There’s been a lot of talk recently about new theme parks, especially in Orlando.
We knew Universal’s Epic Universe was coming, but with the recent influx of new information about the park, people have asked if it’ll prompt Disney World to build a fifth park. While we don’t have the answer to that right now, we want to remind you that former Disney Imagineers ARE building a new park, and now we have more information about it!
According to 5Chicago, we have some updates on the massive $2 billion theme park set to be built in Oklahoma after over half a year of radio silence. While no opening date is in place just yet, the American Heartland’s website now states an opening timeline of Fall 2026!
The park will be located near Vinita, Oklahoma, and will be a 125-acre theme park. It will also include an RV park called Three Ponies RV and Campground, which is set to open in Spring 2025. The plans are for the campground to have 750 RV spaces, 300 cabins, and a “300-room hotel and modern indoor waterpark.”
The theme park itself will have six “‘distinctly American lands‘” — Great Plains, Bayou Bay, Big Timber Falls, Stony Point Harbor, Liberty Village, and Electropolis — plus live shows, waterways, and restaurants. The park is expected to attract over 2 million out-of-state visitors each year, as well as create over 4,000 jobs.
In a press release, Gene Bicknell, American Heartland Founder and Chief Creative Officer, said, “American Heartland will be a place families can come together to create lasting memories, experience joy, laughter, imagination and wonder.”
We can’t wait to hear more about this park as it develops, so be sure to stay tuned to AllEars!
Here’s why we’re nervous about Disney’s $60 billion park expansion plan
Join the AllEars.net Newsletter to stay on top of ALL the breaking Disney News! You'll also get access to AllEars tips, reviews, trivia, and MORE! Click here to Subscribe!
Are you looking forward to this new theme park? Tell us in the comments!
So now fall of 2026, with main season in that area spring and summer why open so late in the year. So far I believe they are only working on the RV park and as I have stated before, will only start to believe in the theme park when they start building it.
You cannot patent–or copyright–an idea, particularly one so broad as “America.” If this proposed park is copying anything, it would be closer to Freedomland USA, the long-gone park in New York. And of course, the Independence Hall and Liberty Bell that is planned for Heartland’s entry appears to be almost an exact copy of Knott’s Berry Farms existing Independence Hall.
Couldn’t Disney technically sue them for this since this is actually a Disney idea that was created during the Eisner years that was put on the back burner after initial plans were filed and then the project was canceled? I would think that Disney would have intellectual property rights over this idea. I guess it might have to do with whether it was patented or not.
I’m sure the Heartland people had attorneys assure that no conflict existed. I’m excited to visit this new park. It’s within a days drive of our Midwestern home. The only problem I see is that it’s located in tornado alley. The weather could pose a problem.
You can’t copyright an idea, just the execution of it. Change some details, take out the Disney characters and add in others and Voila!