Nickelodeon to Open Outdoor Theme Park

The first Nickelodeon outdoor theme park will begin construction this fall in New Orleans. Southern Star Amusement has been tapped to build the 65-acre entertainment destination, slated for a late 2010 opening.

The stand-alone park plans include water-based attractions and other amusement rides with themes tied to the brand’s hit characters, including SpongeBob SquarePants; Dora the Explorer; Go, Diego, Go!; and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Other entertainment will include live events, retail shops, games and food establishments.

“We hope to provide the residents and visitors of New Orleans with a first-class destination for family entertainment with this new park,” says Howard Smith, executive vice president of recreation at Nickelodeon/MTVN’s kids and family group. “New Orleans is a vibrant city and a great location for our first stand-alone theme park, and we are honored to play a role in its rebuilding effort.”

The deal sees Nickelodeon receiving a license fee and New Orleans retaining a leasing agreement with Southern Star Amusements.

“The Nickelodeon brand is perfect for the redevelopment of this area and will make a very positive impact on the City of New Orleans,” says New Orleans’ Mayor C. Ray Nagin. “We expect the new theme park will draw even more new visitors to our wonderful city and are looking forward to getting this project under way.”

This is Nick’s first outdoor amusement park. The entertainment company launched Nickelodeon Universe in 2008 at the Mall of America in Minneapolis. Other branded attractions, include one at Universal Studios in Orlando and another in Hollywood, as well as Nick Central at Dreamworld Australia and Movie Park Germany.

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