Miami-Dade County is currently vetting two proposals for an entertainment complex on 120 acres of vacant land surrounding Zoo Miami--a project that has been 20 years in the making, reports Local 10.
One dubbed Miami Wilds is a theme park featuring seven distinct lands with rides based on blockbuster animated films such as "Rio" and "Ice Age," according to the proposal obtained by Local 10 and the Miami Herald.
The ambitious $930 million park is a project of 20th Century Fox and media mogul Rupert Murdoch, requires $130 million in public funds, and proposes to be the "most significant leap forward for direct leisure tourism development in Miami-Dade since the revitalization of South Beach."
Slated to open around 2018, Miami Wilds would mean 2,750 permanent jobs as well as 30,000 square feet of retail space, an outdoor event space, and a massive water park called "Adventure Beach," according to the proposal. See the renderings below.
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Miami Wilds Renderings
The other proposal is for Dinosaur Open Air Museum, a dino-themed park featuring a two-mile trail telling the story of the rise and fall of dinosaurs with hundreds of detailed, life-sized prehistoric replicas.
The vision is for a theme-based botanical garden with replicas as large as 120 feet tall, as well interactive exhibits like a fossil dig and earthquake simulator, according to the proposal. Dinosaur Open Air Museum could be completed as soon as two years, cost under $15 million, and create 31 fulltime jobs.
Dinosaurier-Park International already runs the largest outdoor dinosaur park in Europe in Münchehagen, Germany. See photos below.
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Dinosaurier Park In Münchehagen
Zoo Miami proposed the two projects to their Facebook followers and received nearly a hundred passionate responses.
One commenter expressed concern for the natural pinelands in the area, which Zoo Miami assured would remain protected and unharmed by either theme park.
But the overwhelming majority like the flash and scope of Miami Wilds, one writing "The dinosaur sandbox will become boring after 2 visits....Go big or Go home!"