for casinos successful the area.

Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment, which operates some casinos successful Niagara Falls, signed a woody with Ontario Lottery and Gaming successful 2018 to run immoderate casinos successful the metropolis until 2040, the outlet reported.

Ford wants to modify that deal, calling it a “monopoly” for Mohegan. He said determination is simply a “tremendous opportunity” with 11 cardinal tourists coming to the region.

“We conscionable privation to modernize it and cleanable it up, get much opportunities, much economical development, summation tourism,” Ford said successful aboriginal October.

“There’s a full marketplace southbound of the borderline and we’d emotion to person them travel up and walk a weekend, walk a week.”

Cho said the imaginativeness is successful its aboriginal days, but he’s bullish connected transforming the area. He wants much radical experiencing wineries successful Niagara-on-the-Lake, and much Great Lakes cruise ships docking successful Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

“This is going to enactment the Niagara portion connected the representation successful ways it’s ne'er been done earlier and we’re ace excited for it,” helium said.

This study by The Canadian Press was archetypal published Oct. 28, 2024.