by Donald Wood
Last updated: 12:14 PM ET, Thu October 26, 2017
For families in the northeast, the announcement from Merlin Entertainments that it would be building the new LEGOLAND New York facility is creating genuine excitement.
Expected to open in 2020, LEGOLAND New York was recently granted conditional approval of its site plan by the Town of Goshen Planning Board, allowing the company to move ahead with the construction of the amusement park.
LEGOLAND New York will be open seasonally between April 1 and November 1.
The announcement was made Wednesday by Merlin Entertainments CEO Nick Varney at the Palacio Catering and Conference Center in Goshen, New York. The company revealed it anticipates generating $283 million in sales tax and hotel occupancy tax for Orange County over the period of 30 years.
"We are humbled to join the Goshen community. I can pledge to you that LEGOLAND New York will be a trusted and valued member of this community," Varney said in a statement. "I am thrilled that Goshen is the place where we will build our third LEGOLAND Park in the U.S. - the first in the Northeast. I am eager to continue with our $350 million investment with significant more investments to follow in the years to come, providing Goshen, Orange County, the Hudson Valley and New York State with significant economic benefits."
As for the design of LEGOLAND New York, it will be based on the successful models of parks operating in California, Florida, the United Kingdom, Germany, Malaysia, Denmark, Dubai and Japan.
"I am extremely pleased and gratified that Merlin Entertainment has chosen Goshen, New York for their LEGOLAND New York theme park," Goshen supervisor Douglas Bloomfield said. "I will work tirelessly with Merlin employees to ensure that the project will proceed on as planned."
The new theme park will be focused on children ages two to 12 and will be split into a number of LEGO-themed areas, consisting of more than 50 rides, shows and attractions. Some of the rides and attractions include LEGOLAND Driving School, the Dragon roller coaster, the LEGO 4D Movie Theater, Miniland, the LEGO NINJAGO themed land and more.
In addition, the new construction project will include a 250-room LEGOLAND Hotel that operates year-round. The hotel will be designed to bring children's imaginations to life with specially-themed rooms, hundreds of LEGO models located throughout the facility and surprises around every corner.
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