I'm a sucker for a theme park that takes theming seriously. For years, I've both been impressed and disappointed by parks when they carry through or fall away from their own theming. The theme for the proposed American Heartland park in Vinita, Oklahoma, is broad enough to allow a lot of flexibility, while at the same time, it's tight enough to immerse guests.
 | The entry plaza screams Americana, and I can already hear the flourishing music being played there, accompanying a grand flag raising in a ceremony every morning. Perhaps the music will include a recent YouTube posting from parent company, Mansion Theater for the Performing Arts. The patriotic song there is boasts the title I Am Free and would be ideal to set the mood. The plaza also displays tall panels with illustrations of American landmarks and monuments, and all 50 states are represented by their flags. |
Once inside, visitors will encounter six "lands", based on regions in the U.S., and the immersive theming appears to be intact for each. Circle through the park, and you'll see Liberty Village, The Great Plains, Bayou Bay, Big Timber Falls, Stony Point Harbor, and Electropolis. I'll write more about what I see in each of these lands in future articles on this page.
