After the groundbreaking for the "Wild Escape" theme park at the Highlands shopping center in Ohio County, NEWS9 did some digging of its own.

NEWS9 found that a virtually identical theme park has been in development for the Omaha, Neb. metropolitan area since 2002.

That park has yet to be built.

While Ohio County officials declined to comment on NEWS9's findings on Friday, NEWS9 did reach company President Steve Minard by phone.

"We actually, within two months, will be getting everything ordered and in place for Wheeling," said Minard. "Wheeling will be under construction this year."

NEWS9 asked Minard why he thought the Ohio County version of Wild Escape could move along more quickly than its Nebraska counterpart.

His answer: Nebraska's version of tax increment financing for entertainment districts is moving slowly through that state's Legislature.

Minard said West Virginia has no such legislative hang-ups.

Minard said he learned from the Nebraska project and an earlier plan in Iowa to not make any premature announcements until the financing was fully in place.

"Nebraska's been out there for a while, but Wheeling we didn't announce until there was an actual groundbreaking," said Minard. "So, what you're going to see is this move very quickly. This will be done and in all honesty, the Nebraska project will be done also."

Minard said at least part of the Ohio County Wild Escape will open sometime next year, but he declined to give an exact date.

"We can't commit to a timeline because we literally are working with the county to move a mountain," said Minard. "There's about 10 million cubic yards of fill to move. In the next three months, we'll announce a more specific date and next year we'll have something open."

Minard is building the Ohio County park under the name Crystal Mountain LLC, a limited liability company.

It is one of several companies he's created to plan and market these parks.

While the Wild Escape brand name is relatively new, Minard said his management team has experience in the amusement industry, with links to powerhouse parks like Disney, Six Flags and Universal.

He said the team picked the Ohio County location because it wants to build parks in areas with great natural resources and easy interstate access.

To view the Web site for the proposed Ohio County park, click here.

To view the Web site for the proposed park in Nebraska, click here.

Eric Minor, NEWS9