Nate Bargatze’s Ambitious Theme Park Plans
Nate Bargatze, the comedian known for his clean humor, recently announced a grand plan to create a theme park in Nashville, where he plans to serve as the park’s mascot. This wasn’t just an offhand comment; the 47-year-old Tennessee native intends to invest $350 million into this venture, named Nateland, which will cover over 100 acres in his hometown.
In a recent discussion, Bargatze emphasized his desire to steer clear of the politically charged atmosphere that has clouded comedy over the past decade. He stated, “I work in ticket sales. That’s all I’ve ever been in,” indicating he prefers to focus solely on entertaining people rather than engaging in culture wars.
His approach seems to be hitting the right notes. According to Pollstar, Bargatze’s upcoming shows are projected to gross $77.5 million in 2025, significantly exceeding the earnings of America’s second-highest grossing comedian, Sebastian Maniscalco, who is estimated to make $34 million.
During his ongoing ‘Big Damn Eyes’ tour, he’s set to sell over 2 million tickets, filling arenas and stadiums across the country. As a point of comparison, superstar Beyoncé sold about 1.6 million tickets on her most lucrative tour this year.
His company, Nateland Entertainment, with its tagline “Good Clean Funny,” has expanded to include a podcast network, a comedy cruise event, and various family-friendly content. Bargatze, who hails from the Nashville suburb of Old Hickory, also hosts ABC’s game show “The Greatest Average American” and has a feature film titled “The Breadwinner,” starring Colin Jost, set to release this month.
With Nateland, Bargatze envisions himself becoming the Tennessee equivalent of Walt Disney. He jokingly remarked to the Wall Street Journal, “I’m Mickey Mouse,” as he shares his ambitious blueprint.
To help realize this vision, he approached his neighbor Felix Berdigetz, a former KPMG partner, to take on the role of CEO. They have engaged lobbyists and reached out to influential figures in Nashville for support. In addition, they’ve contracted Storyland Studios, a California firm with a background in designing attractions for Disney and Universal Studios, to create the park’s layout.
The specific location of Nateland remains under wraps as negotiations progress. However, given Bargatze’s reputation for clean comedy and strong ticket sales, state support seems likely. Tennessee’s Lt. Gov. Stuart McWhorter noted, “The projects we encourage must fit this approach in the heart of middle America, and what Nate represents is consistent with our state.”
Bargatze hopes Nateland will evoke the same sense of nostalgia that the now-defunct Opryland USA theme park did, which closed in 1997 and was where he had his first job at age 15. After a brief stint in community college and working as a water meter reader, he moved to Chicago to pursue stand-up, eventually relocating to New York in 2004. His breakthrough moment arrived in 2017 when he featured in Netflix’s “The Stand Ups.” He then hosted “Saturday Night Live” in 2023 and the Emmy Awards in 2025.
Bargatze’s choice to maintain a family-friendly approach to comedy has given him a unique niche, particularly as many in the industry have adopted a more politically progressive stance in recent years. He reflected, “I could see how it would go, but I needed to build that trust.”
