Theme park officials announced the groundbreaking and the theme park's official name—Universal Kids Resort—during a Dec. 1 press conference at the University of North Texas at Frisco.
“[Universal Kids Resort is] going to grow into being the very essence of growing up and living in Frisco,” Mayor Jeff Cheney said.
During the press conference, Cheney said the road leading to the theme park will be called Universal Parkway.
The details
Universal Kids Resort is the first of its kind for the Universal brand. The park will be catered toward young children and their families, Universal Creative President Molly Murphy said.
“Universal Kids Resort will inspire the unbridled creativity of kids through imagination, discovery and most importantly—play,” she said. “We’re designing the resort so kids and families can feel the thrill of being physically immersed in their most beloved stories and characters."
The park will feature characters from Universal properties, but the specific characters have not been announced at this time.
The park will include:
- Family attractions
- Shows
- Character meet and greets
- A 300-room hotel
Since construction has started, the project has created 2,500 construction jobs with more slated once the attraction opens, Murphy said.
“It's exciting for our business community because there's a number of ways that they can engage with Universal, and Universal has been such a fantastic partner, and making sure they're plugging in with the local business community and the residents,” said Christal Howard, Frisco Chamber of Commerce president and CEO.
Howard said this is just the beginning and more growth and opportunities will come.
“That's where we get excited about being able to bring workforce opportunities into Frisco,” Howard said. “ ... Residents can enjoy the park, work in the park, stay here, bring their families to the park; ... there'll be something for everybody.”
How we got here
The initial announcement of Universal coming to the Frisco Fields development was made in January.
The site plan was later approved by City Council in March after two months of public hearings and input meetings.
Looking ahead
The theme park will be nestled on 97.4 acres of land, and city officials said in January the park is set to open in June 2026, though Universal officials could not confirm that date.
Only 30 acres would be used for the park itself, leaving the remaining 60-plus acres available for any future expansion or developments from Universal.
Frisco council member Tammy Meinershagen said Frisco brings in worldwide-known brands, and the city is fortunate to partner with Universal.
“As [Mayor Jeff Cheney] was saying, this is going to really catapult the creative economy,” Meinershagen said. “We're excited to see how it changes what the experience is to live in Frisco in a very positive way for the future of the kids, for the people who are going to come back and work at Universal Kids Resort.”
