Merlin Entertainments Chief Executive Officer Nick Varney officially announced that LEGOLAND New York is being built. The gathering took place at the Palacio Catering and Conference Center in Goshen today, Oct. 25, with more than 250 people attending.
After Varney officially announced that LEGOLAND New York will open in 2020, more than 30,000 LEGO bricks were dumped onto the stage by construction vehicles and 1,500 balloons cascaded from the ceiling much to the delight of local school children in attendance.
After more than a year of public meetings and hearings in addition to a thorough and transparent review process by officials, LEGOLAND New York has been granted conditional approval of its site plan by the Town of Goshen Planning Board, allowing it to officially move ahead with building the Park.
LEGOLAND New York anticipates generating $283 million in sales tax and hotel occupancy tax for Orange County over the period of 30 years. The Town of Goshen would receive about $71 million in revenue from the host community fee LEGOLAND will pay and its share of PILOT payments and tax payments
The Orange County IDA approved 20-year PILOT will provide enormous economic benefits to the Town of Goshen, the Goshen Central School District and Orange County, totaling $87 million in PILOT payments and property tax revenue. Annual payments will increase at 5 percent annually to reach the full assessed value of the property in 20 years. The proposed resort will generate more than 1,000 jobs in addition to 800 construction jobs during its creation.
The Park’s design will build upon the successful models of parks operating in California, Florida, the United Kingdom, Germany, Malaysia, Denmark, Dubai and Japan.
The New York Park will be open seasonally from April 1 to November 1.
Designed for children ages 2 to 12, LEGOLAND is a world of fun and adventure where the emphasis is placed on rides and attractions suitable for families with young children.
LEGOLAND is split into a number of highly LEGO themed areas, which consist of more than 50 rides, shows and attractions. Attractions include the LEGOLAND Driving School, where kids learn to drive a LEGO themed car. The Dragon “pink knuckle” roller coaster will excite children without being too scary and the LEGO 4D Movie Theater will show a selection LEGO movies.
Miniland is the heart of every LEGOLAND park and includes cities and iconic landscapes in miniature scale built out of millions of LEGO bricks. Other themed areas include LEGO Friends and LEGO NINJAGO.
Additionally, a 250-room LEGOLAND Hotel will be built and open year-round. The Hotel will immerse guests into a creative LEGO world designed to bring children’s imaginations to life with specially-themed rooms. Millions of LEGO bricks will make up the hundreds of LEGO models that will be located throughout the Hotel. The LEGOLAND Hotel is built for kids to take control, with LEGO surprises around every corner.
