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Start your engines: New Arizona theme park to include Hot Wheels roller coaster

June 14, 2021
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3 min read
crystal-lagoon-glendale
Start your engines: New Arizona theme park to include Hot Wheels roller coaster
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Glendale, Arizona, will soon feature a Mattel-themed amusement park with rides based on some of the popular children's brands for which the toymaker is best known.

Perhaps the most noteworthy are Hot Wheels, which will have its own roller coaster at the park, and Thomas & Friends, on which an indoor children's theme park will be based, complete with an electric battery-powered Thomas the Tank Engine passenger train ride.

In addition to the Mattel attractions, plans include an 11-acre lagoon that's up to 10 feet deep and surrounded by white sand beaches. Within the lagoon, seven islands will offer retail and dining venues; a 4-D theater; office space; more than 600 hotel rooms; and Aerophile's Aerobar, a 130-foot-tall watering hole with sweeping views.

Local developer ECL Glendale, LLC, will head the project, dubbed Crystal Lagoons Island Resort. It will be built in the city's Westgate entertainment district.

"We're excited for this project on many fronts, but two really stand out," said Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps in a statement. "Not only will this be a great example of experiential retail, which is the only area of growth in brick and mortar development over the past 10 years, but this project further cements Westgate as the largest sports and entertainment district in Arizona."

"An amenity of this magnitude adds to Westgate's mega event appeal and will generate significant revenue to support residents, businesses and the state as a whole," added Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers.

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Located 30 minutes west of Phoenix, Glendale already boasts more than a dozen hotels and resorts, a drive-in movie theater and plenty of opportunities for antiquing.

It is also home to the Arizona Cardinals NFL team. Crystal Lagoons Island Resort's construction, which was first proposed in 2019, is slated for completion in 2022, prior to the city's hosting of the 2023 Super Bowl at State Farm Stadium, where the Cardinals play their regular-season home games.

After a year of shutdowns and restrictions, theme parks are back and booming. Check out our coverage on the latest mask rules, the hottest new rides and attractions and upcoming expansions at Disneyland and Universal for more information.

Featured screenshot courtesy of the City of Glendale.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.