A new theme park is in the works with the help of former Disney Imagineers…or is it??
©American Heartland
Last year, we learned that a new $2 billion theme park and resort project called American Heartland was being developed in northeast Oklahoma. One detail that stood out in the initial news about the theme park was that several former Disney Imagineers were included on the park’s development team. But, as excited as we were to see a new theme park in the works, we now have some concerns about the project.
According to the initial renderings, the American Heartland resort will span 1,000 acres in Vinita, Oklahoma, and include a 125-acre theme park roughly the size of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, plus a water park, a large RV park with cabins, a dinner theatre, an amphitheater, a swimming pool, a clubhouse, and more.
©American Heartland
The development team includes over a dozen former Disney employees with experience in special effects, technical design, entertainment, and more.
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The theme park is planned to have six themed Americana lands: Liberty Village, Great Plains, Bayou Bay, Bit Timber Falls, Stony Point Harbor, and Electropolis. And considering the wealth of experience involved, we’ve been excited to see things come to life.
©American Heartland
But it looks like there have been some serious bumps in the road in the creation of the park. The project was initially slated to open in the fall of 2026, with the Three Ponies RV and Campground, which will consist of an estimated 750 RV spaces and 300 cabins, expected to open earlier in 2025. But, two years before the theme park was originally set to open, things have changed.
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In September 2024, construction was halted on the project due to financial issues. The expected cost increased from the initial estimate of $2 billion to $2.5 billion, and the developer, Mansion Entertainment, was accused of not paying the bills during the construction of the theme park.
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According to Tulsa World, construction has not progressed one year after groundbreaking, and the 2026 opening will likely be pushed back at least three years. Developer Mansion Entertainment Group has also said it is awaiting permit approvals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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Several companies involved in the project’s development claim they are still owed money for completed work. Canadian design firm Forrec filed a lien in May against Mansion Entertainment, claiming it is owed nearly $5.5 million from unpaid invoices for design and planning work for both the theme park and RV park.
Another company, Crossland Construction, filed a similar claim in May that alleges it is owed $352,429 for labor performed and materials furnished in February for the RV park and campground.
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The project also encountered another major setback in May, when legislators declined to approve a requested $35 million for water and wastewater improvements to accommodate the resort.
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On top of the financial and construction challenges, the theme park’s location has also caused hesitation in the minds of industry experts. American Heartland is being constructed in Vinita, Oklahoma, which is about 170 miles northeast of Oklahoma City, and far from any major city or airport.
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Despite these setbacks, developers say that the project is still on, and have claimed that construction is “a few weeks away” from beginning. But considering the mounting financial and logistical issues, we’re getting concerned about the future of this planned new theme park.
©American Heartland
We’ll continue to keep an eye out for any more news about construction on American Heartland, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest updates!
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This concept looks very familiar… Disney’s America (originally planned for Haymarket, VA, and later to replace Knott’s Berry Farm, if the Knott’s family had been willing), anyone?
One of my biggest concerns isn’t financial- it’s the weather. Why place a major multi billion dollar theme park in the middle of one of the most tornado prone regions on the planet?! Oklahoma gets on average 56 tornadoes per year.
Just skipping over Tulsa like that when discussing airports and larger cities? Feels like trying to stir up some stuffs! lol