American Heartland Theme Park is set to open in fall 2026 to the tune of $2 billion (see https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2023/07/26/american-heartland-theme-park-oklahoma-amusement-park-owner-mansion-entertainment-gene-bicknell/70465387007/). It will be 125 acres (so similar in size to the Magic Kingdom or Disneyland) and located near Vinita, Oklahoma, which is in the northeast part of the state. The current population of Vinita is 5743, although that number will increase significantly by the time the park opens, especially if it is going to handle 4.9 million guests per year (as announced). In addition to the theme park, the resort will include an indoor water park, a hotel, and a RV Park with campgrounds; the latter is part of Phase 1 set to open spring 2025. Mansion Entertainment Company out of Branson, Missouri is the developer, although to date, they have a limited project inventory. Gene Bicknell is the financier of the park; he had run hundreds of Pizza Hut franchises around the world. There are at least 20 former Disney and Universal employees with hundreds of years of experience working on the project. In Reviewtyme’s video (see above), the commentator mentions that the park calls to mind a canceled Disney theme park that was to be called Disney’s America. That park had been proposed for Haymarket, Virginia in November 1993 but canceled in September 1994 after underperforming at Euro Disney. There is the possibility that the park will never see the light of day, although the fact that it is privately financed gives it a greater probability.
ReviewTyme describes the 6 lands as he can best tell from the concept art (although the final design is subject to change). Liberty Village is the entrance land with shops, restaurants, and a theatre. There is some sort of transportation system akin to the Disneyland Railroad but which allows guests to drive vehicles around the park. Bayou Bay has a swamp boat cruise and a stunt show. Great Plains features a wooden roller coaster, family coaster, flat rides, a flying theater, and a Charlotte’s Web dark ride. Big Timber Falls features a Big Foot Falls log flume. Stony Point Harbor has flat rides, a concert venue, and a Haunted Lighthouse boat ride; this is also where the hotel will have an entrance to the park. Electropolis is the park’s futuristic land. It features a S&S shot tower and a Terminal Velocity launch coaster I researched and analyzed the new theme park based on what I have done for other potential locations in this project of mine. The overall location rating of 59.4 suggests that Vinita will be a relatively good location for a theme park (accepting for things like a limited workforce and proximity to a major airport). Being 1169 miles from the closest top tier theme parks in Orlando gives the park a high probability of not having to compete seriously with Disney and Universal theme parks (note: the small Universal park opening in Frisco, TX was not counted as a top tier theme park for this analysis). The weather score of 73 makes it comparable to San Francisco and Frisco, TX, worse than Los Angeles, but better than Orlando. The population of 2.6 million people within 100 miles (with Tulsa being the largest city) puts it behind most locations that would be considered for a major theme park (except for places like Dubai and Stockholm). In conclusion, I am hopeful that American Heartland will be a 2nd tier theme park if and when it opens. Like my recent review of the Lost Island Park (Waterloo, Iowa), I believe attendance will be an issue. However, it should be a good and inexpensive alternative to the Disney and Universal parks found in southern California and Florida.
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