NEW Celebrity Theme Park Takes BIG Step Toward Opening

A new theme park could be opening in Nashville, Tennessee, and it could be coming even sooner than we thought. In 2025, Comedian Nate Bargatze shared his ambitious plan to launch “Nateland,” a series of family-friendly parks across the United States, starting with Nashville.

Now, it’s been revealed that the comedian has secured a plot of land for the flagship location, along with hiring a CEO and contracting Storyland Studios — a firm founded by Disney and Universal alumni — to come up with the initial rendering for the park.

The flagship location is set to break ground in Nashville, Tennessee, his hometown, and will sit on about 80 to 100 acres of land. From there, he hopes to expand by creating “mini-parks” in other states, making this project more than just a one-time experiment.

Bargatze told the Wall Street Journal that the theme park will be a culmination of his ventures via his company, Nateland Entertainment. It includes a podcast network, a four-night comedy cruise, and content from a roster of “clean” comics.

He hopes Nateland will make him the Tennessee Walt Disney, except he’ll also be the mascot. “I’m the Mickey Mouse,” he says.

Nateland’s CEO — who is also his neighbor — Felix Verdigets was a partner at consulting firm KPMG before being poached by Bargatze. They hired a lobbyist and started getting support from wealthy and powerful people around Nashville.

Most of the required land has been secured through an investor, but the location has not yet been made public. Tax incentives have also been identified for the project, which has state and local support, according to authorities involved.

“The projects we incentivize have to fit this heartland, middle America approach to things,” says Tennessee deputy governor Stuart McWhorter. “What Nate represents aligns with our state.”

According to Bargatze, he understands why fellow comedians make fun of this idea. “There’s [sic] times I don’t know if I can wrap my head around it,” he says. But he’s proven that he can get people to turn out. “I’m in the ticket-selling business. That’s all I’ve ever been in,” he continued.

Bargatze has shared that the first attractions will be standalone rides, not tied to any existing media properties. Down the line, there’s a chance attractions could be themed to his own film or television projects, but the goal is to start fresh with original, creative experiences. It’s a bold move in an era where branded intellectual property usually dominates the industry, and it reflects Bargatze’s signature clean and quirky style.

While the design for Nateland is still evolving, the current plans have it divided into three sections: his roots in Tennessee, his journey to New York, and his reach in the world beyond.

Visitors would enter through a 1990s-style mall, including coasters and a “Donkey Dive” ride inspired by one of his jokes. The New York section would have street performers, live shows, and a ride through a simulated Times Square with a New Year’s Eve ball drop. The third section would feature stunt performances and interactive live shows.

Nateland is also part of a bigger vision. Since launching Nateland Entertainment in 2023, Bargatze has been building out his creative empire with comedy specials, podcasts, and even film projects. The Nashville property is expected to include both a working studio and the theme park itself, echoing Walt Disney’s early dream of combining storytelling and entertainment into one hub. “When Walt did Disney, it wasn’t like it was all Star Wars,” he says. Bargatze has even been in early discussions with governors and private investors to help expand the concept to other states, suggesting this could become a long-term venture rather than a passing idea.

We’ll be on the lookout for more updates about Nateland and beyond. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to AllEars for the latest theme park news and more.

Would you visit Nateland in Nashville? Let us know in the comments below!

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