He's planning roller coasters that go 65 mph, but now it looks like the project is the one on a roller coaster -- and going much slower.

In 2006, theme park developer Steve Minard said plans for a park at the Highlands would be under way within a year. Now, two years later, there are still acres of undeveloped land in Ohio County.

"We're building a small city, so it never moves as quickly as you would hope," said Minard, developer of the Wild Escape Theme Park.

He said the holdup basically rests with red tape. There are several government agencies that have to approve plans, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife division, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corp of Engineers.

He said the Army Corp does have the ability to deny the permits altogether, but a representative in the Pittsburgh office said they'd rather work with the developer to create plans that can be permitted. Corp officials also said there has been much progress over the last few months.

Minard did not have a hard timeline on the park's development, though some ride equipment parts are assembled and being held in a secure place until the Corp issues permits.

While the developers are waiting for their permits, Minard said developers are working on other aspects of the project.