IF THEY COME, YOU MUST BUILD IT

10-23-2007

 

Farm-towns turn Boomtowns turn Destination-county

 

Butler County, Ohio to add four major attractions for 2008

1.      Largest model train exhibit in the world

2.      First ancient sculpture museum in the world

3.      First place in Ohio to host the iconic store – IKEA

4.      Largest conference & event center in the area

 

West Chester, Ohio – October 15, 2007 – Cincinnati - Dayton suburban sprawl is causing a population explosion in Butler County, Ohio’s exurbia. With it comes unprecedented demand for new substantial recreation and entertainment.

 

In 2008, Butler County will meet that demand by unveiling four new mega attractions not just for the surrounding community but for travelers to descend from Indianapolis to Columbus and Toledo to Louisville. These fantastic four are EnterTRAINment Junction – the world’s largest model train exhibit, Museum of Ancient Sculpture at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park – the world’s first ancient sculpture museum, IKEA – the popular Swedish home furnishing retailer’s first store in Ohio, and Savannah Center – the area’s largest and perhaps most beautiful and modern conference & event center.

 

“The synergy of these four cornerstones opening collectively in 2008 is already creating tremendous buzz and energy,” said Mark Hecquet, Executive Director of the Butler County

Visitors Bureau.  “It is certainly a concerted effort to build our reputation as a viable and lucrative destination in Southwest Ohio. The anticipation continues to build as we intend to ARRIVE in the world of tourism in a big way that is unprecedented for this community.”

 

Building quality entertainment may be a key to success but for model train enthusiasts, the fast-track lies with EnterTRAINment!

 

EnterTRAINment Junction is a $10 million attraction, which will boast the largest indoor model train layout in the world. The layout will feature 17-foot mountains, 11-foot waterfalls, and more than two miles of track with 90 G-scale trains. The layout will be a totally immersive experience with scenes all around you complete with sight, sound, smell, and lots of interactivity for children of any age. Now that’s something to toot about! Located in West Chester, Ohio, it is scheduled to open in June 2008. 

 

The facility will also feature a children’s play area, railroad museum, and model train expo as well as seasonal themes, party and meeting rooms, a hobby shop, and snack bar. Visitors are sure to transcend themselves to yesteryear upon entering EnterTRAINment through a 19^th Century streetscape and train depot.

 

“Kids today are no different from yesteryear, once they are exposed to trains, they’re instant enthusiasts,” said Don Oeters, developer.

 

Model trains may be a step back in time but the groundbreaking at Hamilton, Ohio’s Pyramid Hill will send visitors into ancient history.

 

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum will soon open the only known Museum of Ancient Sculpture in the world. The 265-acre park already allows visitors, picnickers and art-lovers to roam the grassy, wooded hills across 200 acres by foot or car to see the 54 extraordinary sculptures dotting the countryside.

 

The vision of Harry Wilks adds four ancient galleries to the contemporary park in a new 10,000 square-foot Museum of Ancient Sculpture that features about 70 original pieces from ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt and Mesopotamia. The museum itself has interesting architecture much like Wilks’ home – a 7,000 square-foot pyramid-shaped house, thus the name Pyramid Hill. The museum is designed to resemble ancient Rome and Greek villas. Its architecture was inspired by Wilks’ trips to Pompeii. In fact, arches connect the 16 columns separating the courtyard from a cloistered walkway made of stone pavers to pull off the ancient theme. And the double door entry stands 8-feet high of solid mahogany.

 

“It only makes sense that a building for ancient sculpture look its part,” said Harry Wilks.

 

In addition, there is a three-dimensional 20-foot wide gate serving as the main entrance and a fountain that is the centerpiece of the courtyard. The museum includes a gift shop and meeting space with accommodations for catering special events.

 

One man’s ancient eclectic vision and $5 million goes a long way.

 

Maybe you can’t afford authentic one-of-a-kind ancient art to decorate your home like Mr. Wilks, but you will have no problem with price and selection come spring 2008 when the one-of-a-kind Swedish home furnishing retailer – IKEA – opens its first outpost in Ohio.

 

The $75 million, 344,000 square-foot, 2-story superstore will be located in West Chester, Ohio. It is going to feature 10,000 exclusively designed contemporary home furnishing items. It will also present 50 room settings, three complete model homes, a supervised children play area, 300-seat Swedish restaurant and Swedish food market. Don’t be surprised if the tri-state area dinner tables begin having a regular night of meatballs with ligonberries before long.

 

Founded in 1943 in Sweden, IKEA offers a wide-range of good quality home furnishings at low prices. The West Chester location is the first store in Ohio and there are none in Indiana or Kentucky. 

 

Good quality and unique meeting space may be found at IKEA, Museum of Ancient Sculpture and EnterTRAINment Junction but the largest facility in the area belongs to West Chester’s 48,000 square-feet, $10 million Savannah Center at Chappell Crossing, which will be open by 2008, offering space as early as December 2007. 

 

This premiere, state-of-the-art, up-scale facility between Cincinnati and Dayton can host marquee events typically slated for downtown. It is complimented by Union Centre shopping and has an atmosphere more like a southern coastal country club than a conference center. It accommodates up to 1,200 people for conventions, conferences, special events, parties and weddings inside and another 440 people may gather by the lakeside reflection gazebo, lawn and gardens. Elegance is key and it’s achieved with a 1 ½ story glass solarium and gazebo overlooking the four-acre lake. In addition, there are stately board rooms and grand ballroom/theater.

 

With the influx of people to Butler County came an influx of business relocation to capitalize on the deep talent
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