If you thought Nate Bargatze was just doing a bit when he talked about opening his own theme park . . . SURPRISE! He was completely serious.
The Nashville comedian has officially started taking real steps toward creating Nateland, which would be the first brand-new theme park in the Nashville area since the legendary Opryland USA closed its gates in 1997. For fans of Nate, theme parks, family fun, or anything remotely Tennessee, this is big entertainment news, and it has people buzzing with curiosity.
At a theme park industry conference in Orlando this week, Nate confirmed that his production company, also called Nateland, is partnering with an entertainment design firm to explore what a Nashville-based, Bargatze-branded theme park could actually look like. That means plans are finally moving past the “fun idea” phase and into “let’s see if this thing is legit doable” territory.
And yes, the park would be called Nateland because Nate knows a good branding opportunity when he sees one.
Right now the early vision is for a park spanning more than 100 acres, with a focus on what Nate described as good, clean family fun. So, think less edgy thrill rides and more wholesome entertainment that fits his comedy vibe. No word yet on whether the park will include a ride where Nate quietly judges your life choices while sipping sweet tea, but we can dream.
If Nateland becomes a reality, it would mark the end of a nearly 30-year theme park drought in Nashville.
For longtime locals, Opryland’s closure is still a sore spot, and the idea of a fresh, homegrown amusement park has sparked nostalgia mixed with cautious optimism. Nashville has grown into a major tourism magnet, so the timing honestly makes sense. With millions of visitors already flooding the city for concerts, sports, and bachelorette parties, adding a theme park might be the most on-brand thing Nashville has done in years.
Of course, this announcement is still in the feasibility stage. There are no blueprints, no opening date, and no confirmation of what kinds of attractions Nateland would include. But even the possibility has fans excited, especially since Nate Bargatze is one of Nashville’s biggest comedic exports and has built a huge following around his clean, self-deprecating humor. A family-focused theme park actually fits him surprisingly well.