Needed: Some light on what's going on with Bell's
We've had a bit of feedback on the Bell's Amusement Park post of Thursday/Friday, and apparently there are others who are unhappy that the longtime Tulsa attraction is being forced out.
However, we fear that the majority of people in Tulsa County who would care are probably not paying much attention right now. The midterms are over and a certain degree of news fatigue seems to have set in with many people we know. Not to mention that so much of the news right now is bad.
If you know someone who likes to visit Bell's, or even once liked to visit Bell's, you might let them know what's going on. If enough people raise their voices in protest, even the high and mighty county commission is bound to take notice.
Sure we can drive down to Oklahoma City and spend our money at Frontier City when Bell's is no longer open. Why, we might as well! The better concerts, real NBA basketball, and certainly the superior baseball park are on the other side of the Turner.
Of course, then there really wouldn't be any need for new entertainment development in Tulsa, would there?
It would be one thing if some other company wanted to compete with Bell's, head-to-head, openly seeking to be No.1 in the market here. Competition is good. That's not what's happening, as far as the public knows. It just seems there are people in positions of power who have it in for the current amusement park operators. If they have alternative plans for providing entertainment in the Bell's space, they should let the public know about them up front. What are the options? Surely we are not talking about more parking spaces?
For decades there has been Machevalian undertones in much of what constitutes the public-private business climate in Tulsa. When there was a greater diversity of major companies doing business in Tulsa, it was a more subtle and interesting side show. Today, with so many of the historical good citizen companies long departed, there are fewer players to check and balance one another. Now the behind-the-curtain mechanizations are crude in comparison, and the results are ham-handed. Embarrassing.
A long time ago it was written: "And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed." (John 3:19-20)
It is just as true today.
posted by Dave the Oklahomilist @ 11:26 PM
14 comments
14 Comments:
Sorry to say, but it IS time for Bells to move on and close up shop. The park is run down, atracts nothing but low-life teen gang bangers and has become a big babysitter for troublsome teens. No way I'd take my family there anymore. It's hayday is WAY past and they need to just close up shop and be glad they had such a long run here in town.
Maybe if they are smart they will find some investors to help them create a new, NICE, BIG, amusement part next to Riverwalk...THEn I'm sure people would come from far and wide to enjoy it.....as it stands today, Bell's mid-town is a complete dump that needs to go away.
I completely disagree with the first comment that was posted here. Bells is EXTREMELY family oriented. Every time I have ever been, there are dozens of happy families spending quality time together and having a wonderful time. There are not many cities around this country the size of Tulsa that offer such a healthy outlet for family enjoyment. I am afraid that if we loose this important piece of history, the people of our city will suffer in more ways than one.
I seem to agree about Bell's needing to move on, it has seen it's better days, the buildings are ran down, the area is overcrowded and is hard to get in and out of.... hopefully, Bell's will move out to Jenks and NOT at the 71st and Memorial area either..... I have very fond memories of Bell's as a child and now as a parent of a teenager.... NEXT will be Big Splash.. get ready
The first comment was very untrue im 25 and ive been going to bells for years there never any problems kids love it at bells and if they were to close were elsa can they go to say out of trouble moving bells will be a big mistake
Yike....seems like some of the folks who still want Bell's around as a babysitter to the gangbangers etc didn't make it out of 3rd grade spelling/english/grammer class....scary.
I grew up going to Bell's, and took all my nephews as well.If issues exist with the park wouldn;t it be easier to remedy them?
Gangsters, bangers, babysitter for troubled teens? Whose fault is that? Bell's Amusement Park didn;t cause the problems listed, they shouldn;t be made to pay for them. Would a new park, in another part of town be insulated from the same park attendees?
Cathy B, from Tulsa
they need to let bells stay cause that is the one place everybody comes to for the state fair and that is where some people fall in love at so making bells leave their home is wrong and i think bells should go to court and fight for what is theirs......
amber woodfork
While it's great that everyone thinks Bell's should go to court....Do any of you have a clue how much that costs? The county can fight him forever. Those dogs have unlimited funds while Bell's has to pay for it on his own.
For over 50 years, Bells has been a huge part of Tulsa. Businesses hold company picnics, families hold reunions, kids have birthday parties there.
I can't imagine it closing.
There are so many great things that people can think of when they think of Bells: first date, first kiss, engagements, etc.
Closing would be terrible and a very sad day of all who have gone and loved Bells.
I visited Oklahoma for the first time this fall (my finace' is from Pawhuska area) and I loved everything there, including Bells. We went to the state fair and he told me many stories about growing up and going to Bells. I think anonymous needs to realize that the old hometown places deserve to be preserved and updated if need be, and troubled teens are no more or less than their troubled familes, and they will find a place to hang out, with or without Bells. If Bells closes down they'll have another reason to rebell, and everyone loses a family favorite pasttime. It sounds like Anonymous is the equivilant of an adult trouble-making gang banger, spouting off about something not even related to the original problem...saving Bells. Anonymous should stay anonymous...and silent.
I now live in Ma. and am 40, but I still call green country home and plan to move back someday.I can't ever remember Bells not being there. It was a big part of my fond memories and this last summer my fiancee and I made our way back for a visit and one of the stops, was of course, Bells. Her and I loved being there and were really hoping to take our girls there next summer. How can we deprive future generations of the fun and joy that Bells brought to all of us? I can't believe how some people can be so bitter about a place that is great for family fun and more so a piece of history. If there are problems with the people attending, fix the problem, don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Bells has always been about family and has became a historic place to visit, maybe we should treat it as such and declare it a historic site and a state wide treasure. As far as anonymous is concerned, if your beliefs were really that strong you would leave your name, instead of hiding and throwing stones like the "low-life gang bangers" you write about!! Bells should be save and THAT is the bottom line!!!
Dave, you hit the nail on the head when you said there is more going on here than
parking spaces and competition. It seems obvious that there is something lurking
behind the scenes. The Bell family has been there for the citizens of Oklahoma
(not just Tulsa County) for as many years as I can recall - how long has this
fair board, and these commissioners been around? If it's just a simple matter
of poor business practices, attention to the bottom line, why was there such
tension, such an attitude, in the recent tv interview with the female commissioner?
As for the suggestion that it would be better used for a parking lot, that is such
a joke it doesn't even deserve a response.
As for other comments on types of crowds it is drawing - that is only at certain
times, and that is true for just about any place in Tulsa. Would you recommend
closing the malls? The streets, the convenience stores? You can stay home and
avoid it all, or we can change it.
Yes, Bell's is a big part of Tulsa, many of us love it, have many fond memories from
there, and still take our kids and grandkids there. But the important thing here is
whether this is fair, and being handled properly. This is, after all, public property,
and these folks on the fair board work for us. What is sad, and scary, is that, like
Dave said, probably most folks are not even paying attention to this right now. They
will be surprised next spring if Bell's isn't there for their company picnics and family
outings.
Sure, we can go down the pike to OKC, those who can afford the time and money.
But even if Bell's is forced to move to, say, Jenks, that will be a big inconvenience
to many in central and NE Tulsa, not to mention the communities north and east
of town. Not to mention the huge expense that would be involved, and the vast amount
of time that it would take - probably no Bell's anywhere for a year or so.
But mainly this is wrong, and these folks should be accountable to us.
Let's speak up and do something here before it's too late. Before the power-hungry
decide to take over something else.
Lets look at this with some common sense. Why would anyone choose to kick out a business that pays a lease on the property for a parking lot that will not generate revenue? State Fair parking is free. So why would they want to get rid of a money generator? Seems like more stupidity from government leaders.
This is all about business. Who cares if people fall in love at Bells? Should the taxpayers of Tulsa County abandon reason for such sentimentalism?
Bells lease has expired. The County is attempting to generate more revenue from the piece of land that is currently *leased* by Bells. Either a more attractive leasee will emerge and the County will make more money, or Bells will improve its business (for a change) and sign a new lease that is more amenable to the County and the County will make more money. Either way, the County is extracting the most value out of *your* land.
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