Circuit of the Americas is shifting into high gear to provide more entertainment—a move that will make the facility more than a motorsports mecca.
Bobby Epstein, chairman of COTA, shared plans with Community Impact to open a full-scale amusement park next summer at its sprawling complex.
“I think what we’re trying to do is build a destination,” he said. “We want Central Texas residents’ first thought to be, ‘There’s a lot to do out at COTA.’”
The details
The amusement park, dubbed COTALAND, will span approximately 30 acres with 33 attractions by opening day, including:
- Two high-thrill roller coasters
- Two family-friendly roller coasters
- One roller coaster for children ages 3-6
think when most of the other amusement parks were built in Texas, 30-50 years ago, shade wasn’t as big of a factor.”
These attractions will be located between turns 19 and 20 of the COTA racetrack, where, for an additional cost, guests can take a "Hot Lap" around the track into the amusement park.
“It should be the world’s greatest ride,” Epstein said.
The Circuit Breaker—a ride that features a 90-degree drop and reaches speeds of up to 60 miles per hour—was the second roller coaster constructed as part of COTALAND, Epstein said.
Construction on the attraction concluded in late September, and attendees to the Formula 1 race Oct. 17-19 got to test ride the coaster.
The ride itself was selected with the help of a roller coaster specialist with about 20 years of experience with amusement park Six Flags.
“It has a tilting platform,” Epstein said. “You go up and then the track comes to an end. You’re suspended in the air and then it tilts down and connects to the rest of the track and sends you on your way.”
Epstein highlighted how there is a similar roller coaster called Siren’s Curse at Cedar Point in Ohio where thrill seekers often wait up to three hours for a single ride.
“It’s a spectacular feature,” he said. “People are excited, and we think it’s a roller coaster that people will travel from all over to experience.”
Epstein said Circuit Breaker is expected to draw crowds from the Central Texas community to COTALAND, which COTA officials hope will one day sell two million tickets annually.
“That won’t necessarily be the case in year one, but most amusement parks grow over time,” he said. “So we plan to grow into success.”
The COTA campus—which hosts concerts and festivals in addition to motorsports—currently averages 1.3 million visitors each year, according to COTA officials.
Dori Kelley, business attraction, retention and expansion manager for the Bastrop Economic Development Corporation, told Community Impact the city views every COTA event as an economic opportunity for the city and county.
She expects the region to further benefit, as COTA explores the use of the Smithville airport for executive travel and increases its partnership with Hyatt Lost Pines.
Officials from the city and county recently had the opportunity to tour the facilities at COTA.
“By doing so, it helped us realize that we need to increase and enhance this partnership, so we can make sure that people are aware that the east and northeast side of COTA is also a great place to visit,” Kelley said.
The outlook
Epstein said he is optimistic that COTALAND could open next summer, and added a water park could be the next step.
“I think that’s two or three years down the line—one year to prove that people want to experience things like what we’re building with the amusement park, and then a year or so to build the water park," he said.
Epstein said he hopes when families plan their future weekends and vacations they stay close to home and think about heading out to COTA.
