Is a Nashville comedian ready to challenge Dolly for celebrity theme park dominance?
The announcement seemed like a bit. Comedian Nate Bargatze – generally considered one of the best touring comedians in the country – is working to build a theme park near his hometown of Nashville.
If you know Bargatze’s work – a mostly dry with filled with self-deprecation – it’s hard to imagine that he would have the necessary ego to launch such a venture. The park would be named after his own entertainment company, NateLand – which hosts podcasts, touts his tour and projects and more
But then a video starring Bargatze played at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo 2025. In it, Bargatze indicated he was serious about bringing amusement back to Nashville.
Who the heck is Nate Bargatze?
Bargatze is one of the hottest comedians in the world. But his ascent has been something of a slow climb. He began working on his craft in the early 2000’s. By 2008, he was consistently working. He steadily building his career from there. His first real breakthrough came in 2017 with Netflix’s “The Standups.” The show featured multiple second or third tier comedians trying to make it to the big time with their own specials.
Bargatze’s 30-minute set included some of his classic material that highlights his laconic storyteller style. The punch lines arrive seemingly out of nowhere. Watch the brilliant Cape Fear Serpentarium (start at the 19:30 mark) and his attempts to order iced coffee with milk (start at the 11:30 mark).
Since the Netflix special, he has released multiple hour long specials, written a pair of books and hosted Saturday Night Live and the Emmy’s. His turn as George Washington on SNL was on of the long-running sketch show’s best received bits in years. He can fill arenas, in fact, he currently has a show coming up at the University of Tennessee’s Food City Center at Thompson Boling Arena.
Much of his comedy is formed by growing up with his professional magician/clown father who is also hilarious. His dad also serves as fodder for Bargatze’s show. My daughter Sofia and I saw them both in Chattanooga when his father was one of Bargatze’s openers.
Raised in a somewhat religious family, Bargatze doesn’t curse in his shows, which are family friendly. I would point to the fact that I happily took my daughter. That said, I also took her to see Ron White and a couple of other less family friendly comics so I might not be the parent to use as a barometer.
Is Bargatze famous enough to have a theme park?
That is yet to be seen. He’s not Dolly Parton, but honestly, nobody is. Opryland closed in 1997, and Nashville has been hungry for a theme park.
Bargatze, who is probably the world’s most famous fan of Vanderbilt football, is loved in Nashville. And it’s a city with enough of a population in the surrounding area to support a theme park without having to draw people from all around the world.
Honestly, Bargatze’s level of fame is the least of the proposed theme park’s worries. It turns out there are issues to be overcome. In Bargatze’s announcement it was revealed the planning is in its very early stages. There is a feasibility study underway only after which would funding be pursued. It could be a lot of years – if ever – before Bargatze and his partners break ground.
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Who is Bargatze’s partner?
Honestly, that’s another issue. Bargatze is working with California-based Storyland Studios. The company says its includes alumni from Disney, Pixar, Universal Studios and LEGOLAND, among others. However, there has been skepticism expressed in the wake of the announcement. The company has announced several projects in Tennessee and the Smokies that haven’t exactly taken off. Storyland, for instance, was associated with restoration efforts at Ghost Town in the Sky at Maggie Valley before the owner/co-owner died in a tragic accident.
Nateland would not be the first time Storyland Studios would try to reach into the Nashville market. Earlier this year, nashvillescene.com reported that Storyville Gardens, a project announced in 2021 for the Nashville area based on bringing stories to life, is in limbo. But there have been assurances from Storyland Studios that the project is moving forward.
The development’s partner died in 2022 and the magazine reached out to the Storyville team to see if it is moving forward. The response indicated the project was moving forward but with a somewhat different vision.
More about the company’s connection to the Smokies
In a 2022 press release announcing its partnership to develop Sports Illustrated themed resorts – one of which was reportedly planned for Exit 407: Gateway to the Smokies, which has also apparently stalled – Storyland officials specifically cited the Maggie Valley and Storyville projects.
“Storyland Studios imagines, designs and creates immersive experiences and environments that lift the spirit. The firm was recently slated to design the first-ever Ubisoft Entertainment Center at Frane’s Studios Occitanie, the first in its ongoing partnership with Ubisoft. Additionally, Storyland is heading up design for Storyville Gardens, an interactive, story-driven theme park based in Middle Tennessee, and a revamp of the beloved Ghost Town in the Sky theme park in Maggie Valley, North Carolina.”
Now, all of this isn’t to be critical of the company. It has partnered to bring some of the most important theme park projects in the last couple of decades to life. But it is to say that an announcement in the theme park world is just the first step in a long process. Remember when Disney was gonna add a Mary Poppins’ themed ride to EPCOT?
Nateland might one day become an amazing attraction for Nashville. But is a long way from becoming a reality.
So, could Nateland ever challenge Dollywood?
Ever is a long time, of course. But no, I wouldn’t think so. Dollywood has a multi-billion dollar head start. Even if Nateland could raise the kind of capital to build a world-class theme park from scratch, Epic Universe in Orlando cost more than $7 billion, it would likely still be behind Dollywood which is investing millions upon millions every year, has significant name and branding advantages and is four-hours closer to much of the populace of the Eastern seaboard by car.
Are you hoping for a Nateland in Nashville? Let us know what you think in the comments and on the socials!