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Saturday 22 July 2023

$2 billion American Heartland theme park bigger than Disney’s Magic Kingdom revealed: 'There is so much to celebrate about our country'

 Plans for a massive $2 billion theme park – that is bigger than Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom – were revealed this week. The enormous American Heartland Theme Park and Resort won't be located in Florida or California, but in Oklahoma.

Plans for the American Heartland theme park have been proposed for a 1,000-acre property in the heart of northeast Oklahoma, just west of Grand Lake on Route 66. The tourist attraction will boast a 125-acre theme park and a 300-room hotel with an indoor water park. The new attraction will boast a "nostalgic charm of a traditional amusement park."

The new park features six "distinctly American" lands: Great Plains, Bayou Bay, Big Timber Falls, Stony Point Harbor, Liberty Village, and Electropolis.

The first phase of the project – the 320-acre Three Ponies RV Park and Campground – is scheduled to open in spring 2025. The campground will be the largest campground in the central United States and will accommodate 750 RV spaces and 300 cabins with amenities. 

The American Heartland Theme Park and Resort is expected to open in 2026.

The amusement park's design team is composed of more than 20 former Disney Parks builders and Walt Disney Imagineers.

The theme park is being developed by THG, an "independent creative agency specializing in creating awe-inspiring attractions for theme parks, museums, and leading brands." The project is funded by the Mansion Entertainment Group LLC – the leading performing arts, animation, and studio brand in Branson, Missouri. 

"The 1,000-acre development will feature the 125-acre American Heartland theme park, which is comparable to the size of Magic Kingdom Theme Park and Disneyland Park," the press release reads. "The park will feature an Americana-themed environment with a variety of entertaining rides, live shows, family attractions, waterways as well as restaurant-quality food and beverage offerings. The theme park and resort are scheduled to open in fall of 2026."

Erik Neergaard, chief creative officer at THG, said, "I am so excited to embark on this extraordinary project, joining forces with this talented collection of teams. Our collaboration brings together decades of expertise and creativity. We are honored that Mansion Entertainment Group is leading the development of this captivating and unforgettable destination. This is one of the first independent theme parks of this scale to be built in the US in many years."

"American Heartland will be a place families can come together to create lasting memories, experience joy, laughter, imagination and wonder," American Heartland founder and chief creative officer Gene Bicknell said. "There is so much to celebrate about our country: its landscapes, its cultures and most importantly, its people. No matter where you’re from, you’ll feel right at home at American Heartland."

American Heartland CEO Larry Wilhite said, "At the crossroads of the heartland, Oklahoma is an attractive location for a family entertainment destination. The state’s business-friendly approach and innovative partnership efforts have helped make this possible. We look forward to bringing unforgettable generational experiences to Oklahoma."

American Heartland is estimated to bring in 5 million guests annually, including 2 million out-of-state visitors. Oklahoma State Senator Micheal Bergstrom said the theme park would create more than 4,000 jobs.

 

American Heartland Theme Park and Resort previewwww.youtube.com

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