UPDATE, Nov. 1, 2017 at 6:05pm:
Legoland New York is officially opening in Goshen in Orange County and will be the first one to open in the Northeast, according to a press release from Empire State Development on Oct. 25, 2017.
The theme park resort is slated to open in 2020 and will include well-known Lego characters, along with educational components appropriate for children ages 2-12 and is commissioned by Merlin Entertainments. It will span 170 acres and is expected to draw in approximately 2 million visitors a year.
“Legoland New York will further anchor the mid-Hudson region as a top-notch destination for visitors to New York State and will generate millions in local investment for the Town of Goshen,” Howard Zemsky, president, CEO, and commissioner of Empire State Development said in a statement.
The theme park was endorsed to receive $7.1 million in grants through the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative and now an $8 million grant from the Upstate Revitalization Initiative. Additionally, New York State invested $10 million to improve the off-site road infrastructure and traffic flow on Route 17. The entire project is expected to cost $350 million.
Along with being a travel destination for families, Legoland New York will offer STEAM programs to kids in the area and special programs and discounted tickets to nearby schools, including all school districts in Orange County.
For more information and updates, visit the Legoland New York website.
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Graphic courtesy Business Wire
Lego lovers rejoice! Developers unveiled plans this past week to build a $500 million Legoland theme park in Goshen, Orange County, according to the Poughkeepsie Journal.
Merlin Entertainments PLC, which has built six Legoland resorts around the world, presented its plans to the Goshen Town Board and estimated the 153-acre park could open as early as 2019, with construction starting in the spring of 2017. The developers are also estimating that the park could draw 10,000 to 20,000 visitors a day and create 500 full-time jobs. The park would be off Route 17 near Interstate 84.
The move to Goshen comes after a deal for the park in Rockland County, fell apart last fall because of community opposition. New York has given Legoland about $4 million in grants as an incentive to remain in the state rather than go to northern New Jersey, an area company executives had also been considering.
There is a Legoland Discovery Center in Yonkers, but the Legoland New York Resort in Goshen would include more than 50 rides, shows and attractions and a 250-room Lego-themed hotel aimed at families with children ages 2-12.
“We believe this location, just an hour from New York City and approximately three hours from Boston and Philadelphia, is the absolute perfect site for an entertainment brand as compelling as Legoland,” John Ussher, the park's senior divisional director, said in a statement.
The park projected it would get between 1.5 million and 2.5 million visitors a year, in line with its two other U.S. resorts in California and Florida. Legoland also operates in the United Kingdom, Germany, Malaysia and Denmark.
The park also estimated 500 construction jobs, 500 permanent jobs, 300 part-time jobs and 500 seasonal jobs. Developers are currently seeking local approvals and state assistance. It is expected that if built, the park will provide a major boost to the Orange County and regional economies—and result in loads of fun for visiting families.
Originally published on July 11, 2016
