Disneyland-sized theme park slated for 2026 opening in Vinita

A $2 billion Disneyland-sized theme park and resort is slated to open on Route 66, just west of Grand Lake in Vinita in 2026, state officials and developers announced Wednesday.

It is expected to bring in 4.9 million guests each year and create 4,000 jobs for the area.

“There’s no better place to represent the heart of America than northeast Oklahoma since we are the heart of America” State Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, said. “This $2 billion investment in our state will create more than 4,000 jobs and introduce a new category of entertainment to the region, and its long-term economic impact will be transformative."

The developer of American Heartland Theme Park and Resort, just west of Grand Lake near Vinita on Route 66, is an affiliate of Branson-based Mansion Entertainment Group.

American Heartland Theme Park and Resort will be comparable in size to the Magic Kingdom or Disneyland, according to developers.

Spanning 125 acres of the 1,000-acre resort property, the park will feature an Americana-themed environment with a variety of entertaining rides, live shows, family attractions, waterways as well as restaurant-quality food and beverage offerings.

A 300-room hotel and indoor water park, 750 RV spaces and 300 cabins are also set to be constructed to accommodate visitors to the park and area tourists.

Led by Executive Producer Steve Hedrick, the design team is made up of the world’s best theme park designers including 20+ former Disney Parks builders and Walt Disney Imagineers. Design firms include THG, FORREC and Cuningham, whose portfolios feature the world’s foremost theme park brands including Six Flags, Disney Parks and Universal Studios.

“We are pleased that American Heartland Theme Park and Resort has taken the first step and chosen Oklahoma to build a world-class entertainment destination,” said Hopper Smith, interim director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. “We look forward to assisting with this project as it develops.”

“Oklahoma is excited to welcome American Heartland Theme Park and Resort,” Oklahoma State Rep. Rusty Cornwell said. “Located on historic Route 66 just west of Grand Lake, the development will attract visitors from around the world to experience and celebrate the rich cultures and hometown values America has to offer.”

The adjacent 320-acre Three Ponies RV Park and Campground, designed by Oklahoma architects ADG Blatt, will be the largest campground in the central U.S. with 750 RV spaces and 300 cabins plus amenities.

“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 development will be built in phases starting with a large-scale RV park with cabins scheduled to open phase one in spring 2025 and a world-class theme park and resort scheduled to open in 2026, according to a Mansion Entertainment Group release.

“Tourism is already one of Oklahoma’s top industries and this project will elevate our state and this region to another level. Since tourism is a doorway to economic development, American Heartland Theme Park and Resort will draw new businesses not only to the area nearby but also throughout the region and state,” Bergstrom said.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Disneyland-sized theme park to open in Vinita in 2026