Merlin Entertainments, in partnership with Hasbro has officially broken ground on North America’s second Peppa Pig Theme Park in North Richland Hills, Texas.
The groundbreaking event kicked off with short speeches from General Manager of Peppa Pig Theme Park Dallas-Fort Worth Jeremy Aguillen, North Richland Hills Mayor Oscar Trevino and Hasbro’s President of Location Based Entertainment Matt Proulx and got down to the business of fun quickly, revealing one of the new theme park’s key attractions, Daddy Pig’s Roller Coaster.
This family-friendly thrill ride is designed to be the perfect first roller coaster for brave little ones as they take a ride with Daddy Pig in his recognizable red car and go on an unexpected adventure when Mr. Bull’s “digging up the road” sends them on a curvy exploration of Daddy Pig’s new short cut!
Following the announcement, four young children dressed in child-sized hardhats (complete with Peppa Pig ears) and safety vests, joined Peppa to break into a pile of pink sand with kid-sized shovels. The pink sand was delivered by a full-sized excavator, duly pink, on site to begin construction.
Peppa Pig Theme Park Dallas-Fort Worth is designed specifically for children ages three to six. The all-new theme park will feature multiple rides, interactive attractions, themed playscapes and shows when it opens in 2024.
Merlin Entertainments operates more than 140 attractions in 25 countries and partners with some of the world’s most popular brands, including Hasbro. In Texas, Merlin Entertainments operates LEGOLAND Discovery Center, SEA LIFE Aquarium and Peppa Pig World of Play in Grapevine, Texas and SEA LIFE Aquarium in San Antonio, Texas.
“When Peppa Pig Theme Park in North Richland Hills opens in 2024, Merlin Entertainments’ footprint in Texas will include five interactive and immersive attractions. Following the incredible success of our current properties in Texas and Peppa Pig Theme Park in Florida, along with the focus on family
entertainment in North Richland Hills, it was an easy decision to build our next Peppa Pig Theme Park here,” said General Manager of Peppa Pig Theme Park Dallas-Fort Worth Jeremy Aguillen. “Both the City of North Richland Hills and Hasbro have been excellent partners in bringing this playful and popular early childhood brand to life.”
Guided by its Blueprint 2.0 strategy, Hasbro’s Location Based Entertainment Division is focused on creating more ways for families to engage with their brands. Peppa Pig Theme Park will provide the opportunity for preschoolers and their families to interact with a well-known character and her playgroup in a wholesome, fun-filled environment.
“We’re heartened to see the success Merlin has had with the Peppa Pig Theme Park in Florida and are energized by their excitement and dedication to bring the experience to her fans and families in the Dallas-Fort Worth area,” said Matt Proulx, Vice President of Location Based Entertainment at Hasbro.
“As the brand approaches its 20th anniversary next year, we are proud to offer even more fun adventures with this new park and give kids another way to learn about and explore the world around them, which is exactly what this immersive theme park experience will bring to local and visiting families.”
Just 12 miles from downtown Fort Worth and DFW Airport, North Richland Hills is an ideal location for the second ever Peppa Pig Theme Park. Centrally located in the heart of North Texas, the park will be accessible to Dallas-Fort Worth residents, but also to visitors as the area is a destination market for weekend travel from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and cities throughout Texas.
Not only does the city offer several family-friendly amenities and activities already, including nearby NRH2O Family Water Park, but the Peppa Pig Theme Park will rejuvenate the area facing Highway 26 across from Tarrant County College.
“We appreciate the investment Merlin Entertainment is making to bring Peppa Pig Theme Park to North Richland Hills. They are not only making a significant capital investment to build the theme park, but they are also creating jobs and economic activity that will have an ongoing impact on our community,” said North Richland Hills Mayor Oscar Trevino.
