Comedy Star Nate Bargatze to Build Nashville’s Next Big Family Adventure Park
Tennessee Today
Nashville, TN — Tennessee native and world-renowned comedian Nate Bargatze is taking his family-friendly brand from the stage to the skyline. Bargatze announced he is partnering with California-based Storyland Studios to develop Nateland, a major new theme park planned for the Nashville area. Locals and tourists alike are buzzing about this project that many are calling one of the most ambitious entertainment developments the city has seen since Opryland.
Felix Verdigets, CEO of Nateland Entertainment, said the vision is simple: build a family destination that reflects the humor and values Bargatze is known for. “Nate and Nateland are committed to good, clean, family-friendly entertainment,” Verdigets said. “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 team is currently conducting a feasibility study for a 100-plus-acre theme park and potential on-site hotel, expected to be completed in early 2026. Bargatze and Storyland Studios are also working to attract investors as they evaluate multiple sites across Greater Nashville.
Mel McGowan, founder and chief creative officer of Storyland Studios, said the partnership blends Bargatze’s unique comedic voice with Storyland’s experience building immersive attractions around the world. “This project has been a long time coming,” McGowan said. “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.”
The Nateland development team, with the recent additions of the Nateland Experiences division, is working with local and state officials to identify the ideal location. While Bargatze previously suggested to Esquire that the development might revive the former Opryland USA site, Opry Mills mall currently occupies that property, and new locations are under review.
Still, the nostalgia remains central to his inspiration. Bargatze has said repeatedly that Opryland was a formative part of his childhood, and his dream has long been to bring that magic back to Middle Tennessee. “Opryland was great; we were devastated when it closed,” he told The Tennessean. “I want to make some movies and continue to tour and then hopefully build a world here. You see Universal Studios– I’d like that to be a Nateland. We can have rides and start making movies here. I think I know what is missing in entertainment and I think this would work.”
Many Tennesseans have compared Bargatze’s project to Dolly Parton’s Dollywood, the infamously homegrown and family-focused attraction, built by Tennessee legend whose legacy is investing back into her community. Bargatze, who remains one of the world’s highest-earning comedians according to Pollstar, has often said he wants Nateland to be something families can enjoy together, much like the theme parks he grew up visiting.
Storyland Studios brings the professional experience to the partnership, having worked with Legoland and other major attractions. The company is also involved in the long-developing Storyville Gardens project with Nashville-based developers DeLisa and Elde Guerrier.
As the Nateland concept continues to move forward, Bargatze’s team says the goal is clear: create something joyful, wholesome, and deeply Tennessee.