<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 JUN-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> APR-1-1997 JAN-1-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 4,608,716 3,379,480 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 6,197,830 5,903,314 <ALLOWANCES> 346,436 271,136 <INVENTORY> 1,673,266 1,603,891 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 13,953,344 12,926,494 <PP&E> 207,070,810 232,320,782 <DEPRECIATION> 25,944,072 2,594,881 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 200,421,664 246,075,784 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 151,661,696 137,946,610 <BONDS> 120,000,000 120,000,000 <COMMON> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <OTHER-SE> 0 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 200,421,664 246,075,784 <SALES> 0 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 60,126,627 64,385,452 <CGS> 0 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 62,139,878 48,214,988 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 119,000 59,368 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 13,156,711 8,669,671 <INCOME-PRETAX> (15,042,122) 7,585,570 <INCOME-TAX> 0 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (15,042,122) 7,585,570 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> (15,042,122) 7,585,570 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 0