A Tennessee native who has emerged as one of the world’s most popular comedians is seeking potential investors to develop a theme park in the Nashville area. According to a news release, California-based design firm Storyland Studios and Nate Bargatze and are in the early stages of development for a theme park that could share the name as Bargatze’s podcast: Nateland,
The news was announced earlier today at the IAAPA Expo in Orlando, which is the largest annual meeting major theme park executives, vendors and contractors.
“Nate and Nateland are committed to good, clean, family-friendly entertainment,” said Felix Verdigets, CEO of Nateland Entertainment, in the release. “We live in Middle Tennessee and recognize the need for a major attraction for people of all ages in the Nashville area. We’re excited to see what our partnership with Storyland Studios will bring.”
The Nateland Experiences team and designers from Storyland Studios are currently evaluating multiple potential sites across the greater Nashville area for the proposed 100-plus-acre Nateland Theme Park. Along with the park’s slate of family-friendly attractions, the project vision includes on-site retail, dining options, and the possibility of an integrated hotel.
Last May, Bargatze told Esquire that the park he envisioned would replace the former Opryland USA theme park site, but that property is currently occupied by Opry Mills mall.
In past episodes of his podcast, Bargatze expressed his disappointment regarding the closure of Orpyland Resort. Prior to his career in comedy, Bargatze’s past occupations included working at Opryland.
“This project has been a long time coming, and we’re thrilled to officially announce that we’ve embarked on this journey with Nate, Felix, and the entire Nateland team,” said Mel McGowan, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Storyland Studios. “Our goal is to create a truly premium themed entertainment experience right in Music City—one that reflects Nateland’s unique blend of humor and heart while offering a world-class destination for families.”
Although new theme parks typically take years to move from planning to construction, the development team expects its feasibility study to be completed by the first quarter of 2026. With that study in hand, Nateland Experiences plans to begin outreach to investors immediately in hopes of keeping the project on a fast development track. Backed by strong public interest in Nate Bargatze’s expanding entertainment ventures, the team anticipates significant investor enthusiasm as the concept moves forward.
