Mar 22 Local News Workman To Retire From State Fair Board Kentucky State Fair Board President Harold Workman has announced his retirement effective December 31st. He made the announcement during today’s regular board meeting. Workman says he was under no pressure to step down from the post he’s held since 1993, but questions were raised earlier this year about his future amid a decline in revenue […] By Rick Howlett Mar 22 Local News Workman To Retire From State Fair Board Rick Howlett
Feb 23 Local News Fair Board Approves Lease to Reopen Kentucky Kingdom Property The Kentucky State Fair Board has unanimously approved a new lease for the owners of Indiana’s Holiday World to acquire the former Kentucky Kingdom property. Bluegrass Boardwalk is a Koch family company recently formed to pursue the Kentucky Kingdom park. Dan Koch addressed the board today, saying Bluegrass Boardwalk will be the new name of […] By Devin Katayama Feb 23 Local News Fair Board Approves Lease to Reopen Kentucky Kingdom Property Devin Katayama
Feb 15 Local News Workman “Very Confident” of 2013 Kentucky Kingdom Reopening Thanks to Dan Conti, Kentucky Public Radio The president of the Kentucky State Fair Board says negotiations with a prospective new operator of the Kentucky Kingdom amusement park are going well. Harold Workman told a Kentucky Senate committee yesterday that he expects the talks with the owners of Indiana’s Holiday World to lead to an […] By Rick Howlett Feb 15 Local News Workman “Very Confident” of 2013 Kentucky Kingdom Reopening Rick Howlett
Oct 10 Local News New Suitors Sought To Restart Kentucky Kingdom The Kentucky Kingdom amusement park has spent a second straight summer behind locked gates, as the state fair board seeks a new operator. Board officials say they’re committed to getting the park back up and running. It appears the park will stay closed for a third summer, with officials most likely looking toward a 2013 […] By Rick Howlett Oct 10 Local News New Suitors Sought To Restart Kentucky Kingdom Rick Howlett
Oct 3 Local News Lawmaker Optimistic About Kentucky Kingdom Reopening A Kentucky lawmaker whose district includes the shuttered Kentucky Kingdom amusement park says he’s optimistic the state fair board will find an operator for the facility. State Representative Jim Wayne says he was surprised to hear that negotiations with developer Ed Hart to reopen the park fell through last week. Fair board president Harold Workman […] By Rick Howlett Oct 3 Local News Lawmaker Optimistic About Kentucky Kingdom Reopening Rick Howlett
Sep 30 Local News Court Rules on JCPS Student Assignment, Kentucky Kingdom Talks Break Down, EPA Rejects Mining Permits, and Changes to Unemployment in Indiana: Afternoon Review The Kentucky Court of Appeals has ruled that students have the right to enroll and attend the school nearest their home. But if JCPS takes the case further, it will delay having to comply with the Court of Appeals decision. The plan to re-open Kentucky Kingdom has hit another snag, with talks breaking down between […] By Laura Ellis Sep 30 Local News Court Rules on JCPS Student Assignment, Kentucky Kingdom Talks Break Down, EPA Rejects Mining Permits, and Changes to Unemployment in Indiana: Afternoon Review Laura Ellis
Sep 30 Local News Talks End Between Fair Board and Kentucky Kingdom Redevelopment Company The plan to expand, refurbish and re-open Kentucky Kingdom has hit another snag. Talks have broken down between the state Fair Board and businessman Ed Hart’s Kentucky Kingdom Redevelopment Company. Fair Board president Harold Workman says the two sides couldn’t agree on where certain revenue streams should be steered, but declined to elaborate. The board […] By Gabe Bullard Sep 30 Local News Talks End Between Fair Board and Kentucky Kingdom Redevelopment Company Gabe Bullard
Sep 22 Local News Hart: Kentucky Kingdom Can’t Reopen In 2012 Louisville developer Ed Hart says there’s no way the Kentucky Kingdom amusement park can be reopened next year, but he’s willing to extend his interim agreement with the Kentucky State Fair Board and aim for a 2013 reopening. Hart says without a public/private funding partnership and a long-term lease in place, suppliers won’t be able […] By Rick Howlett Sep 22 Local News Hart: Kentucky Kingdom Can’t Reopen In 2012 Rick Howlett
Sep 13 Local News Hart: Time Running Out For 2012 Kentucky Kingdom Reopening The man who wants to reopen the Kentucky Kingdom amusement park says he’s close to securing nearly $29 million in private funding for the effort, but time is running out for state and local governments to finalize their commitment. Kentucky Kingdom was shut down early last year after its previous operator, Six Flags, declared bankruptcy. […] By Rick Howlett Sep 13 Local News Hart: Time Running Out For 2012 Kentucky Kingdom Reopening Rick Howlett
Aug 26 Local News Kentucky Kingdom Expected to Reopen May 2012 Plant life has weaved between the roller coaster tracks of what use to be Kentucky Kingdom’s major attractions, but the park is now expected to open next May, in a public-private partnership. Kentucky State Fair Board President and CEO Harold Workman spoke on Thursday at the annual joint meeting between the fair board and the […] By Devin Katayama Aug 26 Local News Kentucky Kingdom Expected to Reopen May 2012 Devin Katayama
Jul 25 Local News Talks Continue On Kentucky Kingdom Reopening Plan Louisville Metro Government officials say they remain hopeful that the Kentucky Kingdom amusement park will re-open next spring. A financing plan proposed by Mayor Greg Fischer in May to reopen the park would include more than $17 million in city-issued bonds, but Fischer’s chief financial officer tells the Courier-Journal that developer Ed Hart may try […] By Rick Howlett Jul 25 Local News Talks Continue On Kentucky Kingdom Reopening Plan Rick Howlett
Jun 21 Local News Workman Says Deal Close To Reopen Kentucky Kingdom From Dan Conti, Kentucky Public Radio Kentucky State Fair Board President Harold Workman says he’s still hopeful that Kentucky Kingdom amusement park can be reopened in 2012. Workman told a panel of state lawmakers recently that the board and Louisville Metro Government are close to finalizing an agreement to re-open Kentucky Kingdom next year. He […] By Rick Howlett Jun 21 Local News Workman Says Deal Close To Reopen Kentucky Kingdom Rick Howlett
May 4 Local News Fischer Proposal Would Reopen Kentucky Kingdom In 2012 Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer has unveiled a plan under which the Kentucky Kingdom amusement park would reopen in 2012. It calls for the city to issue 17-and-a-half million dollars in bonds, and would bring in a third-party investor. The bonds would be backed by parking revenues, occupational taxes, and the new partner. Louisville businessman Ed […] By Rick Howlett May 4 Local News Fischer Proposal Would Reopen Kentucky Kingdom In 2012 Rick Howlett
Apr 28 Local News Talks Continue On Kentucky Kingdom Reopening Louisville businessman Ed Hart and the Kentucky State Fair Board have extended their interim agreement to negotiate a lease under which Hart would redevelop the Kentucky Kingdom amusement park. The park has been shuttered since its previous owner, Six Flags, declared bankruptcy in early 2010. Hart’s agreement was due to expire at the end of this […] By Rick Howlett Apr 28 Local News Talks Continue On Kentucky Kingdom Reopening Rick Howlett
Apr 15 Politics Hart Revises Plans for Kentucky Kingdom, Still Hopes for 2012 Re-Opening Businessman Ed Hart has put forward a third proposal for re-opening the Kentucky Kingdom theme park next year. Hart first sought to renovate and re-open the park with a $50 million bond from the state. The General Assembly didn’t take up the issue. Hart then planned to use $20 million from the city this year […] By Gabe Bullard Apr 15 Politics Hart Revises Plans for Kentucky Kingdom, Still Hopes for 2012 Re-Opening Gabe Bullard