Taken from todays Sentinel.
Local wizards get ready to build Harry Potter's world
Would-be builders of castles outfitted with floating candlesticks and talking oil paintings are lining up to grab a slice of Central Florida's largest and most lucrative themed construction project in nearly a decade.
In the three weeks since Universal Orlando unveiled plans for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure, some local companies that specialize in supplying or building fantasy experiences have signed confidentiality agreements with Universal.
"Everybody's going to be after a piece of this business," said theme-park consultant Steve Baker of Baker Leisure Group.
Universal pledged to spend up to $265 million on the Harry Potter attraction and the transformation of its Back to the Future ride into one based on television's The Simpsons.
Local talent abounds
For companies in the business of bringing the imaginary to life, Harry Potter's theme-park debut signifies a marked turnaround in a post-9-11 slump.
"We've slowly seen a steady increase in projects being green-lit," said Craig Hanna, president of the Themed Entertainment Association, which represents the building and design trade.
More than 40 Central Florida companies are members of the association.
Universal has begun talking with some firms about the project, which is expected to open in late 2009 as a 20-acre "theme park within a theme park" centered on Hogwarts, the magical castle where Harry and his friends attend wizardry school.
Universal likely won't have to look very far for the talent it needs to develop The Wizarding World, Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said.
"Certainly we think a lot of the resources we need are right here in Central Florida," Schroder said. "These are companies that have helped us build amazing experiences in the past."
He said the project likely would involve dozens of contractors.
Bill Nassal Sr. of Orlando-based The Nassal Co., which includes Journey to Atlantis at SeaWorld Orlando and the Curse of DarKastle ride at Busch Gardens in its large portfolio, has carved out a niche as a master of creating some of the best faux-rocks in the business.
It's a skill that could come in handy in the construction of Hogwarts.
Nassal said he couldn't talk about any potential work on the project because of the confidentiality clause, but he said business has been good with recent work on Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and the Las Vegas Springs Preserve.
Buddy Thayer, director of business development at the Orlando office of KHS&S Contractors, said his company also signed a confidentiality agreement with Universal.
"How big is it going to be? Nobody knows," said Thayer, whose company is credited with working on Expedition Everest, a ride that opened last year at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom, as well as Tower of Terror at Disney-MGM Studios.
Secrecy is standard practice in the early stages of major entertainment blueprints, a strategy that serves to protect the plans from competition and to build suspense about the details of a project.
"They're going to protect the creative side of this at the highest level," said Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services Inc. in Cincinnati.
He predicted that the Harry Potter franchise and its accompanying attraction will be "one of the most highly protected intellectual properties of all time."
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The movie is out soon too so they are still a huge money making machine for all involved. 
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