Anguish in Oklahoma over plans to open enormous new Disney-style mega theme park
The American Heartland theme park in Vinita - located 65 miles East of Tulsa - is estimated to bring in nearly 5million patrons per year when it opens, according to its website.
That is, if it ever opens.
Many locals are beginning to think the expensive project will never come to fruition as development has been stalled, the open date has been delayed three years, and not a single announcement from the company has come in.
In fact, the park's Facebook page hasn't even been updated in six months and many think that's a sign the project is underwater.
'I think it's an overambitious scam that will never be built,' Terri Lynn Coop, who used to live in Tulsa, told DailyMail.com.
Another resident John Waters agreed telling DailyMail.com: 'It's not delayed. It's never going to happen.'
The development of the theme park has hit many obstacles since it was first announced in July 2023 and broke ground in October of that year, including owing companies money
Many feel similar to Coop and Waters, taking to the company's Facebook page to point out the lack of updates.
'Not a single post in six months, wow, that just kinda speaks volumes,' Daniel Hannaford wrote on Facebook.
'This park is NEVER gonna happen,' John B. DeHaas agreed.
'Keep blowing smoke,' Cara Bellew said.
Many have begun questioning if the park has already gone 'belly up'.
The park was set to open in Fall 2026, with its 750-RV area supposed to open in Spring 2025.
They broke ground on the RV area in March 2024 and that's the last construction update the theme park - which is owned my Mansion Entertainment Group - put out on its Facebook page.
However, in October, the company confirmed to News 2 Oklahoma that it was facing construction delays as it awaited approval for its new design plans.
The theme park had to update its plans for the RV area to accommodate it being built on a flood zone, pushing the opening date out three years, according to the outlet.
However, local Rich Lauchner doesn't believe them when they say it will open then.
'I've been in construction all my life. I know how long it takes to put these places in. I don't think they can do it in three years,' he told News 2 Oklahoma.
'I don't see it. They haven't even started on it yet.'
However, some residents are still hopeful the park will open eventually and they'll get to enjoy it with their families.
'I am so hopeful that we will really see this come to fruition,' Lauren Losawyer wrote on Facebook. 'Praying all the Nay Sayers are wrong and this will be a great place for family fun for years to come.'
Sarah Chamberlain, a longtime local, told News 2 Oklahoma: 'Nothing good is built overnight.
'We live in a world where everybody wants everything from a microwave, we drive thru, we want it now. And it's going to take some time I think for something good and big to come out of this.'
The development of the theme park has hit many obstacles since it was first announced in July 2023 and broke ground in October of that year.
A Canadian design firm, Forrec, said the park owed it $5.5milllion in unpaid invoices and field a lien in Craig County District Court in May 2024 for the money, according to Construction Drive.
Kansas-based company, Crossland Construction, which was tapped to work on the RV park, also filed a claim against the theme park. Property owner OGB Holdings also said the park owes them $352,429 for labor, according the outlet.
In May, it faced an additional setback when state legislators declined a $35million water and wastewater improvement plan, according to Construction Drive.
DailyMail.com has reached out to American Heartland and Mansion Entertainment Group for comment.
With each new setback and delay, locals aren't too sure the large patch of land will ever rival the Happiest Place on Earth.
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