and "a people-attraction in downtown Flint centered around the automobile." The project was called "A National Institute of Automotive Science and History (AutoWorld)." In 1980, the C. S. Mott Foundation and the FACI received a market support update from Hammer, Siler, George Associates, which included updated projections based on their initial study of 1976. This updated plan "retains an automotive theme but incorporates many theme park elements" and states, "AutoWorld will contain several rides and shows as well as highly participatory displays and a wide variety of retail and restaurant outlets." AutoWorld was to contain elements of a theme park but on a smaller scale, indoors, and with more attractions for visitors of all ages. This plan included attendance projections and predicted that residents of Flint would comprise the majority of AutoWorld attendees based on projections from other similar theme parks. The final plan for AutoWorld came from Randall Duell Associates, and Recreation Consultants of Santa Clara, headed by David L. Brown, completed a Feasibility Study of AutoWorld for FACI. The plan revealed that projected attendance for the first year would be 750,000 and approximately 1 million for the next year. Financial support The project received financial support from various private and public sources, including $11 million from the Mott Foundation, $36.5 million in public funds, $4 million from local donors, $9 million from Capital Income Properties, and $1 million from GM. Operation After fifteen years of planning, AutoWorld opened on July 4, 1984, with great fanfare, including a parade. For $8.95 a ticket, visitors could enter what many civic boosters named "the largest enclosed theme park in the world." During the first month of operation, AutoWorld hit its turnstile target: From July 4 to August 4, 1984, 139,970 people visited the park. Most experts predicted that AutoWorld would draw one million visitors per year; however, it soon became clear that these figures were overestimated. By the fall of 1984, attendance had already begun to decrease. Although business increased on holidays and weekends, during the week, the attraction was mostly empty. When it became clear that AutoWorld would not reach its attendance target, financiers moved to close the park down. Attractions Inside AutoWorld's dome, there were a variety of attractions, including a replica of historic downtown Flint, designed to depict Saginaw Street as it appeared in 1900. This simulation included a flowing river, comfortable benches, and "$500,000 worth of tropical