Is This NEW Theme Park in Oklahoma Actually Happening?

A new theme park? In Oklahoma? Yes, you heard that right. Is this announcement too good to be true? And if it does happen, what new rides and coasters can we expect? Let's take a look at the new American Heartland Theme Park.
American Heartland is a $2 billion theme park and resort development in northeast Oklahoma. The 1,000-acre resort destination is expected to attract more than 4.9 million guests per year to Oklahoma.
Do you think this will happen, is this a project that interests you? Is an entertainment district in Oklahoma a crazy idea or is this the right area to do it?
About Jake Coasters:
My name's Jake and this is my KZbin channel where we discuss everything theme parks, coasters, and, of course, always have some time to talk about Halloween. Wherever there's a coaster getting built or a theme park doing something new, we'll probably talk about it.
This channel features features discussion on theme park news topics, and in depth video essays on more specific theme park topics. I also LOVE Planet Coaster and feature some of my concepts from time to time.
Rumors discussed here are verified before being shared as best as possible, and thoughts are my own, not necessarily those of the theme parks or companies we discuss.
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Chapters
0:00-0:17 Intro
0:18-1:36 About The Project
1:37-3:48 Why it Wouldn't Happen
3:49-5:37 Walkthrough and Analysis of the Park
5:38-6:12 Wait, Disney?
6:13-6:37 Final Thoughts
#themeparks #americanheartland #rollercoasters

[@JakeCoasters]

Is this park really happening?

[@scittw22]

I live in this area. I don't see how Vinita could possibly support something of this scale. It's a small town with not much going on other than being a highway stop on the way to Tulsa. The only real draw in the area is a lake that's about 20 minutes away. It'll be a game changer for the area of it somehow all works but the chance of failure seems incredibly high

[@JakeCoasters]

I agree with all this

[@WrestlerUmbra]

Orlando use to be in the middle of nowhere and now look at it

[@emeraldcoal2360]

This. Also a local here, and sorry to say I’m almost 80% sure this is going to be an RV park and that’s it. Also they’re trying to have this all done in 3 years is a joke. Haha, we’ve had single bridges under construction for longer than that and just the infrastructure alone is going to take that long. All these dirt roads need to be paved, new exit off the turnpike, what about lodging for all the new workers they’re going to have to bring in just to build the roads, widening roads for equipment, getting water and electric out in the middle of nowhere, upgrading the electric grid to handle this monstrosity? So many moving parts to build up. Also everyone compares it to Disney starting its parks, but Disney already had a name for itself when they created the parks. This is a brand new start up from a theater company no one outside of Branson, Mo has ever heard about. Maybe I’m just a little salty because they’re so much beautiful land being sold to mega corps right now and it’s going to be all concrete jungle instead of beautiful rolling family farms. Just more of our agricultural history being sold off and owned by out of state money-hungry investors never to be gotten back again, which is truly sad.

[@andrewdelodance7864]

This is a fantastic idea and the market has a HUGE space for it. The market also desperately needs the competition. They'll have to really deliver. Hopefully the huge budget is going to allow them to do that.

[@wendypierce5621]

The infrastructure challenges will be massive. Also, they’ll need some kind of never before seen ride to get people in the gates.

[@ilikemolassessomex48]

I don’t think so. If they make their parks very nice, high standards, but have their prices adjusting to the middle class , people will come. People will drive from Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas to check it out. They all do for Dollywood. Minnesota and down would… other states too. Like Arkansas for instance. Disney and Universal have out priced millions. I can see this park having a decent chance at becoming successful.

[@JakeCoasters]

Yes, this is a big issue with Lost Island

[@ducktails1695]

Totally agree! They really need something to set them apart so guests come there instead of any other well established park, even if it's something other than Disney or Universal.

[@ukeman1143]

I have hope in this park for sure. Ironically, I think they're gonna pull a "disneyland" with this, where no one had hope for the financial viability of the park due to it's location and scope, but it made such an impact and drove so much tourism that it was successful. I think it all depends on the marketing at the end of the day though. Lost island is amazing but the marketing fell flat and it's empty half the time.

[@agustdan6599]

I would travel to Oklahoma for this.

[@JakeCoasters]

Same

[@vikingshelm]

I think this could do very well. I'm hoping for some animatronics, and rop notch ride theming/ effects. EPIC Universe is supposedly around 1 billion dollars, so this could be huge.

[@ducktails1695]

DOA....$2 Billion isn't enough money to do what they want to do at the scale they wanna do it. It's a horrible location. I see things getting cut from their original plans and if it is built, it won't be built to this plan. I just don't see it being as popular as they think it will be. They have a short about of time to get that many guests into their parks every year before it gets too cold to visit and enjoy the park (assuming it doesn't close for the winter months). Also, where are they going to get the amount of workers it will take to operate this park? I don't see people moving to Oklahoma just so they can work at a park that may or not may even do well and may or may not even be open year round. Disney and Universal hire over 10,000 people to run their parks. I've heard to open Epic Universe alone Universal will need to hire around 14,000 team members. It'll be hard for Universal to do this let alone a company trying to hire say 8,000 to run their park in the middle of nowhere.

[@JakeCoasters]

Hard Rock Park energy

[@ducktails1695]

@@JakeCoasters Yeah I think so. Don't get me wrong it looks like a nice park and it obviously has a lot of theme park talent behind it but the entire thing just doesn't make sense and I just don't see it working out.

[@laurabutler8801]

This would do better near OKC. Vinita is too small and too close to Silver Dollar City. They will have a hard time finding employees in a town of 6k people, or they'll bring workers in who won't have anywhere to live.

[@GJF118]

I see that Vinita is about 160 miles from Branson, MO. It could be that the developers are planning to appeal to the Branson crowds...?

[@vikingshelm]

Keep in mind that there are also many large cities within a couple of hours, and some even larger ones within a few hours away.

[@JakeCoasters]

True

[@TravelPrabz]

I agree there are alot.. big and mid size cities within 4 hours... KC Dallas ft worth NW Arkansas Tulsa OKC Wichita Little Rock Springfield MO

[@Goliath146]

If that intamin coaster opens it will for sure be the best ride in the park

[@SavedFromJesus]

Biggest issue is how far it is from airports BUT first phase is an RV focused resort so target may be local based travelers. Biggest bit of hopefulness is that is funded by one guy so this avoids the biggest possible issue which is conflicting demands of multiple investors. Plus on Oct 18th they announced to local news that they will be breaking ground on the 30th for phase one (the resort). Not holding my breath but leaning towards the optimistic side of this being a welcomed reality.

[@coasterfair2602]

3:55 I don’t know because look at Lost Island (the new theme park in Iowa)

[@shannonnewton9306]

I may or may not live next to the town that the theme parks in and the TINY.I mine I'm pretty sure its the biggest city in its county but still

[@JakeCoasters]

Hmm interesting...so not a good idea to open a park here then?

[@ryanrobertson8951]

I live about and hour from this location and people that live there say nothing has been done so far.

[@JakeCoasters]

Gotcha, thanks for the update

[@graphicsaw2657]

Biggest issue I foresee will be weather tornado season and winter ice storms

[@JakeCoasters]

Ah good point, I didn't think of that

[@-OAK-]

There are already theme parks and stuff in Oklahoma and they do just find

[@johnwondolowski179]

@@JakeCoasters The designers will just have to take those sorts of factors into account when designing and building everything. Just like parks in California have to deal with seismic events and those in Florida have to deal with hurricanes as well as other severe weather events.

[@IntaminFanGRLPowerCoasters]

Wait they canceled the Intamin Blitz for a Vekoma shuttle?

[@JakeCoasters]

Could be a blitz

[@thedude4063]

Im thinking it will be closer to Lost Island... Not unsuccessful but attendance no where near what they wanted

[@JakeCoasters]

Yeah, it feels that way

[@jonathanhess4735]

With Disney being driven into politics, this will be an easy switch for roughly half the country who would rather not take kids to an overpriced Florida. This 💯 will bring people and investment in from across the world. Oklahoma has also been growing rapidly. Ex: 2017 OKC was the 52nd largest city in USA. Today it is now the 20th.

[@AmericanHeartlandInsider]

I agree ❤ ! This is going to be a game changer!!

[@JakeCoasters]

Interesting, I guess we'll see

[@gstevens6948]

There is already a 9 million dollar lien on the property from a contractor. 🤷‍♂️

[@JakeCoasters]

Uh oh

[@ictyyz]

Lived in the Midwest all my life....this will fail. The big Orlando/ California parks have ...well the have Orlando and California, Oklahoma has red dirt. For this to pop off it needs partnership with big IPs . Also sad to say but the idea of America isn't all that popular with older treens and people in their 20s. If they get a deal with sega/ sonic or others maybe game of thrones or something...but it will NEED something and not just a light show with fountains that will be turned off due to it freezing. Idk....seems like it will go bust

[@JakeCoasters]

Yeah I agree, very concerned about this becoming the next Hard Rock Park

[@TNParadeFan]

Disneyland made Anaheim, CA famous it will make Vinita, OK famous to right.

[@JakeCoasters]

Ha, perhaps

[@keouine]

This billionaire is itching to leave his mark. I wish he could be persuaded to steer away from a new amusement park for all the reasons mentioned in video. Saner ideas IMO : Approach Herschend about funding/investing in a huge addition to Silver Dollar City or sister park next door like Disneyland and California adventure or Islands of Adventure and UStudios Florida. Mergers and cash infusions are pretty common. Branson's altitude makes it a few degrees cooler in summer. Last time I checked it had lots of spare hotel rooms as interest in the shows has diminished. The Disney and UStudios people really took lots of factors into account and they had tons of IP and a history of entertainment behind them.. This idea sounds like the Emperor's New clothes .

[@JakeCoasters]

Yeah the project has a lot of red flags. The theme park seems like it's the 'phase 3' of the project, but the location still baffles me

[@johnwondolowski179]

The problem with a second theme park in Branson is that it has already been tried and failed. Celebration City was owned and operated by Herschend and was nowhere near as popular as Silver Dollar City. After that failure, I doubt that Herschend would try and add a second park or anything like that in the Branson area again. I guess an addition to Silver Dollar City could work, but the question then becomes would it be worthwhile?

[@briancooper4120]

I'm from Missouri and phase 1 is underway right now. I'm a Silver Dollar City fan. So I won't be going to Oklahoma.

[@JakeCoasters]

Yeah it seems like it's happening