GRAYLING -- Politicians who want the state to support a theme park proposal in Crawford County don't intend to push a pending land sale in the Legislature, and instead will take a wait-and-see approach.
"I want to see how the financing comes together," said state Rep. Joel Sheltrown, D-West Branch.
Rebecca Humphries, director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, gave Axiom Entertainment of Rochester until February to get full financing for its proposed Main Street America development near Interstate 75, just south of Grayling. The company could pay about $5 million for a tract of 1,400 acres of state forestland in Grayling Township.
Humphries' decision amounts to an agreement to sell the public land, but only if full financing exists for the multi-million dollar, year-round amusement park.
Last month, Sheltrown said he and state Rep. Matt Gillard, D-Alpena, might co-sponsor a bill to sell the land if the DNR refuses without a good reason. But they now agree it's time for developers to prove their financial ability, and not try to use legislative muscle to push through the project.
"It sounds like they're moving forward," Gillard said.
Last week's agreement between the state and theme park developers is a step in the right direction, both Sheltrown and Gillard said.
"We do feel it's important we drive this potential land sale to a conclusion one way or another. We've been working on this for more than two years," said David Freed, DNR chief of land and facilities.
It's important not to allow Axiom's proposal to languish indefinitely, he said.
Sheltrown agrees.
He is pleased with the DNR's land sale conditions, including the new time limit. It provides developers a purchase agreement to help seek financing and gives the state a back-out option, if developers don't get the needed money together, Sheltrown said.
Technically, the DNR neither approved nor rejected the land sale at last week's meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission, but delayed a decision for at least half a calendar year. The land sale would begin at that time, but only if an independent financial review verifies the project's solvency, Freed said.
Axiom then would have nine additional months to get required state and federal permits, or property deeds will not be released and the land would revert back to state ownership, he said.
"It's now formal. If we show up with the money, we'll be able to purchase the land," said Susan Haddad, spokeswoman for Main Street America.
Haddad declined to discuss details of financing or whether developers will meet the state's February deadline. But the company intends to have all $161 million -- the amount needed to purchase the land and build the park -- by the time they close on the state land deal, Haddad said.
"If we didn't think it would be successful, we wouldn't be looking at it," she said.
Many local residents believe the theme park would be an economic catalyst for the region as a top tourist attraction and employer. Critics contend the plan is financially unrealistic, relies too much on state taxpayer support, and could have negative environmental impacts, especially to the nearby Au Sable River.
Park developers contend it would feature roller coasters, a water park, snowmobile and race car tracks, the world's tallest Ferris wheel and an old military aircraft carrier, among other attractions.
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