$150 Million Steamboat Takes off With WG Pitts and Powers Design at the Helm; Steamboat City Theme Park in Coastal Georgia to be Led by Two Local Firms.

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 12, 2004

Esteemed builder and development manager WG Pitts Company has awarded Powers Design - Powers Mackey Reidenbach & Lanehart, Inc. the contract for the $150 million Steamboat City theme park. Powers Design is one of the region's leading architectural and planning firms.

Steamboat City, located in Glynn County of Georgia's Coastal region near Brunswick, will be equidistant from Savannah, Georgia, and Jacksonville. The park will encompass a total area of 700 acres and will be part of the 2,100-acre community located on both sides of the interstate and owned by Steamboat City Development Company LP. The length of the property fronts I-95 with its width fronting State Road 99.

Under the direction of Will Pitts, the Steamboat City Partnership, Powers Design and over 30 specialized consultants from California to Florida, the design plans for the first phase of the 2,100-acre, mixed-use development have been completed. This major regional destination theme resort park is slated for opening in 2006.

Upon completion, the new park will be recognized as the industry leader in the leisure entertainment field in the region, raising the bar for any additional themed developments to follow.

The WG Pitts Company has established a reputation for quality and customer satisfaction. The talented team of professionals has the experience, combined knowledge, expertise and proven track record for management of projects of all sizes. Unlike most general contracting firms, WG Pitts has a division dedicated to planning all the steps necessary for taking a raw piece of land to a properly permitted project. The company has been named one of Jacksonville's fastest-growing private companies and continues to captivate the region with numerous projects as part of its aggressive growth and development.

"To say that the Powers Design team is elated to be a part of this exceptional project would be an understatement," said John M. Powers, the company's president and lead designer. "Steamboat City is destined to be a landmark theme park and we are proud and honored to be a part of the development of this truly awe-inspiring destination."

Powers heads up the design and planning of the project along with Tom Reidenbach, director of architectural theming. Reidenbach, an award-winning architect, has provided design services for a number of resort and entertainment venues, including Universal Studios, Silver Dollar City, Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium, The Mirage Hotel and Casino and worked for Disney for over 10 years. Steve Mackey, vice president of architectural design, is the project manager for Powers Design and has worked on various theme parks including Jaws at Universal Studios.

A major key to the park's dynamic is its setting at the hub of one of the nation's leading growth centers for resort, travel destinations and coastal population growth.

Steamboat City is located among the most beautiful coastal areas encompassing the "Golden Isles" chain, minutes away from historical Jekyll Island, the world renowned Cloister and other upscale residential and resort areas on St. Simon's Island and Sea Island.

The park will follow four thematic threads: history, heritage, nature and adventure. Comprised of eight distinct areas, each will focus on specific aspects of the theme and story. The attractions will be designed to be more than a ride, but an actual experience capturing the theme of the park.

The basic design includes one main entrance and exit with various "themed domains" radiating from the center. The design approach creates a "path of discovery" for each visitor to enhance the ultimate experience and generate an unrivaled theme park encounter with a touch of Southern hospitality. Powers stated, "You enter through a full scale Steamboat and proceed through a `period' historical town from the 1800's to the 1920's and experience a major carnival with a variety of rides and events and a wholesome and exciting venue of restaurants, dark rides, animal attractions, train rides and live shows. The food and `show entertainment venue' will be next to none."

According to Powers, the partners of Steamboat City - many of whom are local and have raised families in the area - care very much for the history and heritage of coastal Georgia and have guided the team in completing a design reflecting architectural theming, water features, landscape and an overall environmental and visitor experience that are among the best major theme parks in the country.

The strategy of the creative team is to approach the design as a "living theater" experience. Each attraction will be instilled with a storyline in the master plan, as will each individual component of the park.

Globally renowned for extensive experience in developing, delivering and operating themed leisure and entertainment projects and destinations at all levels of complexity, LEDO International, Inc. has been retained by the WG Pitts Company to provide the feasibility study and oversee operations at Steamboat City.

The selected builder is Suitt Construction, which has major theme park experiences including Universal Studios, Discovery Island and Silver Dollar City with offices in Orlando and North Carolina.

The WG Pitts Company has established a reputation for delivering projects on time, within budget, and with a primary emphasis on quality and customer satisfaction. The company has created a team of quality individuals that possesses exceptional construction management capabilities. The talented team of professionals has the experience, combined knowledge, expertise and proven track record to effectively manage projects ranging from a single commercial building to complex projects with multiple activities such as simultaneous golf course, clubhouse and infrastructure construction or projects such as marina facilities that may require major water channel excavation, boat slip construction and infrastructure along with fueling facilities and concurrent yacht club and condominium construction.

Founded in 1980, Powers Design - Powers Mackey Reidenbach & Lanehart, Inc. provides architecture, theming, graphic high design services, planning, and landscape architecture services for a variety of projects and clientele from their office in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Services extend to a diverse range of projects which include planned residential and destination resort communities, urban design, office and retail development.

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