Sometimes, the wildest stories in theme parks happen behind the scenes.

A federal court case in Oklahoma offers stunning allegations that promise to fuel industry cocktail party chatter for a generation. The case involves the American Heartland theme park — a development that was announced a couple of years ago for a site in rural Oklahoma.

A group out of Branson, Mo., Mansion Entertainment Group, in 2023 announced what it called a $2 billion project, featuring attractions designed by some of the top contractors in the theme park industry. If that name sounds familiar, Mansion Entertainment Group presented the Grand Finale float in Pasadena’s Tournament of Roses Parade for the past three years.

The park was supposed to open next year. But today, all that stands on the site are faded sig

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