Lamar Hunt Jr.’s new Olathe theme park could break ground soon. See the timeline
After some delays over the summer, Olathe’s multimillion-dollar ultra accessible theme park may see shovels hit the ground early in the new year.
The $320 million project, proposed by Lamar Hunt Jr.’s company, Loretto Properties LLC, will feature the theme park, a hockey arena and a six-story hotel on the southwest corner of West 119th Street and Renner Boulevard, also known as the Olathe Gateway .
The Olathe City Council approved the project back in January, and the developers planned to start construction in July. However, a titling issue stopped the land’s sale and kept the developer from moving forward.
“We are knee-deep in getting everything finalized and set to close on Dec. 5,” said James Arkell, chief operating officer of Loretto Companies and Hunt Jr.’s son-in-law.
With the titling issue sorted, Arkell said he hopes that they can begin grading over the winter and start construction in February or March.
“It’s stressful, but we know the reason we are doing it is the right reason, and it’s going to be great for the community and great for the state,” Arkell said.
The project will be supported by about $104 million in public incentives — including a sales tax revenue (STAR) bond district to support the development of the theme park and hockey arena among its other tourist attractions.
The theme park, Michael’s World, is in honor of Hunt Jr.’s grandson and Arkell’s son, Michael, who has a rare medical condition that requires him to be in a wheelchair. Loretto Properties wanted to design a place where families with children who have disabilities could be together without limitation — following the footsteps of a similar park called Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio.
Supporting the project’s main attractions are an additional 50 acres slotted for retail, restaurants and medical offices. While specifics aren’t ready yet, Arkell said they’ve garnered a lot of interest on the retail side — with five out of the eight pad sites moving forward.
On the hotel side, Arkell said Loretto Properties has been working with the Heart of America Group, an Illinois-based hospitality and real estate development company, to work with Marriott and construct the fully accessible hotel.
“National chains building on these projects are looking to this site as a test market to take to other parts of the country or even globally,” he said.
Loretto Properties will have to go back before the City Council to finalize the development plan and receive final approval at a later date.
