<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                    YEAR 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                           1,782                   1,254
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   27,600                  18,623
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (2,399)                   (795)
<INVENTORY>                                        813                     611
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                32,189                  20,381
<PP&E>                                         214,981                 158,154
<DEPRECIATION>                                (54,500)                (45,020)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 394,713                 234,820
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           45,095                  44,314
<BONDS>                                        278,851                 216,640
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           165                     100
<OTHER-SE>                                      59,158                (25,438)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   394,713                 234,820
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               183,517                 129,748
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  101,940                  73,870
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 1,604                      38
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              29,262                  17,225
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (1,737)                   2,523
<INCOME-TAX>                                     7,424                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (9,161)                   2,523
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  6,036                   2,015
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (15,197)                     508
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.69)                  (0.10)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.69)                  (0.10)