Proposed wildlife park could turn into Georgia theme park

BRUNSWICK - A two-thousand-acre animal preserve in southeast Georgia could be home to a Georgia heritage theme park as well. <br> <br> Investment partners hoping to develop the wildlife resort met with state lawmakers yesterday in hopes of getting the state to chip in $27 million over 25 years for the project. <br> <br> Called Wildlife Realty Associates, the group of investors originally wanted to designate all the land for animals but then decided that an animal park alone would not attract a substantial percentage of the 14 million cars that travel past the site each year on Interstate 95. <br> <br> Will Pitts said the question was does the concept work, and after studying it, the conclusion was that it did. <br> <br> Pitts is general partner in Wildlife Realty Associates and president of W.G. Pitts Company, the Jacksonville, Florida, construction firm acting as general contractor on the park project. <br> <br> The Brunswick News reported Thursday that Wildlife Realty Associates added a Georgia Heritage Theme Park focusing on the state&#39;s history between 1880 and 1930. <br> <br> Visitors would enter the park through a replica cotton exchange, then cross a reconstructed packet steamer bridging a lock in the historic Brunswick-Altamaha Canal. <br> <br> A Victorian main street modeled after a typical small Georgia town circa 1880-1930 would feature retail shops, an opera house, livery stables and a train depot. <br> <br> A replica 1890 steam train would take visitors on a safari-style tour of animal habitat featuring species that were or still are indigenous to Georgia, including elk, bison, wolves and bears. Planners also envision a trader&#39;s camp paying tribute to Georgia&#39;s once prominent role in the timber and sawmill industries. <br> <br> In all, 18 historically themed attractions are planned. Organizers hope to open in 2005 and charge $21 admission.