Bizarre press conference for $3.5 billion Muscle Shoals theme park only raises more questions

A rendering of the DreamVision Soundscape theme park presented 2/11/15

MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. — DreamVision LLC on Wednesday attempted to put to rest some of the questions Alabamians have had since the company announced its intension to build a massive amusement park named “Dreamvision Soundscapes” in Muscle Shoals, but may have ultimately raised more questions than they answered.

In a 75-minute presentation at the Marriott Muscle Shoals, the company said the park will be built in the Muscle Shoals area as a tribute to the storied musical history of the community. It will have an astounding price tag of $3.5 billion, which DreamVisions says will be funded through private venture capital firm Provident Global Capital. The company stressed Alabama’s love of family values as one of the reasons the park would be a good fit in the region.

The mock-ups of the new park shown during the presentation depict an enormous, brightly colored, technologically advanced park with a central hub, branching out to “spokes” honoring genres of music, from rock and roll to gospel.

While the presentation appeared to have a high production value, and plenty of enthusiasm and energy, many who watched the live event still have questions.

Despite Provident Global Capital CEO Bryan Robinson’s assertion that the company is “good” when it comes to the financial side of the equation, we never learned from where exactly the money will come. Provident is a largely unknown entity—it was only incorporated in Alabama on February 3rd—though Robinson spoke of a 20 year track record of “investing outside the numbers.”

During the presentation DreamVision bragged that the Alabama Music Hall of Fame would be relocated to the park, causing Alabama director of tourism Lee Sentell to tell media he, a board member of the Hall of Fame, had heard of no such plans.

DreamVision CEO Rick Silanskas spoke many times on the difference between dreaming and doing, placing lots of emphasis on the company’s commitment to Muscle Shoals and the rest of the state, but DreamVision has yet to reach out to state officials.

The normal process for a project this size would be for the company to work with the departments of tourism and commerce to ensure they received tax breaks and other considerations given to large commercial projects.

According to Department of Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield, DreamVision has not approached them, and attempts to make contact with the company have been unsuccessful.

“We are certainly willing to work with any project that might come to the state that can demonstrate a sound business case and the capital that’s required to make that project viable,” Secretary Canfield told Yellowhammer Wednesday.

While there has been speculation that the park would be on a 1,400-acre tract of TVA-owned land in the Muscle Shoals area, no further details were offered regarding the future park’s location.

DreamVision held a press conference in Fort Worth, Texas announcing a park of similar scope and size on Monday. The company has reportedly been talking about the plan for several years, though no ground has been broken for the Texas park.

DreamVision CEO Rick Silanskas promised more questions would be answered in coming weeks.

There is no question that the park, should it become a reality, would be a boon to the state’s economy and growing reputation as a tourist destination, but today’s presentation answered few questions.