HOWES CAVE, N.Y -- Tourists are used to exploring the underground caves at Howe Caverns and if all goes as planned there may soon be an above ground attraction too. A 50,000 foot indoor water park.
"It would be year round business for us. Our season is about to end right now, Labor Day and then it gets to be bare bones around here around winter time," Howe Caverns General Manager Bob Holt said.
Along with the water park, developers are talking about adding a 250-room hotel, much like the North Country’s Great Escape.
In fact the developer on this project is a former vice president of Six Flags, owner of the Great Escape.
An amusement park developer could be making quite a splash in Schoharie County. It is one of two sites being considered for an indoor waterpark. If the Schoharie site is picked, this would be the largest single investment in tourism the county has ever seen. Our Mark Repasky has more.
This project would be a joint venture with Howe Caverns, sitting on 18 acres of land northeast of the visitor’s center. However, it's far from a done deal.
"They've narrowed it down to two sites and were happy to report we are one of the two and there's a lot of things that need to be looked at," Holt said.
To help get the support of the developer, Howe Caverns is trying to expand an existing Empire Zone, as well as extend Howe Caves Road.
There is also a zoning change that needs to pass.
"If it can happen here in Schoharie County we can really benefit from that," Jodie Rutt, Schoharie County Chamber executive director said.
The $70 million project could do quite a bit for Schoharie County.
Along with bringing upward of 300 jobs, Holt says it would boost tourism revenues not just here at the caverns but across the entire county.
"This is the shot in the arm this county needs," Holt said.
And the county is on-board, Chairman Earl Van Wormer, III says having a local hand in the process makes it all that more comfortable.
A final decision is expected by the end of September.