Nateland: New Insights into Planned Theme Park
Nateland concept render by Storyland Studios.
(eap) Architecture and design company Storyland Studios and Nateland Experiences, a company of stand-up comedian and entertainer Nate Bargatze, have provided new insights into the development of Nateland. The completely new theme park is planned for the greater Nashville area in the US state of Tennessee. The project was first officially announced at the IAAPA Expo in Orlando in November 2025. The concept for the leisure destination, which will span more than 100 acres (over 40 hectares), includes, among other things, a 1990s-inspired entry experience as well as performance venues, rides and attractions. The project costs are estimated at USD 350 million (more than EUR 300 million).
“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,” explains Mel McGowan, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Storyland Studios. A site for the theme park within the Nashville metropolitan area has already been identified, although the precise location is to be announced at a later date.
For Nate Bargatze, the project also represents the realisation of a personal dream. The Nashville native worked as a teenager at Opryland USA, the Nashville theme park that operated along the Cumberland River from 1972 until its closure in 1997. Bargatze is said to have long wished for a theme park to return to Middle Tennessee. ■
