North Texas is set to get a new family-friendly theme park based on the popular children’s television series Peppa Pig.
The Peppa Pig Theme Park, also known as “Project Everest,” will feature multiple rides, interactive attractions, themed playscapes, and shows, among other forms of entertainment when the project opens in North Richland Hills in 2024, according to a news release from the city.
Merlin Entertainments — a British entertainment company with over 140 global attractions such as Legoland, Madame Tussauds, and Sea Life Aquariums — is the company behind the more than 31,000-square-foot theme park. The park will be located at the former Mountasia Family Fun Center on 26 Boulevard in North Richland Hills.
Merlin Entertainments has contracted McKinney-based HOAR Construction to complete the build, a company spokesperson told The Dallas Express.
“Merlin Entertainments is excited to have the opportunity to add a world-class entertainment experience to North Richland Hills’ residents and visitors alike,” Jeremy Aguillen, general manager of The Peppa Pig Theme Park told The Dallas Express. “We’re looking forward to our grand opening slated for 2024.”
A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held on June 28, with local officials like North Richland Hills Mayor Oscar Trevino and city council members in attendance. Officials from Hasbro, the owner of the Peppa Pig brand, were also in attendance.
“Conveniently located next door to NRH2O Family Water Park, Peppa Pig Theme Park will bring more energy to an area already known as a destination for family fun. I’m certain it will provide unforgettable entertainment that keeps families coming back again and again,” said Mayor Trevino in March.
“North Richland Hills is known for its family-friendly amenities and activities and we could not be more thrilled to add Peppa Pig Theme Park to the mix. This will be a great addition to our community,” she said.
The project has an estimated development cost of $17 million and will be one of two Peppa Pig Theme Parks in North America when it is completed. The other Peppa Pig Theme Park is located in Florida.
“The success of the Peppa Pig Theme Park has been phenomenal, and we are excited to embark on the journey again with our friends at Merlin to bring another park to the city of North Richland Hills, TX,” said Matt Proulx, vice president of location-based entertainment at Hasbro.
“Adding another Peppa Pig Theme Park for fans to experience continues our Blueprint 2.0 strategy of offering more meaningful ways for families to engage with our brands. We cannot wait for more guests to create lifelong memories with Peppa and her friends,” he said in March.
The all-new standalone theme park is expected to bring around 100 new full- and part-time jobs to North Richland Hills, according to the news release.
“The North Richland Hills community was a natural next step in our expansion and rollout,” said Scott O’Neil, chief executive for Merlin Entertainments, when the theme park was first announced in March.
Merlin Entertainments already operates several family-friendly venues around DFW, including Legoland Discovery Center, Sea Life Aquarium, and a Peppa Pig World of Play in Grapevine.
The Dallas Express reached out to Merlin Entertainments for more information on the future theme park but did not hear back by press time.
Large family-friendly developments are popping up all over North Texas, with Fort Worth, Frisco, Grapevine, and Los Colinas receiving the bulk of new projects, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. Although local officials are working to attract new development projects to Dallas, the City has many barriers that disincentivize developers from building there, including the area’s density and its slow building permit process.