Could Nashville be getting an amusement park soon thanks to…Nate Bargatze?
The comedian and Music City native has talked in the past about his time working at the now-defunct Opryland USA theme park as a teenager. It’s where Nate first met John and Jane Doe, who he found out years later were murdered after he tried Googling them. (If you haven’t seen his standup, you’re missing out).
The park was located adjacent to the Grand Ole Opry house, opening in 1972 and serving as a major driver of tourism to Nashville at a time long before Broadway and the downtown area became a destination for visitors. But Opryland USA ultimately closed in 1997 and was demolished to make way for what is now Opry Mills Mall, leaving Nashville without a theme park ever since.
Bargatze wants to change that.
Earlier this year, the comedian spoke about his desire to built a theme park and entertainment destination in Nashville once again:
“Opryland was great. We were devastated when it closed. I want to make some movies and continue to tour and then hopefully build a world here. You see Universal Studios. I kind of would like that to be a Nateland. We can have rides and start making movies here. I think I know what is missing in entertainment and I think this would work.”
And as it turns out, he’s serious about it.
Bargatze announced today that his company, Nateland, had partnered with design firm Storyland Studios to explore the possibility of bringing a theme park back to Nashville.
The partnership was announced today at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo, and brings together the highest-grossing comedian of 2024 and the company behind attractions like the Legoland Hotel and parts of theme parks like California’s Great America, Libertyland USA and Knotts Berry Farm.
The group is currently reviewing potential sites for a 100+ acre amusement park in Nashville, as well as possible amenities like retail, dining and hotel space. A feasibility study is expected to be completed by early 2026, at which time the focus will shift to attracting investors to the project.
Speaking on the partnership, Nateland CEO Felix Verdigets said that the comedian recognizes the need for family-friendly attractions like a theme park in Music City:
“Nate and Nateland are committed to good, clean, family-friendly entertainment. We live in middle Tennessee and recognize the need for a major attraction for people of all ages in the Nashville area. We’re excited to see what our partnership with Storyland Studios will bring.”
And Storyland founder and chief creative officer Mel McGowan said the goal is to bring a world-class theme park to Middle Tennessee:
“This project has been a long time coming, and we’re thrilled to officially announce that we have embarked on this journey with Nate, Felix, and the entire Nateland team. Our goal is to create a truly premium themed entertainment experience right in Music City that reflects the unique humor and heart of Nateland, while also delivering a world-class destination for families.”
I will say, it seems like Nashville doesn’t have a ton of family-friendly attractions. There’s Nashville Shores Water Park, the Nashville Zoo, the Adventure Science Center, and…well that’s all I can really think of. (I don’t have kids so I’m sure there are more that I’m missing, but the point is, most of our attractions center around music and alcohol).
A theme park would be a pretty cool addition to Nashville, something that would drive tourism outside of Broadway and downtown Nashville and provide a family-friendly destination that the city is lacking.
And I can guarantee that the coffee shop in the park will know how to make an iced coffee with milk.
