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Why was this park created?
Why was this park created?
In 2019, following immense media buzz around the then-upcoming premiere of Cats, Universal commissioned the construction of a Cats theme park. Initially, the project was intended to open in 2021 on an accelerated construction schedule to coincide with the release of the Cats sequel. Because Universal was already financing the construction of Epic Universe in Orlando, financial assistance was vital for Universal to begin the Cats project. The project was originally supposed to be located in the United Kingdom, but when the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals approached Universal to partner on the project, Universal had to choose a domestic location. The partnership with the ASPCA brought immense tax breaks to Universal as they began advertising for the ASPCA in advance of breaking ground on the park.
In 2019, following immense media buzz around the then-upcoming premiere of Cats, Universal commissioned the construction of a Cats theme park. Initially, the project was intended to open in 2021 on an accelerated construction schedule to coincide with the release of the Cats sequel. Because Universal was already financing the construction of Epic Universe in Orlando, financial assistance was vital for Universal to begin the Cats project. The project was originally supposed to be located in the United Kingdom, but when the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals approached Universal to partner on the project, Universal had to choose a domestic location. The partnership with the ASPCA brought immense tax breaks to Universal as they began advertising for the ASPCA in advance of breaking ground on the park.
Although there was a minor revolt within Universal Creative when the project was announced and a small team had to develop it, the park was on schedule to break ground two weeks after the premiere of Cats. However, in the two weeks between Cats' premiere and the park's scheduled groundbreaking, Cats only grossed slightly more than 11 million dollars in the US and Canada. In short, it was a box office bomb, and Universal could no longer justify creating a park based on a film that had just lost over 100 million dollars. Once the Cats park was scrapped, the partnership between ASPCA and Universal in the park also dissolved, but Universal had already filed for their tax deductions, and they still owned a 2,500 acre tract of land in Montana, where the Cats park was going to be located. The rest of Universal Creative's team returned, but the three designers who took the lead on the Cats park, Robin St. Pierre, Buddy McNally, and Edwin Cummings, had all been promoted for their loyalty, and they had a fresh idea for what to do with the land.
Although there was a minor revolt within Universal Creative when the project was announced and a small team had to develop it, the park was on schedule to break ground two weeks after the premiere of Cats. However, in the two weeks between Cats' premiere and the park's scheduled groundbreaking, Cats only grossed slightly more than 11 million dollars in the US and Canada. In short, it was a box office bomb, and Universal could no longer justify creating a park based on a film that had just lost over 100 million dollars. Once the Cats park was scrapped, the partnership between ASPCA and Universal in the park also dissolved, but Universal had already filed for their tax deductions, and they still owned a 2,500 acre tract of land in Montana, where the Cats park was going to be located. The rest of Universal Creative's team returned, but the three designers who took the lead on the Cats park, Robin St. Pierre, Buddy McNally, and Edwin Cummings, had all been promoted for their loyalty, and they had a fresh idea for what to do with the land.
This new park concept, inspired by Red Dead Redemption, tested significantly better than the Cats park with several key demographics. Armed with cash reserves, lots of land, and loads of positive testing, Universal determined to make a resort of epic proportions. The park, which was designed throughout the summer of 2020, broke ground at the beginning of 2021. The awe-inspiring manmade landscapes demanded a lengthy construction time, so after four long years of construction, the park opened on the week of July 4, 2025, in honor of the 15th anniversary of Red Dead Redemption's release. Since then, the resort has inspired a revamp of the theme parks, and Universal looks forward to continuing to break new ground in the theme park industry for years to come.
This new park concept, inspired by Red Dead Redemption, tested significantly better than the Cats park with several key demographics. Armed with cash reserves, lots of land, and loads of positive testing, Universal determined to make a resort of epic proportions. The park, which was designed throughout the summer of 2020, broke ground at the beginning of 2021. The awe-inspiring manmade landscapes demanded a lengthy construction time, so after four long years of construction, the park opened on the week of July 4, 2025, in honor of the 15th anniversary of Red Dead Redemption's release. Since then, the resort has inspired a revamp of the theme parks, and Universal looks forward to continuing to break new ground in the theme park industry for years to come.
How will guests be kept safe at the park?
How will guests be kept safe at the park?
Due to the vast size of this park and the fact that there are large areas of land mostly devoid of settlements, several safety concerns are sure to be in guests' minds. However, Universal has taken every step to ensure that all our guests will be kept as safe as possible.
Due to the vast size of this park and the fact that there are large areas of land mostly devoid of settlements, several safety concerns are sure to be in guests' minds. However, Universal has taken every step to ensure that all our guests will be kept as safe as possible.
Since this is a park that guests stay in, and some locations like saloons stay open very late at night, 24/7 security will be in place to protect guests and keep things from getting out of control with saloons at night.
Since this is a park that guests stay in, and some locations like saloons stay open very late at night, 24/7 security will be in place to protect guests and keep things from getting out of control with saloons at night.
More complicated is the way we protect our guests in the wilderness. Especially in places like Ambarino and New Austin, large areas of land are open for exploration. To protect guests, motion-sensing wildlife cameras will be placed throughout any areas out of view of settlements so that guests can be seen around the park. Additionally, each guest ticket card will be equipped with a GPS tracking device. Although the tracker will always be activated, Universal employees will only be able to see where guests are if they enter any areas of vast wilderness, such as Ambarino. Even then, it will only be used to find guests who get lost or need assistance. We truly feel that we are taking every precaution to protect guests, and our Safety Advisory Council will regularly convene to update our safety protocols in the park to ensure our guests are always being protected.
More complicated is the way we protect our guests in the wilderness. Especially in places like Ambarino and New Austin, large areas of land are open for exploration. To protect guests, motion-sensing wildlife cameras will be placed throughout any areas out of view of settlements so that guests can be seen around the park. Additionally, each guest ticket card will be equipped with a GPS tracking device. Although the tracker will always be activated, Universal employees will only be able to see where guests are if they enter any areas of vast wilderness, such as Ambarino. Even then, it will only be used to find guests who get lost or need assistance. We truly feel that we are taking every precaution to protect guests, and our Safety Advisory Council will regularly convene to update our safety protocols in the park to ensure our guests are always being protected.
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