Mattel to open indoor water parks — here are the locations
Toy giant Mattel Inc. is planning to open immersive family entertainment destinations inspired by its brands.
The company will open the first Mattel Wonder Indoor Waterpark at the end of 2027, in Bellevue, Neb., a southern suburb of Omaha. Designed as a destination for all ages, the approximately 100,000-sq.-ft. park will bring Mattel’s Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, Uno and other brands to life. A retractable roof will let the park operate year-round while bringing in natural light and fresh air.
In addition to Bellevue, Mattel has confirmed plans for three other waterpark locations: Orlando, Fla.; Bradley, Ill.; and Roanoke Rapids, N.C., as part of a five-location North American rollout. (The fifth site has not yet been disclosed.)
The first Mattel water park will be located in Bellevue's Good Life District, a mixed-use destination designed to increase tourism. American Resort Management, an operator of resort and entertainment operations including Epic Waters (Grand Prairie, Texas) and Wild Rivers (Irvine, Calif.), will oversee day-to-day performance and guest-flow optimization.
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Rendering courtesy of Mattel Inc. -
Rendering courtesy of Mattel Inc. -
Rendering courtesy of Mattel Inc.
The attractions will include a Barbie activity pool and FlowRider surf simulator; a Hot Wheels "Challenge Accepted" multi-slide tower; a lazy river inspired by Mattel Games favorites including Uno, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots and Magic 8 Ball. The water park will also house a Fisher-Price water play structure, and also offer themed food and beverage offerings.
[READ MORE: Water park plans in the making at Mall of America]
“We see a real opportunity to take the kind of immersive entertainment traditionally concentrated in major markets and bring it to more communities in a scalable, year-round format," said Natalia Premovic, chief consumer products and experiences officer at Mattel. “Bellevue becoming our first Waterpark to open is an important step in that strategy and a significant chance to show what happens when you bring so many of our brands together in one place.”
