6 new Epic Resort Destinations properties planned by 2034

Following stints at Six Flags Over Texas, Six Flag Fiesta Texas, and IMAX, Cornell joined SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment, where he collaborated with Warner Bros., DC Comics, Sony, Paramount, Marvel Studios, and Nickelodeon. That’s when he came up with the Mattel Adventure Park concept.

 “Lo and behold, the big idea was formulated,” Cornell told Blooloop. “I formed a partnership, and we created a real estate development around a resort with hotels, a large central body of water, retail experiences, food and beverage, and a theme park.”

But not just any theme park; a theme park based on iconic Mattel brands like Hot Wheels and Barbie, which, lucky for Epic Resort Destinations, made a global splash in 2023.

“Mattel came to mind and I couldn’t get it out of my head,” he said. “I had a suitcase of Hot Wheels in my closet when I was a kid. These are evergreen brands. They were relevant 60 years ago, and they are even more relevant today. Look at Barbie – $1.4 billion at the box office.”

“We want to offer branded thrill rides using the biggest brands in the world and truly immersive experiences,” Cornell explained. “Our intent is to roll out at least six of these parks over the next 10 years, incorporating an innovative hospitality experience, retail, and engaging food and beverage, again utilizing these global brands to create world-class theme parks.”

Mattel Adventure Parks

The new Mattel Adventure Parks will showcase many Mattel brands, but the “showstoppers” are definitely the Hot Wheels-themed coasters and Barbie Beach House.

Guests will be able to experience many of the same attractions across all Mattel Adventure Parks, including the Thomas & Friends: World of Sodor area featuring family-friendly rides and an indoor play space, the He-Man vs. Skeletor Laser Tag experience designed to look like Castle Grayskull fortress from Masters of the Universe, an immersive 9-hole mini-golf course with holes inspired by Magic 8 Ball and Pictionary, and an Uno-themed climbing structure.

However, which brands are represented in which parks depends on real estate.

The park in Glendale, Arizona, sits on 10 acres and features about 25 attractions, including a World of Sodor with seven attractions, mini golf, a Kerplunk drop tower, an Uno harnessless climber, Masters of the Universe laser tag, two coasters – Hot Wheels Bone Shaker: The Ultimate Ride (an 84-foot-tall family coaster featuring the hot rod skull design) and Hot Wheels Twin Mill Racer (with four inversions and a corkscrew through a double loop).

The Arizona park also features Hot Wheels electric lithium-ion go-karts, which Cornell notes is the largest elevated go-kart track in the world, and the first brick-and-mortar Barbie Beach House in the world including an interactive retail experience, a Barbie-themed flying theater, and a fully themed Barbie Beach Club restaurant and rooftop bar.

Almost all of the attractions will transfer from Arizona to Kansas, but Mattel Adventure Park in Kansas City has 180 acres, so there’s room for four roller coasters, the first full-size Hot Wheels Legends bar and grill (the Glendale park will have a smaller version), and Cornell noted, “additional opportunities […] from experiential food and beverage to branded hospitality.”

“Epic is very committed to our unique theme park model, which is 20 to 25+ attractions,” he said. “We can offer a very affordable ticket price and we believe that you’ll be able to go to our park and spend five hours and experience more than a dozen attractions each visit, which is sometimes difficult to do in Orlando.”

The Mattel Adventure Park in Glendale, Ariz., was scheduled to open this year but has been delayed to 2025; the Kansas City park is expected to open in 2026. So far, no announcements have been made about additional Mattel Adventure Park locations in the U.S.

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Corrected Dec. 2, 2024 to clarify Epic Resort Destinations’ plans, as confirmed by a company representative.