Universal Parks & Resorts to open 97-acre theme park in Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
A first-of-its-kind Universal Parks & Resorts theme park is coming to Dallas-Fort Worth.
The theme park unit of NBCUniversal plans to bring a family-focused resort to Frisco on 97 acres east of the Dallas North Tollway and north of Panther Creek Parkway. The new park concept will be about one-quarter the size of traditional resorts in Los Angeles and Orlando with an adjacent hotel.
With an aim at younger audiences, the park will feature family-friendly rides, character meet-and-greets, and food and merchandise options. Guests will likely see characters tied to a wide range of Universal shows and films, including “Despicable Me,” “Shrek” and more.
Plans for the new resort were announced Wednesday after Universal executives and Frisco leaders spent months planning and negotiating. The Orlando-based company purchased land for the theme park in December, the Dallas Morning News reported.
“We are excited about the opportunity to partner with the city of Frisco and Mayor Cheney as we work to bring this innovative, new concept to life designed specifically for a younger generation of Universal fans,” Page Thompson, Universal Parks & Resorts’ president of new ventures, said in a release. “We think North Texas is the perfect place to launch this unique park for families given its growing popularity within this part of the country.”
Universal selected Frisco for its new park concept based on the city’s ability to attract new businesses and its growing population.
“Frisco is one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. and has been recognized as a great place to plant professional roots and raise a family,” Mayor Jeff Cheney said in a release. “This new Universal concept will continue to enhance our tax base, expand employment opportunities and bring even more fun to Frisco benefiting our residents, businesses, and visitors.”
The proposed park is expected to be a one- or two-day experience with a 300-room hotel and an opportunity for future expansion, the company said. The company did not say when construction on the park is expected to begin or when it will open.
“We’re known for creating one-of-a-kind innovative, interactive experiences for the whole family,” Woodbury said. “We have a portfolio of terrific attractions that appeal to young families around the world. We had an idea to bring all of those together and create a destination that is specifically designed to appeal to families with young children. That’s what you see in this illustration now and that’s what we hope to bring to Frisco.”
The theme park will be in Frisco’s $10 billion Fields development. The 2,500-acre project is the future headquarters of Professional Golfers’ Association of America and Frisco’s $500 million Omni resort hotel. The University of North Texas at Frisco’s new branch campus is also slated to open within the development this year with room to house more than 30,000 students.
This story was originally published January 11, 2023 at 12:16 PM.
