Party time near
Cabo Wabo plans to rock at Granite Park in Fresno.

By Sanford Nax / The Fresno Bee

Published 05/27/08 10:35:00

At 30 feet tall and 100 feet long, rocker Sammy Hagar's presence is obvious on an outside wall at his soon-to-open Cabo Wabo Cantina in Fresno.

A huge multihued replica of Hagar's guitar, a painting of Sammy reclining in a chair on the beach and a portrait of a man splitting the core of an agave plant dominate a huge mural that plasters the wall of the cantina being built at Granite Park, near Dakota and Cedar avenues.

The mural, designed with the help of a trusted Hagar aide and painted by brothers Jeff and Chaz Higginbottom, helps convey Granite Park's emerging status as an entertainment center.

"Cabo is a party place," said Steve Doroski, an employee of developer Milt Barbis, as he admired the mural. "This is where the party begins."

In fact, Barbis said the mural will include a line that reads: "Where the land ends ... the party begins."

That "party" should be under way at the end of June. Barbis said some key employees already have been hired, but dozens more are needed. He even needs musicians for a house band.

People interested in working at Cabo Wabo or being in the band can apply at The Public House restaurant next door, he said.

The mural is one large distinguishing mark of the 14,000-square-foot Cabo Wabo. Others include a replica lighthouse being built at its rear and an entrance that resembles a tequila barrel.

Hagar is on tour with Kenny Chesney, LeAnn Rimes, Keith Urban and Gary Allen through July, but is expected to perform at Cabo Wabo at some point.

Granite Park, which started as soccer and softball fields, has added restaurants, office buildings and has plans for an ambitious theme park. Several roller coasters are planned, including rides that used to be at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The original timeline called for the rides to be ready this spring, but getting the proper permits took longer than expected, Barbis said. He said he now hopes to get the rides finished in the fall.

"We got the final grading permit for the theme park buildings, and I hope to pull permits next week," Barbis said.

Also slated to open are an outdoor catering center for weddings and other events, a high-end Russian steakhouse called Red and The Shack, which will serve Southern, barbecue and Cajun-style shellfish and other dishes.