by Beth Keating
News
DisneyBizJournal.com
July 22, 2023
Walt Disney challenged his Imagineers to complete Disneyland in a single year. Construction crews are doing double time at Universal’s EPIC Universe to meet a projected 2025 opening. Disney’s EPCOT renovations have taken… okay, we won’t go there.
But in northeast Oklahoma, American Heartland leadership is gearing up to ambitiously create a new 1,000 acre, $2 billion entertainment destination called American Heartland Theme Park and Resort in just about three years.
Expected to open in phases, the new theme park will start with a large scale RV park with cabins in the spring of 2025, followed by a 125-acre theme park, about the size of Magic Kingdom, launching in 2026, with a variety of “rides, live shows, family attractions, waterways as well as restaurant quality food and beverage offerings.” There is also a 300-room hotel and indoor water park planned, as well as a film and television studio.
“We are thrilled to make Oklahoma the home of American Heartland Theme Park and Resort,” 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.”
The Americana-centered park will have six different lands, themed to Great Plains, Bayou Bay, Big Timber Falls, Stony Point Harbor, Liberty Village and Electropolis. American Heartland Founder and Chief Creative Officer Gene Bicknell added, “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.”
Opening ahead of the theme park section will be the Three Ponies RV Park and Campground, designed by Oklahoma architects ADG Blatt. It will be the largest campground in the central United States, with 750 RV spaces and 300 cabins, plus a variety of amenities.
In case you are worried that this endeavor is being led by a bunch of novices and won’t take flight, it is being developed by American Heartland, an affiliate of Mansion Entertainment Group, the leading performing arts, animation and studio brand in the entertainment hub of Branson, Missouri. Design firms included in the project are THG, FORREC and Cuningham, whose work has included projects for Six Flags, Dollywood, Disney Parks and Universal Studios. And if that wasn’t enough, there will be more than 500 cumulative years of theme park experience in the form of a design team that has more than 20 veteran Disney Parks and Walt Disney Imagineers.
Steve Hedrick, Executive Producer Project Development, leads the talent. Hedrick has 22 years of experience as a WDE Disney executive, but 40 years in the theme park industry overall. His team includes:
- John Sorenson - WDI Land Planner (30 years)
- Tom Turley - DLI Ops Planning & Development (45 years)
- Don Hilsen - WDI Ride Engineer (30 years)
- John Polk - WDI Special Effects (20 years)
- Tim Kirk - WDI Concept Artist (35 years)
- Annette Crump - WDI Planner/Scheduler (11 years)
- Andy Burden – WDE/DLI Technical Design (12 years)
- Rick Allen – WDW Operations (43 years)
- Craig Hodges – WDW Operations (42 years)
- Dave Vermeulen – Disneyland International (40 years)
- Ted Carlsson – Disneyland/WDI VP of Technical Design (35 years)
- Scott Sinclair – Disneyland & WDI Theme Park Designer (20 years)
- Ronnie Rodriquez – Disney Creative Entertainment (35 years)
- Reggie Jarrett – Disney Entertainment (35 years)
American Heartland will be located on Route 66 near I-44 in Vinita, just west of Grand Lake, Oklahoma, and the company anticipates providing more than 4,000 jobs to local residents as they attract more than 4.9 million guests to the new park each year, including two million out-of-state visitors.
“Mansion Entertainment Group is on the verge of becoming the most powerful entity in family entertainment, with its unparalleled expertise across film, television, animation, music, theatre, and family immersive entertainment experiences,” boasted Wilhite. “With a commitment to producing high-quality, wholesome content that the entire family can enjoy, Mansion Entertainment Group has carved a niche for itself in the entertainment industry. Its impressive roster of talents, cutting-edge technology, and innovative storytelling techniques are a testament to its dedication to delivering exceptional entertainment experiences that leave a lasting impact on audiences.”
If you think a visit to American Heartland may be in your future, they are setting up a VIP email list for future news about the park and its various offerings. You can sign up at American Heartland Theme Park and Resort.
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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.
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