More than 50 years ago, Lamar Hunt brought Worlds of Fun to Kansas City. The one-of-a-kind (for its time) amusement park was transformative for so many Kansas Citians, young and old.
Now, a generation later, James Arkell and Loretto Properties, LLC (which was founded by Lamar Hunt, Jr.), is bringing a state-of-the-art, all-inclusive amusement park to the area, right here at 119th and Renner in Olathe.
“My wife’s grandfather built Worlds of Fun, which was groundbreaking for its time,” Arkell said. “Now, we’re building something just as groundbreaking.”
What Arkell and Loretto are building is Michael’s Wonder World, an all-inclusive amusement park that will be just the second of its kind in the U.S. The amusement park will be the crown jewel of the $338 million mixed-use district featuring 67,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space, a 25,000 sq. ft. medical office building, sports arena and the all-abilities theme park.
The idea of Michael’s Wonder World came from a visit to Morgan’s Wonderland, an all-inclusive amusement park in San Antonio, Texas for the Arkell family, including his 10-year-old son, Michael, who has a rare medical condition, is nonverbal and uses a wheelchair.
The Olathe City Council approved a sales tax revenue (STAR) bond district on 130 acres at the southwest and northeast corners of 119th Street and Renner in mid-September and the group is hoping for a mid-2026 opening for the first phase of development on the SW corner.
The new development is a game-changer for Olathe, the entire KC metro area, the Midwest and even the northern half of the U.S.
“The location is the best we could have hoped for, as far as regionality,” Arkell added. “It’s right in the center of the country.
“Mogan’s Wonderland is pulling people from all over the world, and with us being as far north from them, we’ll open up the opportunity for a whole lot of people who couldn’t make that trip.”
Located right off of I-35 makes it an ideal location, but more importantly, for Olathe, it’s yet another economic driver.
“This is certainly big news for the City of Olathe,” Olathe Chamber CEO Tim McKee said. “The investment in our market, the number of jobs it will create and the draw it will be for visitors across the region is another big win for our community.”
Arkell agrees. “The city is making an investment that’s going to pay off exponentially,” he said. “The utilization of the tools the city is helping us with, allows us to do this. It allows us to show the appeal of Olathe that has been here since the pioneers came across this area.”
Arkell is also quick to remind that while the City of Olathe has approved the sales tax revenue (STAR) bond district for the area, the new development won’t affect Olathe residents’ tax bill.
“The truth is, not a single person will be affected financially,” Arkell said. “Basically, the city is giving us a leg up, but it doesn’t cost the taxpayers a thing.
“We’re just redirecting things and the result is the City of Olathe gets this phenomenal development. It makes sense for us, and everyone involved, to do it.”