The problem with the American heartland theme park

[@DouglasRickard]

I would actually travel from England to this, as it's designed by ex-Disney imagineers - looks amazing

[@LordLaroyalty]

WRONG!!! ALL LIES!!! There are 5 reasons why they chose this area and they are all GREAT reasons why this is a great place! Yes, it's not in Tulsa or OKC, but that doesn't matter and here's why. 1. It's along Route 66, which brings in MILLIONS of people every year and is currently Oklahoma's biggest attraction and state's biggest money maker! 2. It's near I-44, which has huge amounts of traffic everyday and many people use to travel. 3. You did directions from downtown Tulsa, not from the edge of Tulsa! It's only 45 minutes from East Tulsa and Catoosa. That is NOT EVEN THE SLIGHEST BIT of a problem!!! 4. It is 45 minutes from 3 cities: Tulsa, Joplin, and Rogers/Springdale/Bentonville/Fayetteville (I consider that area to be all one city because frankly, it should be). 5. It is at the intersection of Highway 60 and Highway 82. Anyone who says this won't work is lying to themselves! There is NO WAY it won't work!!! It is backed by Mansion Entertainment and they have already invested 2 BILLION dollars of their own money into this! THIS WILL WORK!!!

[@-OAK-]

I’m not saying they shouldn’t build it and it won’t be a success, I want it built in Oklahoma, because it can bring more growth and tourism to Oklahoma. But like i said there are just better locations. That Route 66 argument can be said for a lot of cities in Oklahoma, that not only deserve it more, but would also be easier to bring more attraction. What about Arcadia? It’s on Route 66, and unlike vinita it actually has attractions (multiple actually) and is close to OKC The main reason they picked vinita was because of its geographical location, and another reason is because one of the founders is from vinita. They chose vinita because it’s next to the grand lakes, and is in between Tulsa, Kansas City. But if they were to move in down south like medicine park, or OKC. It would be closer to Texas cities. Which would probably be more beneficial. Like I said there isn’t a airports for another hour from vinita, which will make people less interested in flying out. Which like I also said they don’t have the money nor population to privately fund one either. I don’t think this is gonna be a huge fail, I think it will be massive, but I don’t think they will achieve their 5mil opening year goal with the placement. I think you want it to be a big success opening year, than it would be best to place in, or near OKC. But once vinita gets a airport than it will be fine. But that will take a while. It took Anaheim 20 years to get 100k after Disney so it would take quite a bit to get 50k in vinita (which is the required amount for a airport) My points aren’t about it not succeeding, it’s about it not succeeding the way they want in such little time, because of its location from a airport. I honestly think vinita can get 100k people to live in it within the next 40 years if they finish this. But like I said, it could bring more growth to a city like Guthrie or Stillwater, and not only are those cities more deserving of growth (especially Guthrie) but they are also better placed, Stillwater is in between Tulsa and OKC, and Guthrie is next to OKC which would have the benefit of being close to Dallas, and other big Texas cities. I’m literally the strongest believer in the success of the legends tower, and you think I don’t think a massive theme park will succeed? I’m simply just trying to say if they want to achieve their goal they should move it closer to OKC, I’m not saying it won’t be a huge success.

[@joshuacarlton1386]

Maybe ya should read about Branson, MO. The city population during the time that Silver Dollar City is closed is way less than 50,000 people. If ya look at the surrounding area. Grove, Afton, Miami, Vinita, Chelsea, Commerce, Joplin, Tahlequah, Tulsa, Catoosa, Claremore, Pryor, Baxter Springs, Independence, Coffeyville, Webb City, Neosho, Siloam Springs, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville. Theres well over 800,000 people just within 1.5 hrs. Throw in Springfield, MO & OKC that's well over 1,000,000 people within 3 hrs.

[@-OAK-]

@@joshuacarlton1386 I’m not saying it’s a bad location, I’m saying there are better locations, Thackerville is a better option and it has 500 people. I want this to happen, and I don’t care where it is (as long as it’s In Oklahoma) I’m just saying there are better places this could’ve been, I do agree vinita is a good location but Guthrie and thackerville are just better in general, especially if they are looking to grow the town they are in, I do think vinita will grow, but nowhere at the level githrie would, I do think they will do good in tourism, but nowhere to the level it would in thackerville.

[@-OAK-]

Dang, my opinion is starting to change, I think it’s a pretty good placement, maybe I’ll make a video explaining on why I think it’s good now, and what I think the city will look like in 10 years. But I still think Guthrie would be a better choice, even thackerville despite its even smaller population, it already has the 8th most visited casino world wide, so it would probably work better also.

[@musiclightss]

If you look to the east of Vinita. I'm just now realized their is a lot of resorts in the monkey lake area. also realized how many visit the will Rogers archway. which goes over the highway. So technically Vinita has been a tourist spot for awhile at least. And no one really thought about it. I didn't know there was resorts just like 10 minutes outside of the town.

[@-OAK-]

@@musiclightss wait a minute, music? From depressed ginger 💀

[@musiclightss]

@@-OAK- Ummm. lol😂😂😂

[@-OAK-]

Just to clarify I’m not saying I think it won’t be successful, no this will be drastically impactful for vinita, it could maybe even get 100k in 20 year like Anaheim or Arlington if it’s starting off as they expect, but I’m saying it will be more successful in the given towns, because they are closer to OKC and Dallas, bigger cities than the ones vinita is close to, even Thackerville might be a good place and it could become the next Vegas, because they already have the worlds biggest casino, and it’s the 8th most visited world wide, it’s also a even distance form Dallas and okc, it will still be massively impactful in vinita I just feel like there’s better Oklahoma towns for it to be built in or that make more sense.

[@neogigo]

Let’s add high speed rail to Dallas and stop in thackerville..then we would be mega region..

[@traci4750]

People will travel an hour from the airport. Its 45 mins sometimes an hour to get to the parks from LAX or Orlando MCO. I plan on going!

[@-OAK-]

Yea I plan on remaking this video as to why I now think it’s a good idea, I still do think Guthrie and even Thackerville are better locations tho

[@oumaniac]

What's the progress on this? I would go.

[@-OAK-]

They have had problems that have stopped it from going through construction, like having to get approval or something from the city, it being built in a flood plain, and recently being sued, so there has been no progress on construction, but aside from all of that they say that are continuing construction soon, they are trying as hard as they can to make this a reality, saying they will be at the ribbon cutting. so they expect to open late 2026 but It might be later than that. The giant RV park being built with it, Called the three ponies is expected to open 2025

[@joshuacarlton1386]

FLOOD PLAIN my ass. The nearest creek is Cabin Creek. Unless that damn thing has a once in a lifetime flood, the park aint gonna flood either. Not to mention the area where park is gonna be build is an easy 75' above the creek. If the Neosho floods like it did years ago, floodwaters still wont even come close to the park. Proper drainage of the pond by the APAC Plant would eliminate any flooding. Ive only seen the area closeby under water, the dirt roads anyways. That year, we got a torrent of rain. It rained so frigging much, Pensacola Dam had to open all 31 gates to alleviate stress on the dam. People of the surrounding area will remember it. I believe it may have been 2017 or 18

[@johnna4487]

The problem is that they pissed off Crossland Construction and cannot find anyone else to give them a chance.

[@goldenlordofnightmares]

Building it in Vinita is like playing Jurassic World 2 on chaos theory with frequent storms.

[@allowedtotalk8910]

Central Florida is the same storm threat.

[@maxwarboy3625]

Had not heard of this theme park yet. Thank you for reporting the news.

[@BeNice92]

I think the point of it being in vinita is to get people from the bordering states.

[@albertsancho5909]

The perfect location for this theme park is in Ardmore or Pauls Valley right off of I-35. One of those 2 towns being between OKC and Dallas is a perfect location. Also they better have insurance for that billion dollar theme park since it's in tornado alley.

[@-OAK-]

Yea I didn’t say it in the video but I think thackerville might be a good place too, it’s right next to the worlds biggest casino, and it’s a even distance between OKC and Dallas, if it’s built in thackerville it could become the next Vegas because it would be a entertainment city, having the worlds biggest casino and a Disney level theme park right next to each other. The only problem with that is the population, but at-least it has a airport unlike vinita.

[@albertsancho5909]

@@-OAK- Thackerville is another good option and it's a lot closer to the Dallas Fort Worth area than OKC in which it would draw more people from Texas.

[@jessmcafee2557]

It's also already having debt issues

[@jerrytherobot]

It’ll draw people from fayetville and all that Walmart money in bentonville too

[@-OAK-]

Yea, I’m kinda starting to think I was wrong about this video, but I do still h think Guthrie and even thackerville would be a better idea

[@iseewood]

I didn’t look on a map when I heard about this. I assumed it was between Oklahoma City and Dallas, not out in the middle of nowhere! If it’s inconvenient to drive there and inconvenient to fly there, who is going to visit?

[@-OAK-]

That’s why I think thackerville is the best option, it’s a even distance from Dallas and OKC, and it already has the biggest casino in the world which is probably a top 5 most visited casino world wide, considering it was 8th when it was the 2nd biggest. But I was wrong about a couple things in the video. Vinita is in between KC, Tulsa, and Little Rock, as well as some big towns like Branson. Not only that but it’s next to the grand lakes which is a tourist attraction. So it’s not necessarily a bad location it’s good, but thackerville and Guthrie would be better for business and Guthrie would bring the most growth.

[@iseewood]

@@-OAK- It seems as if they are trying to compete with Silver Dollar City and pull some business from Branson. But Silver Dollar City is minutes from the Branson shows, hotels and house rentals, along with all the tourist traps in the area. You can spend a week in Branson and spend one or two days at Silver Dollar City. But Vinita is two hours away and the American Heartland theme park is the only thing to do there. I don’t know. Seems risky. I like your thinking on Thackerville, but they already broke ground.

[@-OAK-]

@@iseewood yea, but atleast they got the grand lakes, I mean tons of people already go to that, I mean hey Branson had to get all of that entertainment through time, same with Vegas and Orlando, so maybe this project brings in more entertainment, I mean it’s in the perfect location for tourism, so who knows, if it’s ever built I’m sure it will massively grow the city, possibly getting the city a population of 50-100k in 20 years I mean there wasn’t anything necessary entertainment wise in Orlando before Disney came, and it is far from big cities especially when it got the theme park, so it’s not impossible to grow the city form this. I just hope it’s grown to be a entertainment city, that way it brings more attention.

[@spentron1]

Sounds like they need a bus service to the closest airport.

[@joshuacarlton1386]

Joplin already has a pretty good sized airport with commercial flights. That's 45 min from Vinita

[@gasmangrowshow2231]

This the second big project for this area, Canoe Evo SAID they where going to build a plant to enploy 5000 people their. I said NO way that town has the infrastructure to support a project that big and it did not happen as they went to Okc. This has a GREAT chance because it is fully funded. The fact the first project builds the worlds largest RV part is smart. NOW they have basic infrastructure to suppport workers, instead depending of people to travel from Tulsa and surrounding area everyday. I think being in the middle of nowhere will help profitability. IF they dont get TOO GREEDY

[@-OAK-]

Yea, I’m thinking of remaking this video because my opinion has changed in vinita, although I still think Guthrie and even thackerville would be better locations

[@WilliamAGould]

LOL! Before Disney, Orlando was a small town. What will happen the nearby towns will grow as a boom for jobs comes from the theme park. The location is actually very intelligent. It is in the center of the U.S. near well traveled highways, but away from any other theme parks. It will also have a massive RV park right beside the theme park. That will help bring and keep people coming to the theme park.

[@-OAK-]

Yea I’m rethink on making a video on why it’s a good idea. But my criticism wasn’t necessarily the size of the town rather the town and location itself. Guthrie is like Anaheim and Arlington, it’s right next to OKC, has a population of 10k and has a top 3 downtown in the state behind Tulsa and OKC. So for that reason it would bring the most growth in Guthrie than any other town or suburb. Thackerville has one of most visited casinos world wide I’m pretty sure it’s top 5, not only that but it’s a even distance from Dallas and OKC. I never said Vinita wouldn’t grow I’m just saying there are better locations. Yes vinita is one of the best but the most growth would come from Guthrie or thackerville. Honestly if it was being built in thackerville it could truly become the next entertainment city for the fact It has the biggest casino in the world and basically a Disney theme park so it would probably end up like Vegas if it was built in thackerville.

[@WilliamAGould]

@@-OAK- Also, take into account of politics. That location likely ticked off a lot of boxes, while being in a location that the competition would find it hard to throw a monkey wrench in their project.

[@-OAK-]

@@WilliamAGould vinita will probably get a population of 10k just from the park opening considering it has 4000 jobs and obviously all of the residents in vinita can’t work there, and that’s about the same population as Branson, so I wonder what will come to the town from its growth

[@WilliamAGould]

@@-OAK- It is not just the direct jobs, but the service jobs to handling the population increase.

[@-OAK-]

@@WilliamAGould anyways I hope most of the population and development goes to Ketchum which is a town close to vinita. the reason why is because it’s right next to the grand lakes and Oklahoma needs a city to be next to a giant water reservoir Something weird I saw when looking on Google earth is that vinita, Ketchum and all of the places near by have a lot of buildings and suburbs with purple roofs, I wonder if they keep that trend, and there will be a sea of purple roofed housing.

[@frontiercitythrills586]

Their waiting on FEMA, something about a floodplain zone (and we all know how slow that movement is) and the TIF from the state because of the size of this massive project before they can start moving more dirt. OK State legislature does this to companies that invest into the state.

[@-OAK-]

They’ve said they broke ground like 7 months ago, are you sure?

[@frontiercitythrills586]

@@-OAK- Yes. AO that`s doing the Legends Tower has to do basically the same thing with the exception of not having to deal with FEMA.

[@-OAK-]

@@frontiercitythrills586 I know, but all the legends tower needs is approval from the city council, which Is definitely going to be approved it was approved 7/2 from the commission planning. That’s the reason they haven’t started yet, they have had the ability to make the 2 bottom towers for a while now, it was approved like 5 months ago or even longer, it and they will start I’m pretty sure in July, or before the voting which is in June, I’m saying, they actually broke ground on the theme park unlike the boardwalk at bricktown, I’m just guessing their is some problems or something because I’m pretty sure they are allowed to build it, because they have literally already broke ground, but they have like no progress, I don’t think that’s the cities problem that’s most likely the constructions problem

[@frontiercitythrills586]

@@-OAK- did you watch the meeting with the City of Vinita? They tell you why it's a delay. I have a link on my channel that'll send you directly to the meeting. It's about 20+ minutes. .

[@-OAK-]

@@frontiercitythrills586 can you send me a link? I thought the city was 100% on board because they know the benefits it will bring

[@spottedtime]

Don’t compare Heartland to Disneyland because Disneyland was shown being built, on TV, back when everyone with a TV, only had 3 major channels (supposedly some major cities had their own channels). So, a majority of its success, back in the day, was due to that show. It was also an extremely popular show.

[@-OAK-]

That’s what the park says it will do, also what about six flags? It’s one of the most popular theme park franchises in America and it didn’t have a tv show to build off of. American heartland is basically a Disney theme park in the fact that the themes and rides are being made by Disney imagineers. So it should be able to become extremely successful based on the fact it would be the only Disney like theme park in the area of America.

[@kalaoahaole]

🌎❤ They need a better, simple logo for all these brand and product intro campaigns coming up soon

[@rickace132]

Bad location. No one is going to travel there just to go to the theme park.

[@-OAK-]

To be fair people will go to the most random locations for stuff like this, people go to Branson Missouri, people went to Orlando when it was just a swamp, people literally went to Vegas when it was just a desert city to go to a casino. People will go anywhere if it has something to offer. I mean thackerville Oklahoma with a population of 500 has one of the most visited casinos world wide. It basically draws in 5million people every year.

[@rickace132]

@@-OAK- If it does open, I would probably visit it at least once.

[@TAG77]

Stop dissing Oklahoman’s. They need lots of land to build the park like Disney set aside for Disney world, that’s airport is an hour away from them. I’m sick of ppl knocking Oklahomans who are the nicest ppl.

[@-OAK-]

Have you seen my other videos? All I do I praise Oklahoma, all I’m saying is there are better Oklahoma towns for this to be built in

[@TAG77]

@@-OAK- I think they built it near a small town to bring business in and it was the only area with the ,ist land available they could buy together.

[@-OAK-]

@@TAG77 the reason they picked vinita is because one of the people working on it is from vinita, while also being next to the grand lakes and being in between Kansas City, Tulsa, and Little Rock. I just feel like Guthrie and even thackerville would be better options. Guthrie is like what Anaheim and Arlington is to La and Dallas, a town just outside of the city with a population of 10k Guthrie also has the nicest downtown out of any city in Oklahoma aside from Tulsa and OKC. Thackerville has one of the most visited casinos world wide, I’m pretty sure top 5, and is a even distance from Dallas and OKC.

[@TAG77]

@@-OAK- I know where Guthrie is. I grew up here and Guthrie isn’t like that to us. 😂 broken arrow or Muskogee is. Guthrie sucks. There’s nothing wrong with Vinita. I’ve been there a lot of times. Is a nice little town.

[@-OAK-]

@@TAG77 I’m not saying there is anything wrong with vinita I’m saying there are better towns 🤦‍♂️ also how does Guthrie suck, it has the best architecture in the state it used to be the capitol and has one of the most beautiful downtowns in the state. Muskogee isn’t anything like Anaheim or Arlington that’s a horrible comparison, broken arrow is like the Edmond of Tulsa. Guthrie is literally the most like Anaheim or Arlington out of the cities you named, and any place in Oklahoma. how are you gonna say I’m wrong but than give me even worse examples?