By Staff Reporter |
The much-anticipated Mattel Adventure Park in Glendale appears to be delayed indefinitely due to an ownership change.
Epic Resort Destinations was discovered recently to no longer be the developer behind the theme park and resort. However, the developer will continue to build in its other Mattel Adventure Park location in Kansas City, Kansas, which has also been delayed.
Epic Resort Destinations broke ground on the theme park as part of a larger 60-acre development in 2021, initially called Crystal Lagoons. In 2022, funding troubles prompted the developer to hand over the resort side of the project to Fisher Industries, who rebranded the project as the VAI Resort.
The resort is now the owner and operator of the theme park. VAI spokeswoman Jenn Joseph told Axios that the theme park will be undergoing changes under its new management.
It appears this ownership change took place sometime on or before June 22, 2026, the date when VAI Resort published its job listing for a rides and operations director for Mattel Adventure Park. The director would be responsible for the maintenance, engineering, and technical operations for the theme park, and compensation would start at $150,000.
VAI Resort also posted job listings earlier this month for a construction procurement specialist and construction project coordinator. Both would pay $30 per hour.
Joseph said in a statement to Axios that the resort would be “redefining” the park’s “guest experience and creative vision.”
As of this report, the Mattel Adventure Park website reflects the theme park as “coming soon.” Links to park features are broken, however.
Some of the attractions have been partially constructed.
The theme park was promised to have a Barbie-themed shopping and dining experience which included a custom Barbie set builder, a flying theater, and rooftop bar and restaurant; Hot Wheels-themed go-kart and rollercoaster rides; seven Thomas & Friends attractions and an indoor play space and cafe; a Masters of the Universe-themed, 4,500 square-foot laser tag arena designed to look like Castle Grayskull fortress.
Other promotional materials shared on the park’s website or social media also included mentions of a beachfront pool, UNO! Wild Climb, mini golf, a Kerplunk drop tower, pizza kitchen, and general games area. Both official social media accounts for the theme park ceased posting in March 2024.
The theme park was originally set to open in 2023 but was hit with a series of delays, the latest of which occurred earlier this summer.
One of the causes for those delays concerned propositions limiting development on the 60 acres joining VAI Resort and Mattel Adventure Park. Last year, voters rejected Proposition 401, which would have allowed for the development of office buildings and a parking garage for the project.
Voters approved Proposition 402, which enables commercial development on the project land.
Faced with similar delays, VAI Resort no longer advertises its opening date. Instead, the owners will announce the opening date nine months prior to its occurrence.
The Mattel Adventure Park, if completed, would be the state’s first fully themed indoor/outdoor amusement park.
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