Mattel water park in Bellevue targets late 2027 opening
Barbie, Hot Wheels and UNO will share an indoor family attraction, with new designs revealing how the toy brands will translate into pools, slides and play.
2 min read
A Barbie surf simulator and a Hot Wheels slide tower are among the attractions planned for the Mattel water park in Bellevue, Nebraska. New renderings offer a closer look at Mattel Wonder Indoor Waterpark, which is under construction and scheduled to become the first location to open in late 2027.
The approximately 100,000-square-foot venue will operate year-round, with a retractable roof providing natural light and allowing fresh air into the building. American Resort Management will oversee operations, with the project forming part of Bellevue’s Good Life District.
Inside, plans include a Barbie activity pool and FlowRider surf simulator, a Hot Wheels “Challenge Accepted” multi-slide tower and a Fisher-Price water play structure. A lazy river will draw on Mattel games including UNO, Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots and Magic 8 Ball, alongside themed food and drink.
Bellevue is one of four confirmed locations, alongside Orlando, Florida; Bradley, Illinois; and Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. Mattel says each park will offer its own experiences within a shared concept. An exact opening date, ticket prices and attraction height restrictions are not included in this announcement.
The TT Take:
The concept art makes a persuasive case for taking the toy box into the swimming pool. For families living nearby or already visiting the region, the combination of familiar brands, colourful play spaces and year-round swimming looks particularly promising. Images of Universal Kids Resort in Texas have left us less convinced by its visual finish—a reaction to the imagery, rather than a first-hand review—so the detail that survives from concept to construction matters here. If the finished park delivers on that playful detail, this is a format we’d love to see closer to home.
Source: Mattel via Business Wire
