In this 2018 image, Mickey Mouse checks out blueprints for Buena Vista, Florida.
Prospective owners of sports facilities often choose to build in areas where there are theme parks – or where theme parks are planned. Similarly, would-be theme park owners will often choose a site near a sports facility that serves youth tournaments, knowing there is a ready-made audience. But theme parks can be deceptively difficult to build and operate – and there are no guarantees they will be successful.
For example, it was all the way back in June of 2023 that ground was broken on a Peppa Pig Theme Park in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with opening expected late this year. But kids waiting for an interactive adventure with their favorite cartoon character will now have to wait until 2025. And with the age group that Peppa appeals to being very young (four to six is the sweet spot), it’s possible that some kids may grow out of her before the gates ever open.
Theme park opening delays are nothing new and there are multiple examples of them. All, however, come down to certain common denominators, says The Park Database:
In the development phase of parks, unrealistic opening dates, compounded by construction problems are the most common issues. In fact, the article notes, “99 percent of projects are over budget, often in large amounts. Lack of careful planning and overoptimistic projects can lead to big problems, especially because construction companies are often local enterprises with no previous experience in building theme parks. Because the theming process requires a high level of skill, especially if the terms of IP agreements demand it, it sets up a disconnect between the skill required and skills available in the market.”
Once the park is built, the article notes, budgeting for the opening year can be “wildly unrealistic and unachievable because feasibility and market research reports tend to be overoptimistic about opening year numbers.”
Additionally, miscalculations are often made in determining ride capacity and food and beverage capabilities, as well as in the hiring and training of staff – which can turn out to be a far more complex and time-consuming endeavor than anticipated. And since park insurance depends on rides being managed and operated correctly, there is no margin for error.
Some parks have opened, then closed for multitudinous reasons, making for eerie photoshoots. In other cases, parks have not yet opened because they are mired in additional problems.
In Oklahoma, American Heartland Theme Park, a $2 billion, 1,000-acre project with an RV campground, now faces a $5.5 million legal challenge in the form of a Canadian firm which had been in charge of design, and which filed a lien claiming it had not been paid for the $5 million worth of work it completed.
The developer, Mansion Entertainment Group, currently claims it is only adhering to policy not to pay until a review has been completed; however, there are no news reports that reviews have been scheduled, and according to the park's website, an opening date is listed as fall 2026.
Some projects make it to opening day but fail to garner the expected crowds, causing massive financial shortfalls. Lost Island Theme Park, located in Iowa, is one of these. The project exceeded its expected $6 million estimated cost as crews worked long hours in preparation for opening day.
By summer 2001, Lost Island Waterpark opened its gates to the public. Later, it expanded, changing from a water park to a full-scale theme park. Construction for the $100 million project began in 2019 and was not completed until 2022, with contractors being hurried out of the area so as not to interfere with the grand opening.
The article notes, “The vibrant, 90-acre park was as beautiful as expected, but not all went as planned. Crowds were light, and unfortunately, so was the park’s ride lineup. Throughout its inaugural season, Lost Island Theme Park averaged just over 400 visitors per day, totaling 27,000 guests for the entire season. That number was a tenth of what management expected, and only about a third of the water park’s attendance.”
It was theorized that the low turnout had to do with the fact that many major attractions (including its top attraction, a new roller coaster) remained closed throughout the opening year because of supply chain issues that resulted in a lack of parts. The park’s major water ride, meanwhile, could not open because of damages sustained when a fire occurred during construction.
Lost Island’s disappointing debut season was cut short; the theme park operated for only 65 days and ran at a seven-figure loss. In 2023, the park opened yet again, and results were more promising. But a YouTube video made in 2024 showed most of the rides empty and the park deserted.
But hey, at least Lost Island got built – and rebuilt. Some never made it off the drawing board; even Disney has had its fumbles.
And there have been plenty of other nonstarters through the years; these included a 1990s-era Western- and rodeo-themed attraction helmed by the late country singer Charlie Daniels; the project was planned for the Saddlebrook area in Florida. However, when residents rose up against it, Daniels rode off into the sunset and the idea never saddled up again.
Then, of course, there was KISS World, which was envisioned in the 1970s as a touring amusement park (the idea was scrapped when the band’s popularity faded). Kiss that one goodbye.
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