When tourists flock to the “Honeymoon Capital of the World,” their attention is typically focused on its iconic waterfalls, towering hotels and bustling entertainment districts – but for NC Tourism Professor Dr. Adam Weaver, some of the most fascinating aspects of his hometown lie in what cannot be seen.
Weaver shines a spotlight on the “never built” history of Niagara Falls in an academic article to be featured in Tourism Recreation Research.
In “Presence, absence, and constative alignment: unbuilt visitor attractions in Niagara Falls, Ontario,” he highlights proposed visitor attractions that did not materialize.
“Unbuilt attractions represent paths not taken. In recent years, I have tried to shift my writing to Niagara-based tourism in hospitality topics,” said Weaver, who has authored 35 academic articles and 12 book chapters. “Tourism and hospitality in the Niagara region has received scholarly attention but the volume of work that is out there in academic articles and edited books is relatively small compared to the significance and reputation of Niagara.”
One example Weaver has pointed out is Maharishi Veda Land – an expansive, fully climate controlled theme park once proposed for the Lyons Creek area. Championed by well-known Canadian magician Doug Henning, the park’s business plan featured an elaborate conveyor system, and ride designs that, according to Weaver, “probably still defy modern engineering.”
Another unrealized project, Weaver noted, was a proposed Titanic-themed museum. In his research, Weaver used a conceptual drawing of the museum provided by St. Catharines-based designer Lex Parker while leaning on the expertise of Kaitlin Laslo – a local history librarian at the Niagara Falls Public Library.
Projects like these ultimately failed for a variety of reasons – like a business plan that became unviable due to economic or political shifts, or a failure to secure suitable land. In the case of Maharishi Veda Land, Weaver noted, the proposal’s fantasy elements were simply not grounded in practical development reality.
Weaver said that successful tourism development relies on “constitutive alignment” – that various circumstances and variables must come together for an attraction to actually be built.
Weaver’s exploration of the unbuilt landscape directly informs his teaching at NC. During field trips to Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Weaver frequently points out what is missing just as much as what is present – drawing attention to sites like the perpetually incomplete hotel parking garage at the intersection of Stanley Avenue and Dunn Street.
“Students are often familiar with visitor attractions hotels and transportation infrastructure that have been built. Students are curious to hear about what could have been and what never came to pass,” he said. “They naturally then ask, ‘well what happened? Why was a certain attraction never built?’
“Talking about places never build draws students into the conversation and gets them interested in talking about tourism destinations more broadly.”
Weaver’s latest article pairs well with another he recently published about the promotion of the Niagara region to geo-tourists – a path the region is actively taking in contrast to the abandoned paths of unbuilt theme parks.
As a resident of the North End of Niagara Falls, Weaver noted that his scholarly appreciation for unbuilt attractions only goes so far when it comes to his own daily life.
“Similar to many folks. I probably only venture down to the tourism district when desperately trying to think of ways to entertain out-of-town visitors,” he said. “Thankfully, there are attractions – actually in existing ones – present which enable me to occupy these visitors when they come to town. Sometimes built attractions help you out in ways that unbuilt attractions simply cannot match!”
View Weaver’s article:
