Image: The new LDC will be the fifth in the US

International visitor attraction operator Merlin Entertainments has announced plans to open its fifth US Legoland Discovery Centre (LDC) at Ridge Hill Mall in New York state.

Located in Westchester County, the US$12m (EUR9.7m, £7.8m) Lego-themed attraction is due to open during the first half of 2013 and will span 33,000sq ft (3,066sq m).

Merlin is to develop the new LDC in partnership with Forest City Ratner Companies, which is also working with the operator on a Madame Tussauds attraction in Manhattan.

Construction work is to begin on the Ridge Hill Mall LDC in July, with facilities to include a MINILAND boasting Lego-built replicas of landmarks such as New York City's Empire State Building.

Glenn Earlam, managing director of Merlin's Midway Attractions Operating Group, said: "Ridge Hill provides an exciting mix of retail, dining and quality leisure attractions like the LDC and I have no doubt that is destined to become a very popular leisure destination.

"Our plan now is to start work on the site later this summer in order to open as early as possible in 2013, which we expect to be late spring/early summer."

News of the Ridge Hill Mall LDC comes just a week after Merlin revealed plans to develop a similar CA$12M (US$12m, EUR9.4m, £7.5m) attraction in Toronto, Canada.

Details: www.merlinentertainments.biz