Did you know that there are currently $2 billion worth of new tourism related projects underway in Northeast Ohio? $2 billion! These new projects are not only changing the landscape of our great region, they are also helping further develop our economy. From the Medical Mart and Convention Center to the expansion of Canton’s Pro Football Hall of Fame, The Plus region’s tourism sector is expanding before our eyes.
Continue reading to learn more about these exciting developments, which are helping transform Northeast Ohio.
Major Tourism Development Projects:
African Elephant Crossing: $25 million – The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo unveiled its new 5-acre elephant exhibit on May 5, 2011. The exhibit, which was years in the making, features five elephants: Jo, Moshi, Martika, Shenga and Willy.
Allen Theatre Project: - PlayhouseSquare is getting ready to welcome the Cleveland Play House and Cleveland State University as new resident companies in the Fall of 2011! When complete, the new Allen Theatre Complex will be a dynamic, exciting home for the Play House, CSU’s theater and dance productions and much more. Source: www.playhousesquare.org. Learn more about the Allen Theatre Complex by watching this video.
Cedar Point: $6 million – The world’s best amusement park just got better. With more than $6 million worth of capital improvements in 2011, Cedar Point continues to be a must-see destination. New to the park this year is the “WindSeeker” ride, a 30-story swing towering over the Lake Erie shoreline. Watch this video to see the WindSeeker in action!
Cleveland Medical Mart and Convention Center: $465 million – When this unique facility opens in 2013, it will be the world’s only one-stop shop for the medical and healthcare industries.
Cleveland Museum of Art: $350 million – Visited by more than a half million people per year, the Cleveland Museum of Art recently completed a $350 million expansion project, opening 17 new galleries.
Gordon Square: $38 million – Gordon Square, on Cleveland’s near west side, is undergoing a $38 million renovation that includes refurbishing three community theaters, entrepreneurial investments in the form of new restaurants and businesses, and streetscape improvements.
Greater Cleveland Aquarium: $33 million – Exotic marine life from across the globe will soon find a new home in the Flats when phase I of the Greater Cleveland Aquarium is complete in the fall of 2011. The 70,000 square-foot complex will feature an acrylic-walled passageway or “SeaTube,” which will enable visitors to walk underneath the marine environment. Once phase I is complete, developers will begin work on a $40 million second phase. Learn more here.
Horseshoe Casino: $600 million – Projected to attract 5 million visitors a year, downtown Cleveland’s casino will feature approximately 2,100 slot machines, 65 table games and a World Series of Poker room.
Kalahari Waterpark: $22 million – Home to the nation’s largest indoor waterpark, Kalahari Waterpark & Resort is growing – quickly. In March 2011, the Sandusky resort began construction on its $22 million expansion project, which will double the size of its convention center. Get the details here!
Pro Football Hall of Fame: $27 million –Football’s greatest are on the verge of getting an even larger shrine. Expanding from 83,000 square feet to 115,000 square feet, the current expansion project is the largest in the Hall of Fame’s history. Scheduled for completion in 2013, the project will coincide with the Hall of Fame’s 50th Anniversary. Learn more here!
Loaded with far-reaching tourism, employment and economic impact for Northeast Ohio, these projects are just the beginning of the extraordinary growth occurring throughout the region. Unprecedented in recent history, the volume of new entertainment and destination facilities clearly indicates that the tourism industry is growing in importance for our community’s economic vitality.
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