There’s a new $2 billion theme park in the works, but it won’t be in California or Florida. The American Heartland Theme Park and Resort—comparable in size to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World—is planned for a spot off the historic Route 66, outside Vinita, Oklahoma.
The 1,000-acre resort complex will include an RV park, world-class theme park, a 300-room hotel and a modern indoor water park. Developers expect the destination to attract around 5 million guests per year, according to a press release, and with more than 20 former Disney Parks builders and Walt Disney Imagineers on the project team, the new theme park is bound to give Disney a little competition.
The American Heartland Theme Park will be Americana-themed, with “thrilling” rides, “heartwarming” live shows, family attractions and waterways plus high-quality food and beverage offerings at on-site restaurants. The park will feature six American-themed lands: Great Plains, Bayou Bay, Big Timber Falls, Stony Point Harbor, Liberty Village and Electropolis.
Overnight visitors to the park will be able to stay in a 300-room hotel or an expansive RV park, with 750 RV spaces and 300 cabins with amenities. The 320-acre Three Ponies RV Park and Campground will be the largest campground in the central U.S.
The first phase of development includes the RV park and is expected to open in spring of 2025, followed by the theme park in 2026.
In addition to a new option for theme park enthusiasts, American Heartland is expected to make a big economic impact in the region. “There’s no better place to represent the heart of America than northeast Oklahoma,” said Oklahoma State Sen. Micheal Bergstrom in the press release. “This $2 billion investment in our state will create more than 4,000 jobs and introduce a new category of entertainment to the region, and its long-term economic impact will be transformative.”