A family of adorable pink pigs is making themselves right at home in Texas, and they can’t wait for you to come over and jump up and down in muddy puddles with them.
On Saturday, Merlin Entertainments opened the country’s second Peppa Pig Theme Park in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, following the success of the first location in Winter Haven, Florida.
The new Peppa Pig Theme Park is in North Richland Hills, a northeastern suburb of Fort Worth. It’s next door to the 17-acre NRH2O Family Water Park and less than 30 minutes from the Legoland Discovery Center and the Sea Life Grapevine aquarium.
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“Merlin Entertainments’ opportunity to bring an iconic children’s television character to life in a theme park is truly special. We’re not only responsible for building this beautiful park, but also for preserving the magic of Peppa Pig in this immersive experience for little ones. We are hoping families will create memories of a lifetime here,” chief executive officer of Merlin Entertainments Fiona Eastwood said at the grand opening event on Feb. 28.
Tickets to Peppa Pig Theme Park start at $27.99 per person and include one free digital photo download and one free digital video download. There are also packages that include Peppa Pig ears and other collectible items, and annual passes are available for $99 per person. Children under 2 years of age do not require a ticket to visit the park.
Because the park is near other Melin-owned attractions, combo tickets that include admission to Peppa Pig World of Play Dallas, Legoland Discovery Center and the Sea Life Grapevine aquarium are also available.
Peppa Pig Theme Park’s Texas location has five rides, a water play area and loads of activities designed just for kids. Daddy Pig’s Roller Coaster is a perfect first roller coaster for little ones but may even make parents let out a squeal or two. The other rides include Peppa Pig’s Balloon Ride, Grandad Dog’s Pirate Boat Ride, Grampy Rabbit’s Dinosaur Adventure and Mr. Bull’s High Striker.
In between rides, kids can visit play spaces across the park, such as the Muddy Puddles Splash Pad (bring a swimsuit and a towel to dry off after), a bicycle and tricycle trail, a playground, and a Fun Fair with free carnival games and character meet-and-greets. Dining is available at Miss Rabbit’s Diner, with kid-friendly menu items like pizza, sandwiches and “muddy puddle milkshakes.”
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Like other Merlin-owned attractions, the new Peppa Pig Theme Park emphasizes accessibility. Many rides and points of interest have been designed with wheelchair users in mind; the park also has accreditation through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards as a Certified Autism Center, meaning staff members have sensory awareness training, and each attraction has a sensory guide for parents.
What sets Peppa Pig Theme Park apart from other parks is that it is specifically geared toward younger kids. Children won’t have to be stuck in the stroller shuffling from ride to ride all day long. Peppa Pig Theme Park is small enough and laid out so that kids can run around and explore (while their parents attempt to keep up with them).
Its smaller size also means you can experience the entire park in one day, making Peppa Pig Theme Park the latest in a trend toward smaller and more affordable “micro parks,” such as the Universal Kids Resort theme park also under development in Texas.
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