In recent years, the theme park industry has been on a roller coaster ride of its own. From Disney’s controversial changes and closures to the long-awaited debut of Epic Universe at Universal Orlando, fans have experienced a whirlwind of emotions. But amid corporate shifts and rising guest frustration, one announcement in 2023 promised a new kind of magic: a $2 billion “Disneyland-like” theme park in the heart of America — Vinita, Oklahoma.
Concept art for the American Heartland Theme Park – Photo Credit: American Heartland Theme Park
Dubbed American Heartland, it offered a patriotic vision of family fun, designed by former Disney Imagineers. Or so we were told.
A Bright Spot of Hope Amidst a Dark Time
The period between 2022 and 2023 was a busy time for parks, as pent up demand had built up during an era of lockdown related closures.
It was also a time of growing frustration among theme park goers, with massively rising prices, added charges for services that were once included (fast pass and Magical Express…I’m looking at you) and an overall lowered guest experience with parks being far less clean and properly maintained as in the past.
The Train Station at Main Street USA
This was coupled with Disney diving in to a very divisive political fight with the state of Florida and average families reacting to that, along with other poor decisions on Disney’s part. This led to a diminished opinion of the House of Mouse.
But on July 19, 2023 theme park fans across the nation got a breath of fresh and exciting news! A “Disneyland-like” theme park would be built smack in the center of the United States in Vinita, Oklahoma. The park was named “American Heartland,” and was confirmed to have a patriotic theme. Not only would this park promote traditional family values and fun, but it was to be built by many former Disney Imagineers!
Excitement for this project was felt immediately and rippled quickly throughout the theme park enthusiast community.
The Mansion Entertainment Group – Who Are They?
The initial announcement came from Larry Wilhite of the Mansion Entertainment group. This entity currently owns and runs the Mansion Theater in Branson, Missouri.
Concept art for the American Heartland Theme Park – Photo Credit: American Heartland Theme Park
A good deal of the funding was to come from wealthy benefactor, 92 year old Gene Bicknell, who once was the largest Pizza Hut franchise owner in the world with over 700 locations under his belt in the early 2000’s. This was to be a $2 BILLION dollar development project that would not only include the theme park, but a full scale resort hotel and campground. At the time of the initial announcement there was a great deal of excitement surrounding the news, but personally, I was skeptical, and for good reason.
Poor Planning Prevents Proper Performance
Full disclosure: I once worked for the Mansion Entertainment Group.
Back in 2003 – 2004 I was contracted as a musical theater performer at the Mansion America Theater. I played the role of Reuben in Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and several roles in a musical called Celebrate America, where I even held the role as son to a character portrayed by none other than Gene Bicknell himself.
Concept art for the American Heartland Theme Park – Photo Credit: American Heartland Theme Park
I was also associated to a much lesser degree with Larry Wilhite. Due to what I had learned from that experience, I had little faith in the “American Heartland” project when it was announced. Without going into a great deal of detail, let me just say that I saw a lack of organization while working at the Mansion Entertainment group. The location also seemed unfeasible for a resort and theme park, as that plot of land in Vinita, Oklahoma is smack in the center of “Tornado Alley,” a geographical path across the United States that sees the highest volume of destructive thunder storms and tornadoes annually.
That alone seemed to be an insurance nightmare. From what I had seen 21 years ago at the Mansion, I didn’t think this group was up to the task. I reached out to them several times over the past few years, but got no comment as to the progress of the project.
The End of a Dream
In 2024 reports started to come in of work on the project halting, and unpaid bills beginning to pile up. One outlet, Construction Dive, reported in November of 2024 that “two firms have filed liens against the developers” and “little has happened on the site.” This spelled the beginning of the end of this dream project. The latest news came this last week with KJRH 2 News Oklahoma reporting with the headline: “Financial backer for proposed Vinita Theme Park Files Lawsuit in Federal Court.”
Gene Bicknell filed suit against Larry Wilhite & Stephen D. Hedrick, claiming $60 million in damages for being defrauded.
Concept art for the American Heartland Theme Park – Photo Credit: American Heartland Theme Park
Bicknell states in the suit that they “executed a predatory conspiracy of psychological manipulation—convincing Gene, through fraud and impersonation, that God himself was commanding him both to finance the park’s construction and to grant Silanskas and Wilhite two-thirds ownership over the completed venture, which was to be worth $2 billion.”
And with that, it appears that American Heartland has come to an end before it had a chance to begin.
What are your thoughts on the American Heartland theme park? Would you like to have seen this project come to fruition? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
