Dive brief:
- Over $2 billion new theme park and resort called American Heartland coming soon to Vinita, Oklahoma, according to a news release from the developer. The 1,000-acre development, first announced in July, will include roller coasters, an indoor water park, a 300-room hotel and a 320-acre RV park.
- The park portion will feature six American-themed environments spread over 125 acres that host a variety of rides, live shows, waterways, concessions and other family attractions, according to developer American Heartland, a subsidiary of Mansion Entertainment Group, with based in Branson, Missouri.
- The development will be built in phases, starting with an RV park and cabins, which are expected to open in the spring of 2025. The theme park and resort are expected to open in 2026, according to the project’s website.
Diving knowledge:
The developer used Columbus, Kansas Crossland Construction to build the 320-acre Three Pony Park and Campground, according to Fox23 News. Oklahoma City-based architecture firm ADG Blatt designed what will be the largest campground in the central United States with 750 RV spaces and 300 cabins, according to the developer.
Plans for American Heartland indicate that the final footprint would rival the size of the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland theme parks, and its design team includes former Disney park builders and Walt Disney Imagineers.
Vinita Mayor Josh Lee said Mansion Entertainment has secured funding for the park’s construction, according to Fox23 News. On Tuesday, the City Council of Vinita approved a proposal to annex several square miles of land for development.
Lee also said the city is speeding up the permitting process to build the homes, restaurants, hotels and other infrastructure needed to support the projected increase in the city’s population, which currently stands at just over 5,000 people. Local leaders plan to ask at least the Oklahoma State Legislature $36 million in infrastructure improvements to support the project, according to NonDoc.
At least one expert has been skeptical about the possibility that the project can be carried out. Robert Niles, who runs Theme Park Insider, wrote it Theme park projects are notoriously challenging to build and critical questions remain about the American Heartland in particular. Not only is the price astronomical, but the park’s intended location is far from any major cities or airports.
Construction Dive reached out to the developer to learn more about the project, including where the funding would come from and whether any contractors had been chosen. Mansion Entertainment responded in an email: “We will follow up in a few weeks when we have more information to share.”
