Legoland'>Legoland+New+York'>Legoland New York is set to open its doors on 4 July 2020 and will be the largest Legoland theme park that Merlin Entertainments has yet built, the company has announced.

The US$350m (€319m, £284m) resort is to include seven Lego-themed lands, with more than 50 rides, shows and attractions on an initial 150-acre plot, which Merlin said will eventually be a 500-acre site. A 250-bedroom fully Lego-themed hotel, due to open in 2021, is also being built. Merlin said that an extra US$150m (€137m, £122m) will be invested after the July 2020 park opening date to complete the project.

Located at Goshen, about 60 miles northwest of New York City, the park has been designed primarily for children aged 2 to 12, but Merlin intends it to be an immersive multi-day Lego experience for all the family.

The Lego-themed lands, masterplanned by Forrec, are Brick Street, Miniland, Lego Pirates, Lego City, Bricktopia, Lego Ninjago and Lego Castle. Rides include a Dragon coaster and junior coaster in the Lego Castle area, and water rides such as the Splash Battle ride at Lego Pirates. Indoor attractions include a 4D cinema, plus other rides, shows and building experiences.

Merlin said that more than a thousand people will be employed at the resort, which will be open from early spring to late autumn, although some educational areas, as well as the hotel, will be open year-round.

"Our park is in high gear and we're on track for opening," said Legoland New York senior divisional director John Ussher. "Our Lego models – more than 15,000 of them – are being shipped to our site from Merlin Magic Making workshops all over the world. This is truly a global effort, with thousands of people working together to build the ultimate Lego theme park destination here in the Hudson Valley."