Who is Jackalope Jim? He is a central figure in the multimedia space created by Greg Shumsky to bring old American values back to the theme park experience.
phone jackalope junction Anti-Disneyland.
With an extensive background in interactive design, video, film, and animation, Shumsky can’t help but dream big. His biggest vision is to create an old-fashioned media empire with a family-friendly, no-wake-up theme park at the top.
Now he needs investors and land to bring that vision home.
childhood haven
It started with the idea that Marshall Scotty’s Playland Parkan abandoned amusement park in El Cajon, California.
“It was like our own Disneyland,” Shumsky recalls of the place where he spent some of his formative years.
Those childhood memories took on a different form around 2019. He began creating a Western/Steampunk world populated by anthropomorphic animals.
He named it “Jackalope Junction.” This is a theme park, hotel, children’s program (and more) born out of his wild imagination.
Disney has Mickey Mouse. This junction is home to the local sheriff and Jackalope Jim, who boasts of having “the fastest turnout in the West.” Shumsky created vast landscapes and sophisticated backdrops of colorful creatures for the main players.
Think of the Wild West, complete with animatronics. For example, Jim was born with only one arm, which he supplements with robotic limbs. That steampunk wrinkle came from one of his children.
Traditional family fare
Shumsky sees Jackalope Junction as a multimedia company that spans books, television shows, theme park headquarters, and more. He says the story that begins in the TV series will spill over into the park.
He draws inspiration from classic family stories that are perfect for the whole family, such as “The Andy Griffith Show” and “The Waltons.” Young fans loved those characters, and parents cheered for the life lessons embedded in the stories.
“Kids are smart, they can think, ask questions, and learn,” he says. His Junction thread teaches us about “humility and honesty and all kinds of great things, Biblical values.”
Shumsky has a website, logo, collaborative partners, and even sophisticated illustrations of his signature characters by longtime friend and Pixar animator Victor Naborn. His animation themes connected him with industry veterans who knew how to use a pencil and pad, as well as his connections with people in the Entertainment Association, as well as his time working at his Storyland studio. .
The California resident has kind words for Disney’s heritage and talent, but his praise ends there.
“Disney has a lot of great people,” he says. He extended this to Disney’s iconic theme parks. “Walt feels something magical as he walks around. [Disney] What was created is still there despite all the changes. ”
It starts with what he sees as exorbitant fees, on top of the culture wars that Team Disney has waged in recent years.
“We had stock in Disney…we sold it pretty high. We saw what was going on,” he says, adding that the company, which includes a wide range of LGBTQ+ content aimed at young people, , hinted at a cultural shift within Disney’s programming.
Shumsky’s plan is ambitious, and it won’t come cheap.
His current estimates range from $45 million to $60 million, but he needs to find the perfect location to start breaking ground on the 20-acre project. The previous version of Jackalope Junction, which had a lower budget of his $30 million, failed in 2020.
He scouted potential homes as far as California and Tennessee, seeking a rural escape from the urban jungle.
It’s one man’s dream with quite a twist.
Previous media coverage led to strangers reaching out, each offering their unique skills to move the project forward. Additionally, he works with several professionals with the experience to help see the project through to completion when the right deal is struck.
leap of faith
Shumsky’s strong Christian faith gave him a setback once or twice along the way, but he credits God with keeping his plans on track.
“I used to get angry and say, ‘I can’t do this anymore,'” he says. The next morning, I received a call from the theme park designer who wanted to collaborate on his vision. “Just when you think God isn’t there, He is. We get so wrapped up in ourselves.”
What’s next? Scouting potential land in Riverside County, California. The lot in question is far from perfect, but it does boast giant oak trees that survived recent fires, much like Shumsky’s fictional town of Mighty Oak Springs.
Mr. Shumsky’s vision does not preclude John and Jane’s six-pack. Far from it. He envisions an “affordable” park that won’t charge his family a fortune.
“One of the big mistakes Disney made was over-priced for their core audience, forcing them to take out loans or mortgage their homes to spend the day with their families,” he says. .
Don’t expect a shocking experience in the field.
“Men are not allowed to wear nail polish or cross-dress unless it’s for comedic purposes on the show. Unless they’re gunmen, women will wear dresses, period-appropriate dresses,” he says. .
“I think it will be a place where you can not only have a fun or relaxing day, but also feel like you’ve traveled back in time to our city,” he says.
