NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - The head of the design firm tasked with creating comedian Nate Bargatze’s Nashville theme park is speaking publicly for the first time about the project, three days after the partnership was announced .

Mel McGowan, who leads Storyland Studios , said Bargatze has been a collaborative partner on “Nateland,” the theme park announced Monday.

“He’s been one of certainly the funnest and creative collaborators that I’ve had the joy of getting in the sandbox with,” McGowan said in an exclusive interview with WSMV4 Anchor Lauren Lowrey.

The project stems from Bargatze’s desire to bring back Opryland, which he mentioned to WSMV in February .

“They took Opryland from me, so I’m going to bring it back,” Bargatze said at the time.

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