The situations at PowerPark and Beech Bend are very similar, maybe even eerily similar. Consider the following:



Beech Bend: Transportation company tycoon (D. Jones Enterprises / Clay's Trucking) turns amusement park operator out of his desire to create a fun family destination

PowerPark: Transportation tycoon (Lillbacka Global Transport) turns amusement park operator out of his desire to create a fun family destination.

Beech Bend: Small but well-run park that previously focused on camping and racing, turning to thrill rides over the past few years (Mouse, Pinfari Looper, Power Surge...) to offer a diverse mix of entertainment

PowerPark: Small but well-run park that previously focused on camping and racing, turning to thrill rides over the past few years (Mid-Sized Steelie, Brand new boomerang, awesome frisbee-type ride)

Beech Bend: Fairly secluded but absolutely beautiful setting in the country surrounded by water, trees and HUGE fields for future expansion, all green and complete with cows.

PowerPark: Fairly secluded but absolutely beautiful setting in the country surrounded by water, trees and HUGE fields for future expansion, all green and complete with cows.

Beech Bend: The next real small-guy turns big-boy story in the U.S. amusement industry (Think HW), focused on providing the right mix of entertainment for families looking for an alternative to the "Big Parks" surrounding

PowerPark: The next real small-guy turns big-boy story in the Nordic / Euro amusement industry (Think Oakwood), focused on providing the right mix of entertainment for families looking for...well...just looking for something to do in central Finland.

Beech Bend: Building radical new GCII woodie that I predict will blow everyone away, kind of like a mix between OW and Thunderhead.

PowerPark: Building radical new GCII woodie that I predict will blow everyone away, kind of like a mix between OW and Thunderhead.

The similarites go on and on, right down to the size of the parks, attendance, employment, it's kind of bizarre actually. Even more interesting is that Dallas Jones and Jorma Lillbacka (BB and PP owners, respectively) both personally handle all of the contracts / payments / negotiations and they both know exactly what it is they need to be successful (Thye've already proven that with their respective entreprenurial ventures over the years).

I just thought these similariteis were interesting. Coincidence? Or are Harma, Finland and Bowling Green, KY portals to another dimension? (from an insider's POV). J

That is pretty weird, considering the parks are so far from each other and unaffiliated with each other. These similarites occur between parks of the same chain, but this is different.

Beech Bend was a cute little park I visited for the first time this year.

It's a weird place though to call a "park". It's like someone had money to set up a bunch of old flats in their back yard.

I'm looking forward to their new coaster for sure.

It is kind of weird how these parks are similar. But if you are a creative writer you can probably do that with about any two parks.

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