WhatsNew2Day – Latest News And Breaking Headlines
Mattel’s first-ever theme park will open in 2024, with first images revealing a taste of what visitors can expect.
Called Mattel Adventure Parkthe toymaker’s amusement park will house an array of attractions, including a life-size Barbie beach house and a “thrilling” Hot Wheels roller coaster.
Construction is well underway on the nine-acre attraction, which will open at the VAI Resort near Phoenix, Arizona, we learned.
The Barbie Beach House is bound to be one of the biggest attractions – the plastic fashion doll clearly has a lot of fans, with the Barbie movie grossing over £785million ($1billion) in cinemas this year.
Visitors can peek into Barbie’s iconic wardrobe in the Barbie Dream Closet experience “which uses hologram technology to bring Barbie to life before guests’ eyes.”
A new Mattel theme park called Mattel Adventure Park (shown in the render above) will open in Arizona in 2024
The Barbie Beach House attraction also includes a rooftop bar and restaurant where visitors can sip a “signature pink drink” and take in “stunning views” of the surroundings.
The first of two Hot Wheels roller coasters, meanwhile, is the Hot Wheels Bone Shaker: The Ultimate Ride, which soars 84 feet (26 m) in the air and features the toy line’s skull design, as a render shows.
The second is the Hot Wheels Twin Mill Racer, a roller coaster that “guarantees a serious adrenaline rush for guests.” It features a double loop and two corkscrew turns, “qualifying it as the first such coaster in Arizona,” a statement noted.
Both roller coasters are designed to “delight kids and adults of all ages,” Mattel reveals.
The theme park, which is billed as Arizona’s first fully themed indoor-outdoor amusement park, will also include a Thomas the Tank Engine-themed attraction called Thomas & Friends: World of Sodor which is home to seven attractions and family experiential rides, including an indoor play area for “little adventurers”.
This render shows the “Hot Wheels Bone Shaker: The Ultimate Ride” roller coaster, soaring 26m in the air
Another attraction is inspired by the Masters of the Universe action figures, sci-fi superhero characters who lived on the planet Eternia. It is a ‘massive’ 4,500 square foot (415 m²) laser tag arena designed to resemble the iconic Castle Grayskull fortress from the toy franchise – visitors are invited to ‘fight for Eternia’ while they play laser tag.
Finally, there’s a mini-golf experience with nine holes inspired by the Magic 8 Ball toy, the Pictionary board game, and “other beloved Mattel games.”
Another feature is a “larger than life” UNO structure that visitors can climb – it is said to “offer nostalgia and adventure for all ages”.
The result of a collaboration between Mattel and developer Epic Resort Destinations, Mattel Adventure Park will welcome visitors 365 days a year. A live-cam on amusement parks website shows ongoing construction on the site.
The new theme park, which will be open 365 days a year, would bring Mattel’s “brands” to life
A live camera on the theme park’s website shows construction underway at the nine-acre site
Julie Freeland, Senior Director of Global Location Based Entertainment at Mattel, said, “Mattel Adventure Park is an incredible opportunity to bring our beloved brands to life. Construction is underway and substantial progress has been made on what will provide fans of all ages with a day of thrills and nostalgia. We’re especially excited for families to experience the Hot Wheels Bone Shaker roller coaster – a dream come true for any Hot Wheels fan.
And Mark Cornell, President of Epic Resort Destinations, said: “Mattel Adventure Park features a unique and strategic year-round indoor/outdoor design offering acres of climate-controlled space to ensure a cool guest experience all summer here in Arizona heat.
“Our Attractions Development team is simply redefining the entertainment channel by bringing Mattel’s iconic and enduring brands to life like never before. This handpicked and gifted team continues to find truly innovative ways to create pioneering attractions that are sure to not to bring continuous fun to the whole family.
He continued, “Watching the excitement build as these mega attractions roll into Glendale has been great, and we promise you’ve never seen a park quite like this.”
The Barbie movie, starring Margot Robbie (above), grossed over £785m ($1bn) in cinemas this year