New Oklahoma theme park

BrettV:

the most recent example of a successful new "from the ground up" amusement park to open and succeed

Legoland California opened in 1999; Legoland NY opened last year (not sure if we can say it has succeeded yet).

Does that mall in NJ with Nickelodeon Universe qualify?

BrettV:

I'm honestly not sure, what is the most recent example of a successful new "from the ground up" amusement park to open and succeed that is not a Disney, Universal or SEAS property

Have we already forgotten about Charmland USA opening in 2008?

Yes it does Andy.

Regardless of the "right" answer (and I'm guilty of making a suggestion, clearly), the point stands that the golden age of building de novo theme parks was the 1970s, and people just aren't doing that anymore, at least in the United States. You could name quite a few that have grown up from being FECs or roadside attractions, but the days of a well-capitalized company going out in the country, buying 200 acres, and building 6 themed lands, a hotel and a campground seem to be over. Or more accurately, maybe, that was a passing fad.

Fiesta Texas (1992) is probably the last park you could name that really answers the spirit of Brett's question, depending on how you feel about the Legolands.

Walt S:

Someone may correct me if I'm wrong on this, but I'd have to maybe venture that Canada's Wonderland might be your answer, opening in 1981 (i.e. 40 years ago or so). You might also be able to answer Mt. Olympus, but that kind of has morphed up to an amusement park from being a go kart track.

Emerald Park opened in 2010.

Rainbow MagicLand opened in 2011.

Energylandia opened in 2014.

There are a few examples, though admittedly none of consequence in North America.

eightdotthree:

I'd say Hard Rock Park is a significant source of the cynicism.

Also thinking about the small waterpark Schlitterbahn wanted to open in Fort Lauderdale about ten years ago and they could never even make that happen. That was in a tourist rich area with plenty of local population to fully support and staff it too.

Mega huge park in a sparsely populated area, no dice.

But I hope they prove us all wrong and I'll go ride some new coasters.

Schlitterbahn is like the poster child cautionary tale for over promising and under delivering. What a nightmare that was.

It’s funny because a new to me coaster group on FB invited me to join, so I did, and they’re fun enough. They’re all excited about this, and I basically just laughed (nicely) and told them (nicely) of this odd pattern of rumored “larger than Disney” parks that occurs every 3-5 years and always has something to do with “Dreams” and usually also Murica. The older coaster fans are laughing with me. The younger ones are, “hey, it could happen!”. It gave me an “all this has happened before and will happen again” moment.

According to Trip Advisor Vinita has three motels. But you know what they say, if Vinita needed an amusement park it would already be there.

Tropic Falls at OWA was built in 2017. Small but definitely a newer amusement park.

I only posted it to dunk on it.

Energylandia is heavily government subsidized isn’t it?

super7*:

Energylandia is heavily government subsidized isn’t it?

Yes, it is.