Suit alleges fraud on Oklahoma’s $2.5B Disney-sized theme park

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The only real investor within the $2.5 billion American Heartland theme park and resort that failed to launch in Vinita, Oklahoma, has alleged fraud and psychological abuse from the builders, in accordance with a lawsuit filed July 25 within the U.S. District Courtroom for the Northern District of Oklahoma. 

Within the swimsuit, 91-year-old Gene Bicknell, who as soon as owned a big chain of Pizza Hut franchises, alleges that promoters Richard M. Silanskas Jr., Larry Okay. Wilhite and Stephen D. Hedrick of Mansion Leisure Group stole $60 million and triggered him extreme misery that led to a stroke final yr.

The swimsuit, which asks for the funding again together with different charges, consists of texts and emails from Silanskas and Wilhite impersonating messages from God.

“Silanskas and Wilhite executed a predatory conspiracy of psychological manipulation — convincing Gene, via fraud and impersonation, that God himself was commanding him each to finance the park’s development and to grant Silanskas and Wilhite two-thirds possession over the finished enterprise,” the lawsuit reads. 

Developer Mansion Leisure Group introduced in July 2023 designs for the 1,000-acre Americana-themed growth, together with curler coasters, an indoor water park, a 300-room lodge and an RV park. The footprint of the 125-acre theme portion would rival Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, or Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, in measurement. 

On the time, Hedrick commented publicly that Bicknell was the only monetary backer, per the swimsuit.

“The plan was to make use of Gene’s cash to construct the American Heartland Venture after which steal it, paying themselves handsomely alongside the best way,” the swimsuit reads. “Silanskas already had a report of involvement in failed theme park initiatives that left empty-handed traders of their wake.”

The RV space was initially scheduled to open in spring 2025, adopted by the theme park and resort in fall 2026. Certainly, the RV area broke ground in 2023 however nothing extra has been constructed moreover a fence and a gravel street, in accordance with the swimsuit. Builders claimed that their design staff consists of former Disney Parks builders and Walt Disney Imagineers, however that was additionally a lie, the swimsuit alleges.

“The groundbreaking was primarily the start and the top of the development work on the complete Venture,” the lawsuit reads. “Harmless individuals misplaced cash by shopping for up land close to Vinita with property values inflated by information of a theme park that may by no means exist.”

This isn’t the primary time the challenge has been sued. Canadian design agency Forrec and Columbus, Kansas-based Crossland Development each filed claims in Might 2024 alleging that they were not paid for their work. No less than 5 lawsuits or arbitrations have been filed by distributors, in accordance with Bicknell’s swimsuit.

Mansion Leisure Group didn’t reply to Development Dive’s request for touch upon the lawsuit.