Elevate Arena
Elevate Arena
Elevate Arena
Leisure Opportunities
Job search
Job Search
see all jobs
Latest job opportunities

Historical reanactors would help bring Wild West theme park to life

Plans have been unveiled for a Western-themed amusement park in deadwood, south dakota.

The US$80m (£61m, €73m) Gold Nugget theme park would transport visitors back to the old west of the 1870s, featuring a number of rides, a waterpark called The Lost Mine Sluice and a steam train connecting the new attraction with the nearby town.

It’s thought the park will incorporate live action to create an authentic and immersive experience. Costumed actors will play card sharks, miners and muleskinners as Gold Nugget hopes to introduce historical reenactment into the theme park environment, which will also take inspiration from Western movies.

The proposed park is divided into three themed areas inspired by the miners, the cowboys and the Native Americans. There will also be restaurants and bars, a lodge, 100 log cabins and a number of camping sites.

The project is the brainchild of David Johnson of Casper, Wyoming, who, along with his partners, is seeking the right site. The group is working with theme park consultant Dennis spiegel of International Theme Park Services (itps).

Gold Nugget estimates up to 430,000 people could visit the park every year, staying between four and six hours. It’s expected that the new attraction would attract more tourists and help regenerate the area.

Early feasibility studies indicate a theme park here could do well, with a lack of other entertainment options in the area paired with the easy accessibility of Deadwood from Interstate 90. The town is famous as the eponymous setting of the acclaimed HBO Western Deadwood which starred Ian McShane as murderous saloon owner Al Swearengen.

If the park wins public support and planning approval, it could open by 2019.

Sign up for FREE ezines, news alerts & magazines
Plans have been unveiled for a Western-themed amusement park in Deadwood, South Dakota.
TAW
THUMB12380_128882.jpg

More News

1 - 15 of 69,578
03 Jun 2026
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day (GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and ... More
03 Jun 2026
Lithuanian care operator Addere Care has launched a “wellness care hospital” in Vilnius. It's the company’s second Lithuanian site, following a hospital in Trakai, but ... More
03 Jun 2026
Australia’s fast-growing fitness network, Viva Leisure, is adding a low-cost gym brand to its already extensive portfolio. The Zoo Fit rollout starts  in July with ... More
03 Jun 2026
Speedflex has launched a strength training programme for 10 to 16-year-olds, to make it safer, more inclusive and more engaging. Built on the Speedflex training ... More
01 Jun 2026
Tewinbury Farm Hotel in Hertfordshire, UK is expanding its premium leisure proposition with the launch of Farm Club, on 15 June. Located 30 minutes from ... More
01 Jun 2026

Work is underway in Madrid on one of Europe’s most significant multi-functional complexes, combining sport, entertainment, culture and education.

The €800 ... More

01 Jun 2026
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.  With decades of experience in immersive water-based attractions, Maelzer will ... More
29 May 2026
PureGym is encouraging people to step away from their screens and go for a walk, in a new initiative timed to coincide with Mental Health ... More
29 May 2026
Small improvements to sleep, diet quality, and physical activity, made in combination lead to a significantly reduced risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks ... More
29 May 2026

Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse ... More

28 May 2026
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the 2026 event in Phuket, Thailand, later this year with the theme: The Science, ... More
28 May 2026
Auko, an all-inclusive development, is opening in Phong Nha in Vietnam in Q3 2026, with a series of 30 tented eco-lodges and wellness hospitality operations ... More
28 May 2026
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world ... More
28 May 2026

Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its recently launched Sirene Island themed area and ... More

28 May 2026
Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, has opened a 2,800sq m spa called The Sanctuary, with the design and concept inspired by the Native ... More
1 - 15 of 69,578
Elevate Arena
Elevate Arena