Barbie’s dreamhouse hotel
Arizona’s VAI Resort to open along with Mattel Adventure Park
It’s been under development for many years, and its opening has been delayed a number of times, but everything appears to be coming together for a late 2024 debut of the Mattel Adventure Park in Arizona. I’ve previously reported about the indoor micro park earlier this year and followed up with some additional info in an article I published a couple of months ago. The highly anticipated park will include two Hot Wheels-themed roller coasters, Master of the Universe laser tag, a walk-through Barbie Beach House, and other rides and attractions based on the toy company’s popular brands.
To be located in Glendale, just outside of Phoenix, the park will be part of VAI Resort, which will include many other amenities, including Arizona’s largest hotel. The company developing the project recently released additional info about the property.
While the theme park will be targeted to families with children (and, perhaps, nostalgic adults who loved playing with their childhood toys), the overarching theme of the $1 billion resort will actually be music.
“The design philosophy at VAI Resort is a symphony of elegance and innovation combined with a good dose of rock n’ roll attitude,” says Scott Hillig, the property’s president of design and development. “It’s an integrated experience where guests can feel the energy of the music in every heartbeat of the hotel. VAI Resort serves as a stage where luxury and artistry dance together.”
The towers of the 1,100-room hotel will overlook the 8,000-seat VAI Amphitheater. The $40 million outdoor venue will be open year round and present national acts ranging from rock to country to blues. Rather than retrofitting a sports venue (such as the nearby State Farm Stadium) for a concert, as is generally the case for major performers, the VAI Amphitheater will be custom designed exclusively for shows. It will include a permanently installed sound system, lighting rigs, special effects, and other concert-ready features. VAI Resort says that the space will be designed so that most audience members will be less than 100 feet away from the stage.
The chic hotel will include four towers, one of which will provide commanding views of the amphitheater. It will include a variety of room configurations including suites and villas as large as 5,300 square feet, all infused with music- and entertainment-inspired design elements.
Konos Island, the 52,000-square-foot water playground (keep in mind this is in the Arizona desert) at the heart of the resort, will feature a sandy beach, bars, and VIP cabanas. There will be 12 restaurants throughout the property, including eateries at a shopping, dinning, and entertainment complex. Other amenities will include a tethered hot air balloon, a Sky Bar that will lift guests 130 feet into the air to enjoy libations while, er, getting high, a luxury spa, and a nightclub.
Mattel Adventure Park should be a draw. But I’d imagine the destination resort would also appeal to fans who might want to combine a vacation at a stylish hotel with a show by one of their favorite performers.
Might you consider flying in for a stay at the luxurious Arizona resort to catch a show by an act you would want to see? Given the music-centric nature of VAI Resort, do you think the Mattel theme park is consistent with the rest of the property?
Where do they source the water? The evaporative losses are a total waste of a scarce resource!!
Interesting idea, though I question the idea of an outdoor amphitheater in Phoenix. It’s gonna be unbelievably hot a lot of the year, presumably when you want it filled with people