In previous blogs I’ve told you about theme parks designed for adrenaline junkies, Spider-Man Fans, toddlers, chocoholics, and those looking to cool off in the mid-summer heat. Nothing against the aforementioned parks, but none of them really caters to the large segment of the population that I affiliate myself with–moms who love to shop.
That’s where L.L. Bean comes in. The mail-order retailer is looking to develop a theme park-style adventure center near its Maine flagship store (and you thought outlet malls were theme parks for shopoholics). The proposed L.L. Bean theme park-adventure center would feature a hotel, restaurants, and an outdoor area where visitors could bike, kayak, snowshoe or fish.
Company executives say the new theme park would build on L.L. Bean’s “outdoors heritage, drive sales and add another attraction for tourists.” The idea to combine shopping and outdoor activities was the brainchild of the grandson of Leon Leonwood Bean as a way of making it easier for people to make the most of two of America’s favorite pastimes.
According to a company spokesperson, the hotel and theme park would be centered on a 700-acre parcel owned by the outdoors outfitter about a mile from its Freeport store. The outdoor water activities would take place on another Bean-owned property along Casco Bay. If you are looking for a theme park filled with roller coasters and haunted houses the L.L. Bean attraction may not be what you are looking for. However, if you are looking for a family friendly outdoor adventure attraction that offers rock-climbing walls, aquariums and ponds so you can try out new equipment and apparel, then the L.L. Bean resort may be worth checking out.
Company execs say the new center would build on L.L. Bean’s work with its Outdoor Discovery Schools program, which offers instruction in activities such as fly-fishing, kayaking, and rock climbing. The company also sees the theme park as a possible extension of its bike, boat, and ski store in Freeport. L.L. Bean executives say they hope to have the facility up and running by 2010.