Bell's Amusement Park Looking To Move

Bell's Amusement Park has released some records for an independent review of its finances. A Tulsa County commissioner asked for it, to settle an issue over whether the park's owner has the money

Monday, November 20th 2006, 10:15 am

By: News On 6

Bell's Amusement Park has released some records for an independent review of its finances. A Tulsa County commissioner asked for it, to settle an issue over whether the park's owner has the money to stay open at the Tulsa County fairgrounds and pay the rent.

News on 6 reporter Emory Bryan says that review is underway. And here's another development, every time we've talked with the owner of Bell's he's said he would like to stay put if possible, but Monday, he said that's no longer true.

Robby Bell told the News on 6, he has had so much interest from the suburbs that he'll go wherever he can find the best deal and he has no false hope that he'll get to stay at the fairgrounds.

After 55 years at the Tulsa County fairgrounds, it's likely when Bell's reopens it will be somewhere else.

Bell's has asked for more time to move from the fairgrounds, beyond the 120 days stipulated by their lease that expired two weeks ago.

Owner Robby Bell says he no longer has a preference on the location of Bell's. "I am not leaning one way or the other, my dad and I are trying to get in front of first the municipalities and then we have dozens of inquiries from the private sector, so we need to explore all those options." But Monday, Robby and Robert Bell, father and son, watched as the Tulsa County Public Facilities Authority met for the first since Bell's was told to move out.

Bell's wasn't on the agenda and wasn't mentioned, even in the director's update of what's happening at Expo Square. The authority is made up of the Tulsa County commissioners and two lawyers.

None were willing to comment afterward, saying the authority's lawyers told them not to. But Commissioner Randy Miller has said Bell's has turned over some financial records for an independent review. Bell confirmed he's responded to the request. "I know people want a decision about what's going to happen, but we can't make that decision yet, we need to explore all the avenues in front of us, and hopefully make the decision that's best for our family, our business, our customers."

Bell's has talked to a developer in Jenks and Monday; Robby Bell left the authority meeting early so he could get to a meeting with the City of Sand Springs.