A Closer Look at Jackalope Junction

I thought I'd share today some of the concept work that's been done for my park, Jackalope Junction, by an amazing group of talented artists and designers, all in this post vs. the disparate posts sprinkled about LinkedIn.

Jackalope Junction is more or less the culmination of years of "research" on my own, with characters I've imagined who manifested through my experiences growing up, and the desire to create what I'd call the ultimate great user experience. It's no secret I've been a Disney fan since childhood and even wanted to be an Imagineer someday, but my real fascination was always with the man who dreamed up Disneyland himself, Walt Disney. You see, he had a dream to create a place where families could come for a day to have fun, without all the filth and stigma that amusement parks or carnivals had. A place he could bring his own daughters, but also, where parents could spend a day with their children and make wonderful memories.

And for the most part, Disneyland became that place. But as time wore on, the park (and parks) grew, became more expensive, and not always the "Happiest Place on Earth".

I honestly think a lot of that has to do with the fact that the spirit of Walt Disney was forgotten in the wake of profits, shareholders, corporate shifts a lot of ensuing confusion, layoffs, internal politics, and a culture of mistrust.

I want to do better than that with Jackalope Junction. To be better than Disneyland (or any other theme park). I have to.

A tall order for just one person. I don't want to make it better than the Disneyland that was, during Walt's days, but better than it is now. Admittedly, Jackalope Junction won't be spread over dozens of acres, it won't have dozens upon dozens of attractions, it won't have endless food stands and restaurants, gift shops galore, parades or night time fireworks (but it will have a end of the night show each and everyday among the oaks).

But do we need all that to create a great experience? I don't think so. What's needed to create a wonderfully memorable experience is HEART. I know that sounds trite, but I believe in it 100%. Jackalope Junction will have rides, restaurants, and gift shops - all themed to the experience of being a visitor and guest to a western town that was somehow thrust from the late 1800's into the 21st Century, and even at that it's not your typical western town, like Calico, or Deadwood, or any other historic western town that's been preserved.

Nope, this is a town that is run by both animals and people who live in harmony side by side full of surprises, and headed up by our intrepid hero, Jackalope Jim - a Lawman and Jackalope who happens to have a lot of heart.

To me, the key is going to be creating an experience that's like no other, where every little detail - even one's guests might not notice, are as perfect as we can make them.

Now you might be saying "But Greg, a theme park takes dozens if not hundreds of designers and engineers and developers and tons of money to make, and some big conglomerate so it becomes a success!" Okay, that's correct.

However, what if just the right people to help make that all happen, who are able to take your vision of the whole thing come true, just came to you, and did that?

That actually happened without me even asking for help (mostly). People like Josh Combs, Josh Steadman, Luc Steadman, Scott Cook, Jeffrey Holmes, Cody King, Stephanie Shaw, Mike Mulligan, Michael Boskovich, Gilbert Lozano, Victor Navone, Colson Ayars, Eddie Moreno and David Lawrence all pitched in countless hours to get us to this point.

Well so far, I've been able to do that. And not by my own doing to be honest, but, I believe with my whole heart, God's doing. The whole idea of building a theme park, not driven by some corporate committee, in CALIFORNIA none the less, is nuts to most people.

Yet, here I am, with a plan, numbers, art, original IP, a STORY that can be spread across different media and merchandising channels - and yet none of the originality of this is of my own doing. It was God inspired and so far has been God lead.

So the plan is someday to have an amazingly fun theme park out in San Diego's East County, where families can come for a day and laugh together, play together and make wonderful memories together. They can go on rides side by side, have amazing food, become one of Jackalope Jim's deputy's, discover the secret of the town, help catch the Slippery Slope Gang, and even spend the night under the stars in a real teepee or covered wagon.

And then someday, those children who came with their parents and made fond memories with them, will bring their children to live that experience as adults, watching them laugh, play, smile, and be filled with joy.

(Me at Marshall Scotty's on their opening day, my first amusement park experience at 4 years old with my mom and older brother, where Jackalope Junction will be built someday.)