What Cities Could Be Home To The Next Major Theme Park?
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- Опубліковано 25 чер 2024
- Embark on a fascinating exploration of potential cities that could emerge as the next hub for amusement and theme park enthusiasts worldwide. In this captivating video, we delve into the intricacies of selecting the ideal location for the next major theme park, considering the legacy of iconic destinations such as Disney World, Universal Orlando, Universal Studios Hollywood, and more. Join us as we analyze the prospects of various cities, each with its unique charm and appeal. From the bustling streets of Chicago to the vibrant cultural scene in Houston, the sun-soaked landscapes of Phoenix to the breathtaking beauty of Seattle, and the dazzling lights of Las Vegas to the musical vibes of Nashville, we leave no stone unturned.
Explore the potential of Orlando, a city already synonymous with theme park magic, as well as Miami, Jacksonville, and Denver, each offering its own distinctive character. Discover the latest developments in the theme park industry, from groundbreaking rides to innovative attractions that could redefine the concept of entertainment. Uncover the allure of these cities as we discuss what makes them prime candidates for hosting the next major theme park. Whether you're a seasoned theme park enthusiast seeking the next big adventure or simply intrigued by the evolving landscape of amusement parks, this video promises to provide insightful perspectives, insider information, and a glimpse into the potential future of theme park entertainment. Don't miss out on this thrilling journey into the world of possibilities!
00:00 Announced & Confirmed New Theme Parks
02:17 Theme Park Market Criteria
05:40 Orlando, FL
07:11 Miami, FL/Jacksonville, FL
09:34 Houston, TX
11:12 Phoenix, AZ
12:22 Chicago, IL
14:01 Seattle, WA
15:11 Denver, CO
16:20 Las Vegas, NV
18:41 Nashville, TN
19:15 Flyers & Big Picture
Sources:
Liberty Land amusement park coming to Rapid City in 2026: www.blackhillsfox.com/2023/11...
Metropolitan Populations: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropo...
Orlando Announces 74 Million Visitors in 2022, Ranking as No. 1 U.S. Travel Destination: www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...
Texas-Inspired ‘TexasLand’ Theme Park Plans to Open in Houston in 2026: thetexan.news/issues/social-i...
Video Credit:
Six Flags Great Adventure Amusement Park Tour: • Six Flags Great Advent...
Universal Epic Universe Celestial Park Animated Fly-Through: • Universal Epic Univers...
American Heartland Theme Park and Resort Tulsa, Oklahoma: • American Heartland The...
Knott's Berry Farm California Amusement Park Tour: • Knott's Berry Farm Off...
New York City, New York City Tour: • New York Stock Footage...
Six Flags Fiesta Texas Amusement Park Tour: • Six Flags Fiesta Texas...
SeaWorld San Antonio Theme Park Tour: • SeaWorld San Antonio O...
Orlando, Florida City Tour: • Downtown Orlando, FL -...
Walt Disney World Resort Overview: • Video
Universal Orlando Resort Promo: • Universal Orlando Reso...
Jacksonville, Florida City Tour: • Jacksonville, Florida ...
Miami, Florida City Tour: • Miami, FL Pack | Free ...
New Brightline high-speed train links Miami and Orlando: • New Brightline high-sp...
Houston, Texas City Tour: • Downtown Houston 4K Ti...
Six Flags Over Texas Amusement Park Tour: • Six Flags Over Texas O...
Phoenix, Arizona City Tour: • Spectacular Phoenix Ar...
Chiapas Off-Ride Footage, Phantasialand Intamin Log Flume: • Chiapas Off-Ride Foota...
Chicago, Illinois City Tour: • Chicago Pack | Free 4K...
Six Flags Great America Amusement Park Tour: • Six Flags Great Americ...
Seattle, Washington City Tour: • Time Lapses of Seattle...
Silverwood & Boulder Beach Idaho Amusement & Water Park: • Silverwood & Boulder B...
Denver, Colorado City Tour: • Denver, Colorado Winte...
Elitch Gardens Colorado Amusement Park Tour: • Elitch Gardens
Las Vegas, Nevada City Tour: • Las Vegas, Nevada, USA...
MGM Grand Adventure Theme Park Las Vegas, Nevada: • MGM Grand Adventure Th...
Nashville, Tennessee City Tour: • Nashville Tour by Dron...
Boise, Idaho City Tour: • Boise Idaho Aerial Vie...
Bentonville, Arkansas City Tour: • Bentonville Arkansas A...
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The reason Disney Quest failed in Chicago was the high price of admission in 1998. Along with Disney expecting 3 million guests a year coming there; which happens to be about the same number of guests at Great America each year. For Disney Quest to get that number of guests they had to be sold out every day of the year for 16 hours a day.
Also winter in the upnorth was bad for the tourists inclinations to come in region, so yes Sunbelt is way to go makes Amusement park attractive year round.
Houston Texas use to have a theme park and was torn down. As the 4th largest city in the USA we deserve a theme park.
Astroworld 🪦 now it’s nothing more than a parking lot. The traffic would be even more insane if they decided to put a theme park back in the city
Rapid City local here: They have yet to break ground on Liberty land. The primary backer of the park has been running a limestone quarry for a few decades west of town, and as they run out of land to mine, it seems they are wanting to invest in other opportunities.
Rapid City IS a tourist market, with the Black hills, Mt Rushmore, Badlands, Deadwood, and Sturgis all feeding the demand in the area. I am still not confidant in the park coming to fruition, as we have had a history of announced projects never reaching the finish line. We have the foot traffic here to support a small park, but we do not have the labor pool to staff a park. I am trying to stay optimistic that the park happens, but I'm not keeping my fingers crossed.
They could build in the quarry like Fiesta Texas did.
I visit Rapid City frequently it’s not the middle of nowhere. My sister in South Shore South Dakota is in the middle of nowhere….
Don’t you guys have a hockey team as well?
@@consananopleismissingno9248 Rapid City Rush, ECHL, so two tiers under NHL.
All I've been wishing for is some Disney magic here in the Midwest
Good luck with that…
I’d recommend Silver Dollar City if you’re wanting great theming
It depends a bit on what you mean by Midwest, but much north of Arkansas is unlikely to ever happen. The main issue is the sunlight and weather. Even here in Western Washington where we have a nearly 365 day growing season, by the end of December we're down to less than 8 hours of total light and tourists are unlikely to flock north for a theme or amusement park. And those traveling sound might as well just go further until they hit warmer weather.
@@SmallSpoonBrigade Michigan is what I mean
Great America
Put it in vegas
The San Antonio/Austin area would be a great location for the third US based Disney or Universal resort. It's got great weather, a booming population right in the center of the country, and lastly close access to 130 million people in a rapidly modernizing Mexico.
I think there'd be issues as that's not that far from Florida and California, but far enough from most of the rest of the country as to not make much sense as it would mostly just be people in that general vicinity.
Would love to see the Disney’s America project revived in southern Texas! Great location and suitable weather.
This is just an idea for a Texas based Disney theme park, But it could be named Lone Star Disneyland, Just saying.
Disney is already in a huge legal fight with one Red State government I don't think they have much appetite for another possibility of that. Universal could have chosen to build down there but chose Fresno instead for their new regional park. Weather is double edged because it's nice enough for operations in the winter but the heat of south Texas in the summer is INTENSE. Honestly the humidity in S TX makes it worse than Phoenix IMO. This is coming from somebody who LOVES the heat and has lived in Houston over a decade now!
San Antonio already has Six Flags and Sea World… But then again that is the fastest growing area in the country, if Disney was smart they would build it there.
Universal is making serious plans for a new theme park in the UK, about an hour north of London. They've bought a huge amount of land and are now doing feasibility studies. Lot of people here are cautiously optimistic, since the Paramount London Resort seems to have fallen through, but this site, while much further away from the capital, seems to have fewer issues, being mostly farmland and a derelict brickworks rather than riparian wetland.
Paramount was Paramount, though. It was easier for them to chicken out since they didn't have an established presence in parks- at least, after divesting their efforts in the states to Cedar Fair.
I hope that Universal's UK project moves forward, as somebody who has kept an eye on Britain for a few years now- knowing the state of the country's economy, I'm sure that the government- even when Labour comes into power, not if- would be very keen on courting such a substantial investment.
Dubailand and Moscow fell through for very different reasons; Universal is probably looking at the UK as a buy low, profit later deal.
@@chromplexYeah, that's a good point, but I think the location is what has really killed the project, it's wetlands next to the Thames which has some rare species. It was going to be an uphill battle to develop so it's no surprise it is pretty much dead. Farmland and an old brickworks that is flat and dry is going to be much easier to build on.
Plus besides Star Trek and nick, I don’t think paramount has notable franchise like Disney or universal that are a big draw
@@elysiabarr425 there sonic
Most states I think wouldnt play ball mainly cause so much more space has been filled out. It was easier to buy up land during the 1950s and the time of expansion, but now with so many other competitors and worsening ecoonomy they would have to choose it very carefully. The only states I can think of would be either Nevada, Colorado or Oregan.
Even if they are, hours of daylight and temperature plays a significant role. Even where there are such parks up north, they tend to be seasonal just due to how annoying it is to have less than 8 hours of total daylight during the end of December, not to mention how cold and snowy most of the Northern US gets that time of year. Plus, the only places that it would make much sense would arguably be someplace like WA/OR or New England and there are a lot of issues with that.
No not nevada the federal government owns too much land there due to nuclear testing so you can’t buy land in most areas
What about a theme park near the Atlanta area? I know that Six Flags over Georgia is located there, but the amount of people in Atlanta, and the amount of travel the city gets could prove to be a good spot for a theme park.
I think Disney should build a theme park in Kansas City. It’s a really cool city in the middle of the country. They also have cool tourist attractions like the National WW1 Museum and Walt Disney actually started his film career in Kansas City so it’s significant to the lore of Walt Disney. It’s also west of the Missisippi river which means that Disney can build Marvel attractions because Universal has a monopoly on almost all IPs east of the Mississippi. Also “KC Disney” sounds fun to say.
Walt Disney's first idea for a second theme park was in St. Louis--an indoor park called Riverfront Square.
Buy Worlds of Fun! Disney
Problem with Kansas is that it is absolutely a seasonal park and Disney does not run seasonal parks. Next problem is that there is already a park there that struggles to retain mid tier relevance in Worlds of Fun. Truth is that KC is just a big enough local market nor is it a major tourist destination for most of the country. When people go to Missouri for a vacation most of them end up in Branson and go to Silver Dollar City and those few who don't go there go to St Louis which has Six Flags St Louis. I have a friend who is from there and spend half the year there that has been trying to get me to go visit for years and I looked into it more closely and said, "no thanks, I'm good."
the only place a midwest disney park would survive would be in texas. weather has to be good enough to be open all year.
Yeah I would never go to six flags ! Haha
El Paso Texas and the land between Lincoln/Omaha Nebraska may have potential as well. I adore your energy, dude! That said, I think this list of criteria may be missing 1 point.
1. Sizeable metro area
2. Growing population
3. Reliable tourism
4. Room in the market
5. Available/affordable land
A lot of proposed projects are dead in the water before they even start if land is comically expensive in the area or if there's little to no land to buy in the first place.
This is both a major reason the San Francisco Bay Area's population is shrinking, AND a thing that kills parks there. Real estate in the area is just too expensive.
This is a problem in the Pacific Northwest too, but maybe you go a bit inland.
Nebraska is not tourist friendly .. awful state
@@patrickTHEceliacIdk Nebraska seems better than other states. It’s just missing a good theme park to go along with the Omaha zoo.
Quite a bit to do there. Planning a trip now actually and I’m more excited about that than my trip in a week to California that’s for sure.
@@ninjagirl226 problem is disney likes to open year around.
they could not do that in Nebraska.
@@kauzpayne2 But this doesn’t have to be Disney. It could be Cedar Fair or Six Flags where let’s real I’ve ridden Jersey Devil and Nitro while it’s snowing (best rides I’ve gotten on them actually who would have thought).
Disney and Universal are really the only parks that want to operate year round. Most others don’t. And even some that have the weather to do it like Carowinds or Over Georgia elect not to.
As someone who lives on the south of Florida, I can confirm I am very happy to live here which is kinda close to all the Orlando theme parks.
I'm so glad you mentioned Savannah. Land is cheap around us, we have several large metro areas within 1-2 hours (Charleston SC, Columbia SC, Jacksonville FL) and our closest theme park is either Carowinds or Six Flags Over Georgia, both about 4.5 hours away....almost the same distance from Disney in Orlando. :(
We need a theme park. We are in the center of the group, growing, and have the room and the tourists.
I agree Savannah is a beautiful City and check all the boxes for a theme park... So Savannah should get a theme park one day!!
Isn't Savanah surrounded by swamps?
Savannah is also just... a great city to visit! Def deserves more attention from tourists.
@@electricar9 No that more south of the city and close to Florida Border
I lived in Savannah for years. I remember years ago the city cleared and sold a ton of land for a car factory that never came. If i remember right Mitsubishi built a plant to build electrical generators or something there. I used to drive by that lot and think about how awesome it would be to start a park in there. It was a perfect size to start off as a small park with flat rides and a couple small to medium size coasters. think fun-spot size but there was plenty of land around it to grow.
I honestly disagree about Jacksonville though I think Savannah would be better for one reason. Wild Adventures is less than an hour from Jacksonville and if theres ever a hurricane that goes through there its far enough inland that it wont be destroyed.
I could see wild adventures being a great park if the owners would put the money into it.
14:03 - I could confidently tell you that people from Portland and Seattle make that 5-8 hour drive to Silverwood in Idaho! most people I've grown up with around Washington have had family trips to that park and lots of memories!!
we have a smaller lesser known park called "Wild Waves" which is about a 30 minute drive from downtown Seattle. it's more of a waterpark, but we have 4 coasters! - it was owned by Six Flags from 2000 - 2007! it's a bit pricey but you get access to the water park and theme park for one price, and it's for sure a fun hangout spot for teens. overall the amusement park area of the land, is showing wear and theres a lot of empty spaces for expansion, as well as ride maintenance taking days or weeks due to lack of people on sight to repair. I really hope one day wild waves reaches it's full potential as a theme park. but as a water park I'd say it's doing great!
I've been buying season passes to Wild Waves because it's pretty cheap. I'll go like 4 times during the season and I've saved my money. It's just a bit of a drive for me as I have to get through pretty much all of Seattle before that last halfish hour of driving. I went a few times when I was a kid and at that point, it was two separate parks, there was the original Enchanted Villages with the rides and Wild Waves with the water attractions. There was an additional gate between the two parks roughly where the midway is now.
It was a little bit sad seeing the lack of paint jobs and the like, but it does seem like there's improvements being made, so if folks keep going, the park is probably going to continue into the future.
I feel like Libertyland in Rapid City has more of an advantage then you think since you have the factor of the Mount Rushmore/Black Hills tourism base there.
You might want to check on your preconceptions, it's quite common for latinamericans to travel to Miami and then drive 3-4h to Orlando for the parks. I've done it pretty much all of the time, since I was a kid as well as all of the people I know
My list of theme park companies that could build theme parks in Texas:
- Herschend Family Entertainment
- Cedar Fair
- Universal Parks and Resorts
- Disney Parks and Resorts
- SeaWorld Entertainment (a possible Busch Gardens park)
I feel like the DC area would be a great place to build a major theme park in. It has a large and consistently growing population, a lot of tourism from all the monuments and museums in and near the national mall, and pretty good weather for most of the year. Probably the main issue would be competing against all the aforementioned tourist attractions in the area. And sure for the locals who like theme parks there's Kings Dominion, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Six Flags Great Adventure, and Hersheypark within a 1-4 hour drive, but having something better than Six Flags America near a metro station would be incredible for the locals and tourists alike. Disney did propose building a theme park in Haymarket, VA many years ago but it never came to fruition because NIMBYs complained about it creating noise and development to the area, so instead they now have data centers which often get complaints from said NIMBYs for.....noise and development.
The land is very expensive around there! Maybe the best you could hope for is someone revamping Six Flags America (either Cedar Flags giving it some love after the merger, or selling it to someone else).
@@MattMcIrvin you’re definitely right on that. Prince George’s county would probably be the only place with cheap enough land at this point, but Six Flags America is already there, so it wouldn’t make much sense to build a park in PGC (except for maybe National Harbor). It’s nice to dream about Northern Virginia having their own theme park though.
@@graysonarthur70 y'all are forgetting that Kings Dominion is not that far away for people who live in Fairfax or Springfield.
What about Winchester area? It’s about an hour from DC. And 20 min from the northern entrance to Shenandoah. My only fear is ruining the history of that land but that’s a fear anywhere in VA as even King’s Dominion and Busch Gardens are near a lot of historical locations.
For Chicago: the winter focus would shift to shows and dark rides, and heated pavilions, and operate maybe just weekends. Just cuz it's winter doesn't mean we sit inside. We want to be out of our houses... maybe it's more like Disney's indoor waterpark like a giant Great Wolf Lodge themed to the Great Fire...(great story potential, cuz its a water park putting out the fire). Build it great, we will come. (RIP Disney Quest, that was real or a fever dream? 😂I think that had more to do with people not understanding what it was. But ESPNZone lasted much longer.) But Chicago is different. It's got to be tailored to the area.
For Houston: RIP AstroWorld 😭😭😭 I don't think TexasWorld will launch. but I'm surprised Disney or Universal haven't opened a "main gate" park there. In my head, the work with a group called the Texas Land Company... build on the Kemah Boardwalk out, and build DisneyOcean (get it... land is to world as sea is to ocean? genius.) Bring all the cool DisneySea rides to America at DisneyOcean, and then build "Disney's Texas Adventure Park" next door as its second gate... with lands that reflect Hill Country, The MetroPlex, Big Bend, The Panhandle, Gulf Coast, and Pines...The Grand Texan Hotel and a space themed hotel -- if only Disney owned a space themed IP.... would fit in great with the Johnson Space Center next door.
(Can ya tell I've thought about this too much since AstroWorld left.)
Busch gardens once had a park in Houston.
I think Chicago would struggle a bit to get footing. With the summers, you would have to build a local park that would be competing with Great America and lesser thought of Wisconsin Dells, along with all of the other entertainment options available in Chicago. Another issue would be where to build it. My guess would be somwehere outside of Chicago, which either puts you south where no one wants to go, or way north which puts you square in the competition.
I think just outside of Charlotte would be perfect for a multi site park. It doesn’t get too cold, it’s warm but not too hot in the summer. Charlotte is a decent size large city and it has enough of a draw for a week long stay with a multi site theme park. There is already a modest amusement park there called Carowinds and I think a large, IP based, multi site park would do well in the area.
Yep. A Charlotte Disneyland can potentially work.
@AttractionIdeas Nashville did have Orpyland that closed down about 20 years ago. there have been many rumors about another coming in going next to the football stadium. I would enjoy seeing another go at a theme park, especially with the Titans getting a new stadium.
I was mildly surprised that he mentioned Nashville without mentioning Opryland.
There are zero rumors about a theme park going up on the East Bank. The proposed theme park for Nashville is looking at the surrounding counties, as the land is more plentiful and less expensive.
Nashville isn't too far from Dollywood. Memphis would make more sense.
@@satalac Gaylord owns enough land to rebuild opryland they just don’t do it but with the water park I think they might in the future, they’re opening a theme park in lebanon I think but it looks very small and kiddy, u right ab east bank never having any that, idk about no Memphis theme park tho
@@dvferyancef Memphganistan
My bid is St George Utah. Couldn't quite run year round, but the climate is good enough for a longer season. There's a tourist base of tons of people visiting nearby Zion National Park (and other outdoor attractions). Tons of people are moving to Utah, and it's a bit separated from Vegas, so as you mentioned it would've have as much competition.
We also desperately need a competitor to Lagoon, it's fleecing us Utahns like mad.
I've run out of patience with something being built around the northwest, so I'm just going to move to Orlando...
Nobody wants to deal with the rain or the insane real estate market in the Pacific NW.
@@ashleighelizabeth5916 Actually I'm more near the lagoon area, but I'm sick of lagoon lol
@@ashleighelizabeth5916 That's probably less of an issue than the fact that it has to be a seasonal park. The currently existing Wild Waves, which is admittedly in the farm leagues of amusement parks, is only open from sometime in May to early September. It makes it quite challenging to make enough money during those months to fund any sort of expansion.
The rain is one thing, but the parks would be closed during the rainiest part of the year anyways, due to the lack of sun. Seattle gets roughly 7.5 hours of sun at the end of December. Which means that even if it isn't cold and rainy, it's still rather dark. And most of the parks we do have are focused on waterslides.
Silverwood in Idaho is probably the closest.
Again, Six Flags should step up their game with Great America, it's BEGGING to be a real theme park
Denver really needs a new park. The main attraction is the nature. We have Elitch Gardens and Lakeside, but they’re not really that good.
Isn’t Elitch like a sub par park and is going to be closing soon?
Disney needs to get to Dallas-Fort Worth. Yes, Universal Kids will open first, but the Disney brand would still have significant value. It's far enough from Florida and California to stand on its own.
Universal needs to look at replicating Universal Kids and Halloween Horror Nights in places like New York, Chicago, Seattle, Denver, and Toronto.
2:32 I subbed for this hilarious bit right here. 😂 I was like wtf? Love the sense of humor! ❤
As a houston viewer, we desperately need it. We have lots of land on the outskirts of the city and still inside, all we need is for six flags/cedar fair, sea world, or Hershen to propose a new park. They are in debt, but this might be a worthwhile investment, for my joy and their money. Good video btw.
100%
Agree
Houston did once have Busch Gardens.
Miami naive here and yes, we all just go to Orlando. I see three possibilities for Miami, an indoor Nickelodeon Universe finally happens at American Dream mall, Zoo Miami does a Kolmarden thing, or Miami Sequarium becomes a legit water park.
I’m Also a South Florida native as well and we should definitely have a major amusement park. I can definitely see us get Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor in Sunrise, Florida by Sawgrass Mills. Chicago’s population is declining while Miami’s population is growing and we have a lot of former chicago residents in South Florida.
Six Flags Great America 280-acres
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor 40-acres
15:21 "Elitch Gardens is maybe the worst major theme park in the entire country... No offence, Elitch Gardens is like a complete piece of trash. Like I'm not going to mince words here, Elitch gardens sucks. Sorry." You had me dying. Truer words were never spoken.
Facts
A new park will be built on 100 acres likely near the Denver International Airport in 2025
@@MikeRollner Where’d you get this information?
@KJVirander when Six Flags sold the park in 2008. The park was sold to a property developer named Phillip Anschultz who always wanted to develop the property into about a dozen skyscrapers. He paid an outside group to run the park while finalizing his plans with the city of Denver. His plan was to raise the park sometime in 2025. The plan has been or may be delayed due to covid. According to the Aurora Sentinel last year, Phillip Anshuktz had been in talks with Mayor Mike Coffman about acquiring 100 acres by Denver International where the highways and light rail are abundant so he could move the park and/or possibly sell the park to a company that actually runs amusement parks. Again, nothing is 100% yet. We shall see.
@@MikeRollner I did hear about the land it’s currently on being reused for apartments and skyscrapers so eventually Elitches will have to move. I just wonder where and when because they said it was moving pre covid and nothing happened.
I wish that they could build a Disney Theme Park in the lower peninsula of Michigan.
9:22
Being called out, here. Our options in the Savanah area are either to brave a trip up to Atlanta (yikes), or take a 4.5 hour drive down (or 6h Amtrack). IF there was something of quality in the Jacksonville area, then I'd be more than willing to go many times a year
Chicago: real estate actually in Chicago would just be too expensive to get and build on. Just see how difficult it's been for the Bears to find a place. Big reason there haven't been very many new parks is land is so expensive especially for a park that would have to be seasonal
As a Seattle local a theme park would be awesome but the rain would hurt it too much sadly unless they did something with making a huge ass covering for all the rides or something either way Seattle needs something
Seattle definitely needs a amusement park examples would be SeaWorld and Aquatica the market is too big to not have a major amusement park.
Long Island while fluctuating in temperature, is a prime market for a theme park. With many people from the city visiting during the summer and with many considering it a destination when visiting NY, there is (in my opinion) a chance a company may seek a park in the area, possibly near Nassau County.
Would be nice to see someone buying off the giant plot of land that is Marineland in Ontario and do an actual theme park that doesn't involve animal cruelty.
There was talk of the Puy du Fou corporation working with the Eastern Band of the Cherokee to create entertainment offerings near Great Smokey Mountain Park. How is that going?
As someone who lives in Mississippi, I was so bummed to find out that we used to have a good theme park near by but of course Katrina had to do it's thing.
The closest major theme park is Six Flags Over Georgia which is still 6 hours away. I hope New Orleans can do something in the future even though they probably won't.
Yeah Six Flags NO was originally an independent park called Jazzland and it wasn't a bad park when it was independent but of course SF ran it into the ground and then Katrina finished it off. Problem with NO is that most of that area is at or below sea level and risk of flooding events are only rising there. There just isn't enough population in Mississippi, Alabama and more northern Louisiana to support a major park unfortunately.
TBH, a NO themed amusement park would definitely be the final vote in favor of giving the area a visit. There's so much cool stuff down there, but I haven't ever gone.
as a lifelong Chicagoan, we need to fix up Six Flags before even thinking about a new theme park. we have a lot more issues here that need to be addressed before even thinking about a new park.
I personally think that Phoenix’s water scarcity is less of a problem than one would think it is so long as they are careful about it. Just truck in all of the water that shall be needed all at once once the proper infrastructure is in place, and any theme park operator building there wouldn’t even have to worry about being approved, as the city and state would not even have a reason to worry about its impact on the local water supply. And the infrastructure in question? Firstly, they would need to make the entire thing indoors so that all of the evaporated water would simply stop floating upwards once it reached the ceiling, said ceiling of which would be multifacetdly slanted in such a way as to drive the water vapor into spots where it would recoalace back into its liquid form, similar to how a survivalist on a desert island can purify seawater without even building a campfire, but on a massive scale. Being a waterpark, it would only need to be air conditioned when the temperature exceeds 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and even then, only would have to be lowered by ten degrees at most, greatly reducing the amount of electricity that would normally be needed for a building that size over there. While the place would be lit by natural sunlight, in order to prevent it from becoming a greenhouse, the windows would only be the minimal needed to keep it naturally lit from sunrise to sunset, with the vast majority of the roof being concrete mixed with heat resistant minerals. In order to further make it independent of the city’s water supply, it would have to purify all of the pool water on site, possibly by pumping it at the end of every day to sections of the facility that are essentially greenhouses and/or gigantic broilers, the water vapor being vacuumed up to where it would recondense, and the goopy waste being left at the bottom, to be scraped off and sent to the dump monthly. While the recondensed water would still be some additional purification, the amount of energy needed to purify water that is already over 90% purified if not more would obviously be way less that if they didn’t let The Sun do most of the work for them. If they decide to also be open during part of the night, they probably can not put the lighting fixtures directly on the ceiling, as all of that water vapor would age them relatively quickly, and as such, the lighting fixtures would either need to be put on steel scaffolding that is at least ten feet below the ceiling, or put them high up on the many walls and support beams. Cooling the water itself would really be the only substantial operating cost that such a waterpark would have to endure, and even that can be lowered significantly if they build a few repositories that are at least 500 feet below ground, because at that depth, it would have the qualities of a cave, and the thing about caves is that, once you go far enough into one, the tempature is fairly consistently in the middle 50s year round, no matter if the cave is polar or at The Equator, though with the occasional exception. Once any of the water that is in the area that the customers use reaches 95 degrees Fahrenheit, it would be emptied out into these artificial caves where they would naturally cool off to being in the 50s, then this water would be brought up into a second set of water repositories that are only a dozen or so feet below ground, where it would be kept until it reaches 75 degrees, since 55 is obviously a dangerously low water tempature for human beings, which would then be used to refill the empties pool, and of coarse, in order to minimize the amount of time that any pool would be empty, the rewarmed water will already be ready to go within a few minutes of the too warm water having to be emptied out, as obviously, having to wait for the same exact pool water to cool off than warm up would take too long. And of coarse, both of these types of water tanks would have to be reachable by employees for semi-nightly cleanings, as well as directly connected to the aforementioned evaporation powered water purifiers. While all of the additional water pumps bringing the water back up will obviously use a fair bit of electricity themselves, it would obviously be much less than more conventional methodologies of keeping the water cool, and even with the obviously much higher cost of building these huge tanks initially, the savings on power would eventually save the water park money maybe after 15 years or so. All and all, with implementations such as these in place, a water park in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as other cities that are located inside of deserts and have a lot of extra money to spend the world over, are actually very doable, sustainable, and profitable.
Phoenix is I believe would be on the West Coast as what Orlando is on the East Coast both would be theme park mechas due to both of them being centrally located. Phoenix has the population and infrastructure to have multiple theme parks. I can definitely see Universal Studios, Disney World Resort and SeaWorld in the Valley in n the near future.
Walt Disneyland Resort Arizona
Universal Studios Phoenix
SeaWorld Phoenix
Aquatica Phoenix
I'm impressed at the thought you put into the analysis here!
I'm surprised Kansas City wasn't mentioned, other than the Mattel park.
I think it's kinda prime for another park that isn't just Worlds of Fun, despite how much I love that place.
St. Louis would be a much better location. K. C. Is a sad excuse for a city compared to StL. 😉
Elitch Gardens (Part 2) is expected to close in 2026. There are tenstive plans to open a park on a site with one hundred acres east of Denver, likely near the airport. Hopefully not Elitch Gardens ( Part 3)
I've got some ideas. Those traveling carnivals that come to local towns, have them step it up so to speak. A lot of these new dark rides use projection and monitors to display images to immerse the customer in entertainment. Have it where everything is transportable for easy set up with a facade on the outside to really sell the product. Really invest into their product. Another thing that could be done is buy all around different parts of town. Find a house and turn it into a haunted mansion with a old deplated facade. Further up town find an empty lot and turn it into a submarine ride with the illusion of it being submersible. Another part of town, make something else. Etc., Etc. Make sure there is a name recognition as to in a few years becomes a brand. Once the name of company is of quality, invest into building an amusement park. People will flock because of them knowing the brand and the quality of their rides. Start small. Build a name for itself based on quality and integrity, then go big. That's what I would do. Showcase the companies talents as to what it can do. Then if people like it, expand and put it into a park.
I think jacksonville or st augustine florida would be a good place for a smaller reigonal, fun spot type park. There is adventure landing, but that park is a lot smaller and has had a uncertain future for a while. Maybe a six flags type park at the most.
He was kidding about the market criteria with the saying that was heard in the introduction of THE POWERPUFF GIRLS.💗
Northern California needs another theme park. We’re losing Great America and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is a pretty lame park with height limitations on their coasters due to the location. The Sacramento area is growing exponentially and there is plenty of land to add a new theme park. Weather is consistent and it could bring a market from Oregon and Washington and northern Nevada. Not to mention a huge area of unused land primed for a large development is near the Sacramento Airport. Nearly a perfect match
I’d like the idea for Sacramento to get a theme park. Due to how humid Sacramento gets throughout the summer, a large indoor theme park would be beneficial for that city.
I know it's off the board but a real park in the Niagara area (US or Canada, already a tourist trap) would really be a great fit
If the new Universal Horror Nights attraction works out in Vegas, then there needs to be a heavy push to bring a Busch Gardens theme park. There's none out west, only in Virginia and Tampa.
Sadly, Elitch Gardens used to be good, but as soon as the park moved into the downtown area, it lost a lot of its original charm and theme of an actual garden. Over the years it has been neglected, bought out, dropped and changed so much that it really is, like you said, a mess.
That’s why I’ve always thought that instead of a theme park, Disney should build a ski resort in the vein of their Aulani resort in Hawaii. It could have some gentle Disney theming, or even heavy if they want to incorporate a dinner show like the Hoop-dee-doo-review or a show like Country Bear Jamboree, but can also be seen as a high class ski resort. Also, in the summer it would be great for us locals to get to visit it when it’s probably not as crowded and cheaper, making for year-round interest.
DC/Maryland: Sell Six Flags America and start the park over from scratch
I was waiting all video for you to mention Vegas and finally you did. There’s my home and I think they’ll do it. Fingers crossed
You could open year round in the winter here in Seattle. Snow is incredibly rare and it typically hovers in the 40's. Plus the natural landscape and forest would do tons of heavy lifting in atmosphere.
That would be Wild Waves, except the reality is that all amusement parks in the area are closed during the winter due to temperature and the lack of daylight. There's only like 8 hours worth of daylight to be had at the winter solstice which can be rather problematic as it makes things colder than what the thermometer says due to the lack of IR heating from the sun.
The weather is perfect and location too to build a park in the tricites between Spokane Portland and Seattle
The Mattel Adventure park will be a good idea if they have plenty of shade and misting systems to keep people cool around the park during the summer months. It's hot from April through October there.
19:16 Here's some of my flyer picks that also fit your criteria
Charleston, South Carolina
Huntsville, Alabama
Raleigh, North Carolina
Reno and/or Carson City, Nevada
St. George, Utah
Of a new park in those places wouldn't be anywhere near as big as a new park in a major metropolis.
Nice to see another person agree that St George could have a local park!
It's a growing area, has the local national parks drawing visitors in the summer, and we seriously need a competitor to Lagoon here.
@@WasatchWindIt'd also be a more family-friendly alternative for the southern Utah families that don't want to go to Nevada's Sin City.
*My ideal theme park location: Lacamas, Washington*
Reasons:
1. Deserted
2. Halfway between Seattle/Tacoma and Portland/Vancouver
3. Not much economic activity
My list of theme park companies for future Florida theme parks:
- Six Flags
- Cedar Fair
- Herschend Family Entertainment
Florida is the last state that would need more theme parks.
😂 Six flags and Cedar fiar have merge together. if you haven't known by now.
The original Elitch Gardens was an excellent little park. What they did to it was a crime and it does leave Denver effectively open.
Illinois needs an indoor year round park or 2nd park like you said. We are devoid of stuff to do.. peoria, IL is exactly between Chicago, St Louis, and Indy, and has natural beauty but its a 3 hour drive.
Houston makes sense because not only do they have the population, and no existing theme park, but people from Austin and even Dallas area will drive the 6 hours to visit. It would make sense for Disney to open a park here, if they thought DFW would be over saturated (even though that would make it easier for people from other states to visit, in addition to all of Texas). I believe their cruise line uses Galveston as a port, so cruise goers would most definitely visit the nearby Disney park as well.
Years ago I’d be excited for another Disney park here in Southern California. But I’m not excited about their current plans considering modern Disney screws everything up. So most likely any new park/expansion we’d get here would be another opening day California adventure situation.
I really hope universal builds an epic universe type of park (or just honestly any new universal park) somewhere here in Southern California. That way they can give Disney a run for their money here too
If the Lost Island amusement park can be dropped in the middle of Iowa then anything's possible. Lol. I'll throw my home state of Delaware into the mix. Lots of people have been moving here (coastal towns/beaches, no sales tax, etc.). Six Flags America is on the west side of the Bay Bridge. Let's get something over on the eastern side.
Your videos are so fun to watch!
Why couldn’t you do year-round operations in the PNW? It only snows here every few years. The climate is much milder here than most of the country. The rain is the big issue. It rains all winter, but it doesnt’ snow. Only in the mountains does it snow.
There's a few reasons, relatively low population density, lack of sun during December and January. The bulk of the rain coming during the winter. The population that would like to go to an amusement park at that time of the year preferring to go to a park that's further south where it's warmer, or do things like ski that are more appropriate to the season.
So yes, it doesn't snow that much, but the temperature is still cold enough to make people not want to stand around in lines for a ride and it would be very dark. Plus, all of the parks that I've heard of in the state are more waterparks just because it's so hard to be open during the winter anyways, that they might as well capitalize on the hot weather during the summer. I personally wish there'd be more rides as it can be rather unpleasant to be at a water park when it's in the 60s.
I know Indianapolis is overlooked compared to other major cities in the Midwest, but being the crossroads of America and having a lot of space around the city offers so much opportunity. Underrated and overhated city
This. Plus the nearest theme parks are still too far a drive for locals.
There’s supposed to be or at least was supposed to be a big new park an hour south of Phoenix in casa grande. Look it up, seems pretty cool.
Detroit, MI! Safest region in the country in terms of climate change, multiple major cities within a couple hours, and international market with Canada
I loved the video, could you make one about the next big theme park around the world? I'm from Brazil and the place is full of opportunities, and has one of the biggest water park markets in the world, but not many dry parks.
I hope Kentucky gets another theme park. I know we already have Kentucky kingdom but it would be cool if there was another park that could have things KY Kingdom doesn’t have like licensed characters or dark rides
Central Mass if you could do in indoor theme park for the weather. You'd get all of New England within a 2-3 hour drive (Including Boston 1 hour away) plus NYC is a 3 hour train/4 hour drive. Somewhere inbetween Worcester-Springfield would work. if you look up Tropical Gardens its the worlds largest indoor water park, but because its built under a glass zeppelin hanger, it appears to be outside. That would be ideal. An indoor park were the weather is always 75 degrees and sunny with natural light. Youd get a lot of local annual pass park guest (Similar to Disneyland as opposed to WDW) and people who just wanted to visit a theme park destination for a long 3 day weekends instead of a full week vacation. Take the train up from NYC on a friday night, be back home on Sunday night for work. I would love it if Disney did a Pixar / Villians / Global-American Showcase (world showcase w/ 40+ countries plus American pavilions highlighting 10+ US regions) parks. A mini-indoor WDW in the north.
I think south of Chicago is a good place for a theme park, Great America is nice, but it's WAY too far north for a lot of Chi-towners that DON'T live in north part of the city or north subs, there used to be several theme parks and amusement parks in the south and west part of the Chicagoland area and they are now long gone due to Great America dominating that area but most of them were lackluster attempts back in the 70s and 80s and had no chance to equal the grandeur of Great America, but I think it's time for a serious effort put into putting a new theme park in the south area of Chicago or at least southwest suburbs like around Naperville if at all possible.
Bentonvile: no doubt is a growing toirest town... Becoming the biking destination, various outdoor stuff, festivals, art culture, and business hub. but the whole NWA region is right next to the Branson/Ozark tourist hub too. I don't think anyone will build a regional amusement park about an hours drive from Silver Dollar City. The huge growth in NWA is a big reason for SDCs popularity cause over half of their season tickets are from the Bentonville area (including me). Most the big investers in NWA are fine with letting Branson do the amusement parks, country shows, and family tourest traps.....i don't expect a park here.
Good list; I feel like the only obvious missing mention here would be the Washington metropolitan area. It's a similar situation to Denver- Six Flags America *does* exist to serve DC, but it isn't much special.
Disney, of course, planned to move in before plans fell through; I wouldn't be surprised if somebody else rolls the dice there at some point, especially in the event that DC receives statehood.
So, you mentioned Universal's Horror Unleased, which is going to be part of AREA15, which is already trying to be the future of theme entertainment. It's growing slowly, but it's mostly across a series of buildings so it's mostly indoors.
My home city of Omaha needs something. The metro area has been growing and it's frustrating for me coaster enthusiast who only has Worlds of Fun and Adventureland as my home parks by default. And with the additions of Lost Island and the up coming Matell park, something near the Omaha metro area would create some solid competition in this part of the Midwest.
Valas Pumpkin Patch could be great site for a park if they could get the tax code changed. Has plenty of room and they already have several flat rides and a train there.
As someone from Indiana I would love to see a park in Indianapolis
Those are great criteria but there is a thriving theme park in a market that goes against the grain. Dollywood. The surrounding area benefits from the theme park but there is the attraction to the smokey mountains. A national park or nature resource can effect the draw. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg were small places supporting tourists to the national park. It's now a thriving tourist area that has Dollywood as a major draw.
Port St Lucie REALLY needs a theme park!
Acuity, there is a theme park being developed near Nashville called Storyville.
Gaylord made the biggest mistakes in closing Opryland and selling off TNN.
@@ClintBago It could be because of the flooding, or the 🏳️🌈 Gay-Lords don't give a crap wanting to keep it as a theme park replacing it with a Mall and Resort as Gaylord Opryland
@@ClintBago It could b because of the flooding, or the 🏳️🌈 Gay-Lords don't give a crap wanting to keep it as a theme park replacing it with a Mall and Resort as Gaylord Opryland
@@ClintBago It could b because of the flooding, or the 🏳️🌈 Gay-Lords don't give a crap wanting to keep it as a theme park replacing it with a Mall and Resort as Gaylord Opryland
@@ClintBago It could b because of the flooding, or the 🏳️🌈 Gay-Lords don't give a crap wanting to keep it as a theme park replacing it with a Mall and Resort as Gaylord Opryland
Why not consider the Golden Horseshoe area of Ontario? An area within an hour's drive of Toronto. An area serviced by Toronto Pearson and Hamilton International Airports. An area serviced by VIA Rail, whose equipment is the same as Brightline in Florida. An area that has Canada's largest population density, but is also relatively close to New York, Detroit, Ottawa, Montreal, Chicago and is at least within a short haul flight of places like Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, DC and Boston. Toronto has a regional amusement park in Canada's Wonderland and Niagara Falls has a really poor marine/amusement park in Marineland. I believe both are seasonal parks. But, the Golden Horseshoe is comparable to Marne-la-Vallee in France. A high quality theme park operator like Disney or Universal could build a park capable of year round operation like Disneyland Paris. There is the hassle of clearing customs and immigration for US visitors, but with a permanently favourable exchange rate, US visitors can access a Disney or Universal theme park vacation at a fraction of the cost of Walt Disney World in Florida. And because of the Canada-US exchange rate, more Canadians could actually afford such a vacation if they're paying at par and not having to convert to US dollars to travel to Florida.
exactly what ive been thinking. this is just free real estate. only problem is canadas wonderland is quite close and large
@@kwibblesxxa23 Yes, but Canada's Wonderland is a seasonal amusement park, not a theme park. It's more about thrill rides than storytelling. Only coaster buffs would make the trip across the border to visit Wonderland. But, those disillusioned with Disney's price hikes and cuts to complimentary services and even park maintenance, I think, would be willing to visit a Disneyland Toronto. And Disney nerds and pixie dusters that gush over pictures of snow covered castles in Paris and Tokyo would likely support a winter season in Ontario for Instagram. It would be up to Canada's Wonderland to market itself as "the coaster park" and to position itself as an "add-on" to a Disney or Universal Toronto vacation. And Marineland in Niagara Falls could finally be put out of its misery.
@@kwibblesxxa23The market is big enough for multiple theme parks. Especially if we build it mostly indoors. We could still also have outdoor sections too that are opened during the seasons of good weather.
the outdoor sections could be open all year round if you wanted. but making everything indoors would be the better play
@@electricar9 Why is it necessary to build in the style of WEM Galaxyland or MOA/AD Nickelodeon Universe? Toronto already failed at an indoor amusement park in Woodbine Mall. Half of the attractions in a Disney or Universal theme park are already indoors in show buildings. In Florida, queues provide shade from the sun and protection from the rain. In Europe, queues provide protection from snow as well. Landscape makes a theme park a park. In addition to its architectural details, it's the landscape that makes Disneyland Paris the most beautiful of the Disney parks. It's not like the Golden Horseshoe is Edmonton or Winnipeg with 40 below weather. I also suggested the Golden Horseshoe because of its lack of a snowbelt. Between the big three in Europe, only Europa Park closes for February and March. Disneyland Paris and Efteling are able to attract enough guests to operate year round, even with snow on the ground. If it's a better quality park like that of Disney or Universal, it should be capable of the same.
The 1st question I have is... Are we trying to build a park on the same level as Disney / Universal? If so, the owners would need to build never seen before, mind blowing attractions. And, location will matter less. The theme park market is global. If you build a park with life altering rides and amenities... it will be successful.
It's Walt's original recipe for Disney.
I would like Paramount to build their own major theme parks (similar to Disney and Universal), because they own so much properties (especially Nickelodeon/Nick Jr.) that have potential for merchandising, which includes rides, shows and stores. I think that Paramount should build their parks in at least 3 Sun Belt cities (such as Orlando, Houston, Phoenix or San Diego) so they can have year-round operations.
They used to. But sold them off in the 90s when they weren't making money. Paramount own King's Dominion, Great America, Carrowinds. But they weren't IP driven. le sigh.
paramount has no money
Yeah they already tried and failed. Used to own Kings Island, Kings Dominion, Carowinds and several others. Had Star Trek themed rides, Top Gun themed rides and even Wayne's World themed rides. They couldn't make the parks pay and sold out to Cedar Fair ages agon.
@@tymccarthy9661 Could you find a source for this? I'd always been under the impression that while the KECO Paramount parks didn't do gangbusters, they were ultimately more good than harm for the company image; if I remember correctly, the divestment of those parks was because of the Viacom/CBS split around 2005- CBS ended up with the parks' land, but they didn't have the rights to any of the IP, which still belonged to Viacom.
They should try again, but different and way better…
Your video is wonderful! What would you think about some small, seasonal, non-themed parks that just had some rides, food and maybe a half day’s fun? No IPs. No annual passes. Just a place to take your kids for half a day and get away. The only entity that benefits from a year round park is the company that owns it. Just an idea.
I think that a fifth important factor is transportation. As in how easy is it for people to get there. I think that one of the reasons why we will probably see more parks in the Southeast far West and Midwest is because of the expanded train line proposals being funded and built, the biggest of course being California's High-Speed rail that could connect Sacramento to LA to Las Vegas. There are also plans to connect the California High-Speed rail to Portland and Seattle and possibly even up into canada.
I think the chicago area is primed for something like the indoor nickelodeon universe and DreamWorks water park. They can open year-round for the chicago winter and are perfect for a short weekend getaway. They dont compete with Orlando for a high budget week long vacation, and also don't compete with six flags that open in the summer. The perfect location would be West of Chicago, around Naperville, a growing large and wealthy suburban satellite city. Less than an hour drive from downtown chicago, and has good commuter rail system.
I know it will never happen here. But not too long ago, I went to Dubai. And while there, there were several theme parks that were completely indoors. They were in the desert. But because the entire park was completely indoors, you were out of the heat out of the sun. If someone would build a park here it doesn’t matter where they build it. It could be in the coldest of places or the hottest of places because if it’s indoors, it doesn’t matter like I said, I don’t think it’ll happen here, but it’s just a thought. Please see Warner Bros world Abu Dhabi. Thanks for the video.
Being open year round is a major factor but Canadas Wonderland in Toronto averages around 4 million people a year and is only open May to Oct. part of that is because they invest and introduce and new ride every couple years. With a high enough population Chicago and Seattle can work
To be fair to Disney and Chicago, Disney Quest was MASSIVELY overestimated. Like to actually get the numbers they were expecting they would basically need to be at full capacity 24/7 and have every single person in there spend money. If they had built it inline with or simply just had lower expectations it would’ve likely been considered successful
Atlanta Georgia would be a perfect city for a new theme park
I think San Antonio market should absolutely be tested for another theme park. Something like a LEGOLAND. If it goes well, I think San Antonio has the potential to become the Orlando of Texas further down the road.
Great video 👌
Out of all of the Locations that can work for a Theme Park, I felt like Jacksonville can potentially work very well the most for Me. If I am Bob Iger, I would approve the idea for a Jacksonville-located Disneyland/Walt Disney World, as long as the ideas are possessed within the perfectly polished hands, meaning that nobody wants to go to a very rushed and unpolished Disneyland Jacksonville because of well, I felt like a Jacksonville-located Theme Park can potentially work.
Not to mention, as we can find a way to bring one of the many scrapped ideas for Disney Theme Parks back from the dead to Disneyland Jacksonville while at the same time, bringing on some new ones to the table.
And one of them would be a Themed Area dedicated to many of Disney's Peter Pan adaptations ala Super Nintendo World for Mario and Donkey Kong because of well, I felt like Captain Jake and Peter deserve their very own themed area dedicated to them. In addition, elements from the admittedly now-dead Disney Fairies can also be used.
I think Omaha needs a theme park we lost are sorta one years ago and one in the Great Plains sounds amazing and with Omaha growing it’ll work
Hi,
The city of Chicago had a theme park called Riverview that operated for 63 years. Sadly it closed down way before my time, back in 1967, due to an increase of crime and violence in the area. The conditions that caused it to close hasn’t changed that much since then, so the chances of a new theme park opening in the city of Chicago is very unlikely.
I live in Seattle, its gray more than it rains here, it rains more on the east coast. June through October is dry and rainless and that season has been expanding with climate change. Biggest issue honestly is our fire seasons these days.
Don’t you have a rain forest nearby in Olympic? Granted I know it takes a long time to get there from Seattle but I thought that’s more due to how the roads are set up as opposed to actual distance. Can’t drive through a mountain
@@ninjagirl226 Seattle is about 3-4 hours away and out of the convergence zone where a lot of raining occurs. Im not saying it doesnt rain but its always exaggerated and often nothing more than a mist/sprinkle. If anything its just a moody, dark, gloom haha
@@tyheimerl2628 Yes, TBH, I think the bigger issue is the lack of daylight in the winter and the temperatures being low enough that most people wouldn't want to be standing in lines to get on a roller-coaster. That and the rise of environmental protection regulations and the people moving to the region mostly being people that can afford to hop on a plane to visit a bigger park with better weather during the winter. It would be almost entirely locals visiting a park in the PNW during the winter. Canadians and Alaskans would probably just head down to CA or FL for the weather.
I would say Arizona needs one but they'd have to work on misting systems and ways to keep the seats cool from the burning sun.
Hinckley, Illinois, nothing but cornfields out here. There is already a Waterpark near by. 45 minutes west of Chicago.
With Dollywood being decently far in pigeon forge (and irritating to get to)
South Nashville might be a good area to also grab the growing Huntsville population
Honestly of all the places that has the best chance of getting off the ground I think Nashville would be tops. Theme park operators might look at Opryland and get the jitters though. But then Kentucky Kingdom struggled for a long time until it was taken over by Herschend so who knows...
We literally only go to Florida to visit theme parks! So yes if you build it I will come. 😆
Real talk this is good. You forgot about size/price of land. Chicago is a huge place but it's expensive af. Disney Quest failed because they put a cheap Orlando time killer as THE must visit attraction with little to no changes from the Orlando version. NYC/that tri-state area has the land/population/tourism but it's too expensive to buy so not as many people are gonna build there. Houston might be the next big theme park town as they have a healthy population, healthy tourism, year round climate and affordable land to spare
Regarding Phoenix, there is one other attractive quality at work: land. There is so much space in the Valley, which is why Phoenix is the poster child for urban sprawl - it's just so easy to build outward instead of upward. So at least part of your initial costs are going to be lower.
That said, a water park is probably a bad idea.