We have more news today about Mattel Adventure Park.
No, not that one, which is opening later this year in Glendale, Arizona. Mattel and its partners this morning announced the second Mattel Adventure Park, coming to the Kansas City area in 2026.
Mattel Adventure Park Kansas City is set to open in a new entertainment resort destination located in Bonner Springs, Kansas, with plans to break ground later this year.
"We are proud and excited to announce Kansas City, Kansas, as the second themed entertainment destination location for Mattel Adventure Park, an Epic Resort Destinations licensing partnership with Mattel," Epic Resort Destinations President Mark Cornell said. "We are bringing Mattel's powerhouse brands to life through state-of-the-art technology and engaging experiences. This new destination is sure to provide infinite fun for the whole family."
The Kansas City-area installation will offer attractions also announced for the Glendale, Arizona park, including the Hot Wheels Bone Shaker: The Ultimate Ride and the Hot Wheels Twin Mill Racer roller coasters; the Barbie Beach House, featuring Barbie Dream Closet Experience, a Barbie-themed flying theater, and The Barbie Rooftop restaurant and bar; the Thomas & Friends: World of Sodor childrens' land and He-Man vs. Skeletor Laser Tag.
"Mattel Adventure Park Kansas City will bring our iconic brands to life with epic roller coasters, family-friendly attractions, an immersive theatre, themed dining, and so much more," Mattel Chief Franchise Officer Josh Silverman said. "We are thrilled to expand these themed entertainment destinations and invite new fans to experience the world of Mattel in all-new ways as they create lasting memories with loved ones."
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Glendale, Arizona works as an underserved theme park market, but Kansas City has Worlds of Fun in that market already. Plus, an indoor park is a tougher sell during the summer travel season in Kansas City, where it's a plus (if not a necessity) in Phoenix.
But I guess if you split the country into thirds, Phoenix and KC get you two. Now where on the east coast would the third one go? (To be fair, I have no inside information on this. Just speculating.)
I could see this going to a place like Myrtle Beach.
Yeah, yeah, Hard Rock Park and all that. But that was built and run as if it was a destination attraction. If Mattel budgets and operates better, this could work for families visiting the area.
Sounds like pretty much the same attraction line-up as Arizona, but presumably this one will be outdoors rather than inside, which may allow for a more thematic atmosphere. It is a bit of an interesting choice, but I assume the area is growing and the timing is definitely related to the World Cup being hosted there. This will also be the first proper amusement park in Kansas (though they do have a couple FECs with amusement rides).
As for an East Coast location, if Florida is off the table I'd agree with the above mentioned Myrtle Beach or perhaps the Raleigh/Durham, NC area as good spots to support a park like this.
While Myrtle Beach makes some sense, so much of the population there is based on tourism (vacation homes), which is ultimately what caused HRP/FMP to fail due to seasonality of visitors and those people with already ingrained habits and schedules when they were in town. I actually think the Atlanta region could support a second park (3rd park if you count Fun Spot) or perhaps Jacksonville could be a better location for this chain to expand. Raleigh seems like a decent spot, but would compete with BGW, which heavily markets to that metro area (as does Carowinds, but not to the same level).
I think Kansas City really does need another theme park or large attraction here. Worlds of Fun is ok but they could use some competition and its not uncommon to hear from the locals that they're bored of WoF and Great Wolf Lodge as their only two local options for rides. I've also heard dissapointment that KC's lego discovery center isn't a real Lego Land Park. Teens and Young adults need fun things to do to, it's not all about young kids.
On another note, the metro area around KCK is really growing. Kansas City alone grew 1% in the last year and Johnson County has been growing the same. More attractions like this lead to more jobs. Hopefully they pay well.
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Kansas City is a peculiar choice for this. I also hope that this is not a direct clone of the Arizona park, though that's what it sounds like.
Strike while the iron is hot I suppose.