ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The last time a new major theme park opened in the Orlando area was over 10 years ago when Legoland entered the Sunshine State.
In six months, Universal will make history with the grand opening of its largest park in the U.S. – Epic Universe.
The company said previously that the work on Epic Universe will result in thousands of jobs across Central Florida and infuse billions of dollars into the state’s economy.
“Our community has so many talented workers who will benefit from this massive project. I am confident it will deliver a huge economic boost to Orange County,” Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said when the park was starting construction.
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This economic boost is being partially driven by the development boom near Epic Universe – hotels, restaurants and even housing are either being planned or are already under construction.
News 6 broke down some of the projects being built. Here is what we know:
- White Castle: (Northeastern corner of Universal Boulevard and McKenna Drive)
- Once built, this would be the third Orlando location for this burger chain. White Castle is known for its variety of sliders and “Big Craves” boxes. It is not known when this restaurant will open.
- PopStroke: (8580 International Drive)
- According to permits filed in Orange County, the Tiger Woods golf attraction has plans on building its third Central Florida location in Orlando’s tourist district. This mini-golf spot is different from others as there aren’t any windmills and waterfalls – rather it’s comprised of two 18-hole courses with “next-generation technology,” per the brand’s website.
- PopStroke locations also have a full-service restaurant, ice cream parlor and an area to play outdoor games. An opening date has not been revealed at this time.
- Catchlight Crossings: (East of Orange County Convention Center near International Drive)
- This is an affordable housing project by Universal and Wendover Housing. The first phase is expected to open in 2026. It is also set to have the tuition-free Bezos Academy preschool, on-site medical offices and 16,000 square feet of retail and community event space. This community will also have a transportation center featuring buses, ride-sharing options and employer shuttles. The team behind the project notes that when Epic Universe opens, it is expected that 100,000 people will come to the I-Drive area on a daily basis.
- Raising Cane’s (8718 International Drive)
- The Louisiana-based chicken chain is expanding its footprint in the Orlando market. The chain announced in 2022 that it plans on opening at least 12 locations across Central Florida. According to a permit filed within the county – the restaurant is planning to open an outpost off I-Drive, but it did not reveal an opening date. This chain has a menu focused almost exclusively on chicken fingers, fries and coleslaw, along with its signature “Cane’s Sauce.”
- ICON Park expansion: (8351 International Drive)
- Back in March, permits were filed within the county to build an entertainment venue and three proposed retail locations totaling over 38,000 square feet at ICON Park. That plan is in addition to other applications filed for two hotels.
- We have since learned that this entertainment venue will be dedicated to a new show from the Blue Man Group which will debut on April 3, 2025. However, it was not revealed when the other additions will open.
- “In recent months, we announced two new tenants: Blue Man Group and The Winery & Tasting Room by Brewlando, with more coming soon. Since its opening in 2015, ICON Park has expanded yearly, adding new restaurants, attractions, and live music spots, and Epic Universe opening in the neighborhood in 2025 will be great for our business,” ICON Park President and CEO Chris Jaskiewicz said in a prepared statement.
- EVEN Hotels and Staybridge Suites (9685 Universal Boulevard)
- This hotel from the IHG hospitality brand is scheduled to open in 2026 with 288 guest rooms, according to a news release. It will also host 4,000 square feet of meeting space. The groundbreaking was held in October.
- “Our team recognized the incredible opportunity presented by Universal Epic Universe, which is poised to become a major draw for visitors to Orlando. The new theme park marks a significant development for Orlando, and the EVEN Hotel and Staybridge Suites Orlando Universal Blvd. will offer a prime location at the park entrance for guests to easily experience it all,” Jay Caiafa, chief operation officer - Americas IHG Hotels & Resorts, said in a prepared statement.
- Sunshine Corridor: (SunRail route between Orlando International Airport and the Orange County Convention Center)
- This is a $4 billion project that is still years away from being completed. However, once it is done, SunRail would be expanded and riders will be to travel from MCO to a stop off I-Drive near Epic Universe.
- The latest update on this project was Tuesday, as state officials said they are officially moving into the next stage – a project, development and environment study. This process could take up to two years and is dedicated to ensuring that a transportation project is being developed with minimum environmental impacts and using current engineering standards, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
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