SACO, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- It's been a tough winter for the ski industry, but the weather's been fabulous for construction crews working on two entertainment projects in Maine.
Funtown-Splashtown USA is building 6 new slides and expanding its wading pool. It's also moved and expanded its area for food. The project is well ahead of schedule. General Manager Cory Hutchinson said he expected the project to be about 50 percent complete by now. Instead, it's about 85 percent complete.
That doesn't mean an earlier opening for the slides, but Hutchinson says it certainly makes things easier for staff members this spring.
He said, "The reality is we have such a small window in the spring to not only set up what we have already in the park, but we have to do all this paving and concrete work at a lot in the spring. It's just going to save us a lot of stress."
Those building the Oxford Casino also have been pleased with the impact the weather has had on their project. Over the past 6 months, construction workers have cut 17 acres of forest, made a lot of progress to ensure proper storm water control, and put the walls up on the casino itself. Scott Smith, the Community Development Director for Black Bear Entertainment, says the project is right on track for the casino to be opening for business this June. "By and large a lot of the work is going on inside right now, so we were able to take advantage of the weather to get inside the building, and that's all adding up to staying on schedule," he said.
NEWS CENTER