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PHOENIX — Huey Lewis never dreamed the heart of rock 'n' roll would land in Eloy.

But if a group of theme-park imaginers get their way, you could easily grab a bite to eat in the Haight-Ashbury District, take a ride on the Grand Funk Railroad and check into the Hotel California (just don't expect to check out), without venturing too far from Tucson.

Those are some of the attractions potentially taking shape at a large scale rock 'n' roll theme park — if the designers are able to persuade state lawmakers to give them special taxing authority. They say the development would revolutionize tourism and growth in the corridor between Tucson and Phoenix.

The grandiose plan, announced Wednesday, would take 300 acres of privately owned land in Eloy, just southeast of where Interstates 8 and 10 intersect, and transform them into a sprawling $800 million theme park dedicated to America's rock 'n' roll history.

Named "Decades," the park would feature themed rides and attractions nestled in decade "lands" — the '60s would reflect the British Invasion and Motown influence whereas the '80s would emphasis the music-video age.

Its planners hope to complete the park by 2012 and say it could handle a yearly attendance of more than 6 million, or about as many visitors as Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla., receives and 2 million more a year than San Diego's SeaWorld attracts.

In addition to the themed area, the complex would include an on-site 850-room high-rise hotel, 122,000 square feet of retail space and a 17,000-seat concert arena.

"We took a look at this project and the first thing that baffled me was, why isn't there a theme park between Phoenix and Tucson? It's an odd thing," said Peter Alexander, a theme-park designer who has worked for parks including Universal Studios and Disney's Epcot Center.

For the facility to take shape, though, developers need more than a concept.

The planners have hired a Phoenix-area lobbying and public-relations firm to persuade state lawmakers to amend the state law dealing with theme parks.

Planners want to create a special taxing district on the footprint of the park, allowing the district — which would have its own board —to levy a sales tax of up to 9 percent on all activity within the boundaries.

The money would be used to repay low-interest government bonds to repay investors who front the money for the park, a common practice in theme-park development.

For their part, planners would need to persuade financiers to put up money to prove the park has viability before the first bond is issued.

Current law, which was developed in 2005 to make way for a still nonexistent park in Williams, requires the private developers to come up with $500 million.

Kevin DeMenna, the lobbyist for the Eloy project, says that number is unrealistic and said something in the neighborhood of $100 million would be more reasonable.

And those behind the effort say the boon to Arizona's economy and job market make it a good investment for the state. If the project doesn't take shape, the area will likely be developed into tract homes, they argue.

"What every economist is saying is that Arizona needs to get away from a rooftop-driven economy," DeMenna said. "This is as fundamentally opposite as a rooftop-driven economy can be."

Planners say that even if the park doesn't bring new people into the state, Pinal County's rapid growth, Tucson's and Phoenix's urban populations and an already vibrant tourism industry alone create a market of 22.5 million potential customers.

"We didn't assume any induced tourism," Alexander said. "We don't assume a single other person who is not already in this market is going to come to this theme park."

They also say the park could attract visitors all year, even in the blistering heat of the summer, since the area's heat index is only 1 degree higher in the summer than Orlando's.

Part of the impetus for the rock 'n' roll theme is the development of a similar park in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Hard Rock Theme Park is set to open in the spring, and Arizona's theme-park advocates say that by acting now, Pinal County can control the West Coast market.

The concept was dreamed up by Marty West, a 42-year-old native Arizonan. His attractions — from the Beach Boys wave pool to the "Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On" Wooden Coaster — rely on permission from the corresponding artists. Admission would be around $60 for adults.

Still, with Pinal County — the sixth-fastest-growing county in the country — the hottest frontier land in Arizona, the park may ignite the same debate that other projects there have.

State Rep. Steve Farley, a Tucson Democrat, said he's skeptical of "fronting that kind of money for something that doesn't have a plan for how to pay for the interchanges, the additions to I-10."

"On top of that, it doesn't seem like we want to stake our future in Arizona on theme parks," he said. "The way we want to take things is to stake our future on things like renewable energy."

But the plan could find support among those who see development in now-rural Pinal County as not an "if" but a "when."

"I believe people of Eloy and Pinal County would be supportive of this project since the sales-taxing district would only involve the four-mile area … that would immediately surround the park and only tax those new venues that located there," said Rep. Pete Rios, a Democrat who represents the area where the park would be located.

Senate Majority Leader Thayer Verschoor, a Gilbert Republican, called the park "overdue."

"It's very exciting," said Verschoor. "I think it's something that has a lot of potential to brings in jobs, to bring in more tourism and really help things go out here."

On StarNet: Discuss the proposed theme park in the comments section of this story at azstarnet.com/dailystar.

Arizona's original theme park was Legend City, a 58-acre Old West wonderland on the border between Phoenix and Tempe.

The park was created by Louis Crandall in 1963 as Arizona's answer to Disneyland, built at a cost of $5 million.

Legend City included a Lost Dutchman scary mine train ride, the Cochise Stronghold boat ride, which cruised a river traversing much of the park, antique car and train rides, a Ferris wheel, canoes and many other attractions similar to what might be found at its more famous California cousin.

The park, which was never particularly profitable — it declared bankruptcy at least once — closed in 1983.

For a nostalgic look at this piece of Arizona history, check out www.legend-city.com/.