Jamestown (CSi)  The Jamestown Tourism, full board of directors meeting, heard a report, on the Buffalo City Park, feasibility study.

On Tuesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Tourism Director, Searle Swedlund said the feasibility study with Apogee Attractions, pointed out that the feasibility study overview indicated that the project is favorable to come to fruition.

Searle and developer Brian Lunde met recently with the North Dakota Investment Board, and tapping into the North Dakota Legacy Fund, for the project.  The legacy fund is geared to promote projects that benefit local communities, and the state of North Dakota.

He added that variables exist for the use of funding.

More studies will be done to address project costs, who will operate the park, and the cost of admission by visitors, and other items to include addressing the estimated annual number of visitors to The Buffalo City Park, now pegged at around 270,000, less than the first estimate of 318,000.  Also to be addressed is the time each visitor will spend at the park, and other economic potential impacts.

As Searle said recently on our show and reported at CSiNewsNow.com that at Frontier Village a study continues with Frontier Village operations, and reviewing the future of buildings, to raze some structures for additional space for future buildings and plans.

Previously reported at CSiNewsNow.com

Also on our show, Searle Swedlund reviewed the plans in progress in the development of the Buffalo City Park, and noted the many features planned for the Park, including a hotel and restaurant in addition to the planned new location of the National Buffalo Museum on the footprint off I-94 on land currently owned by the North Dakota State Hospital, now the buffalo herd’s pasture land.  He pointed out the proximity of the Park to the interstate, saying that the location is about three-tenths of a mile off I-94, which would be the closest attraction of its type to an interstate in North Dakota.  The buffalo herd will be a major draw to the Park.

He said the North Dakota Legacy Fund dollars continue to be looked at as the major source of funding, promoting North Dakota as a whole as a continued major visitor attraction, with a good return on state dollars invested in the project.  The  state’s investment in the $47 million to $57 million project is estimated to generate annual revenues of $13-million with the annual operating costs of around $10 million.

JSDC has approved, with the City of Jamestown, funding for a market and financial feasibility assessment for Buffalo City Park from Economic Development Funds,  in the amount of $25,000, with the City Share to be $20,000 and paid from the City Sales Tax Fund..  Tourism Director Searle Swedlund said feasibility study  “Builds a case,” for the project, and studies traffic counts on I-94. The Park is estimated to draw 300,000 visitors annually.

On the drawing board is the planned Bison Discover Center, The Dakota Corral for children, plus, The Dakota Lands Pavilion, Gondola and Enhanced Dakota Thunder, Buffalo City Amphitheater, Bison Ranch BBQ, Bison Mall, and Tatanka Lodge, estimated to draw at least 300,000 tourists annually to Jamestown from traffic generated off I-94, and regional traffic.

The North American Bison Discovery Center could possibly become an expanded National Buffalo Museum location highlighting the history of the American Bison.

The proposed Buffalo City Park in Jamestown was discussed at a roundtable meeting in Bismarck on July 23, where the tourist attraction presentation was reviewed with state officials, and developers.

At the planning, funding,and  development meeting were Governor Doug Burgum, Lt. Governor Brent Sanford, along with North Dakota Commerce Commissioner, Michelle Kommer, and developers, Brian Lunde, and  Apogee Attractions from  Porter Ranch, California.