Brandon Sanderson Just Bought A Theme Park

Published Oct 14, 2026, 4:42 PM EDT Hannah is a senior writer and self-publisher at ScreenRant. There, she focuses on writing news, features, and list-style articles about all things comics, books, anime, and manga. She works as a freelance writer in the entertainment industry, focusing on video games, anime, and literature. Her published works can be found on Screen Rant, FinanceBuzz, She Reads, and She Writes. Brandon Sanderson is adding a new chapter to his plans for Dragonsteel, but it unforunately won’t involve opening a fantasy theme park. The bestselling Utah author announced on October 13, 2026, that Dragonsteel and development partner The Will Group intend to acquire the Pleasant Grove property formerly occupied by Evermore Park, the immersive attraction that permanently closed in 2023. The announcement, via ABC4, ends years of uncertainty over the site, but it also rules out the revival some former visitors hoped for. Sanderson said the existing buildings cannot be saved, and the property will instead become part of Dragonsteel Plaza, his planned company campus with a bookstore, warehouse, headquarters, and event space. The acquisition is a business partnership, not a solo project. Evermore Park’s Story Has Reached Its End Evermore opened to the public in 2018 after years of development, with an early concept booth appearing at Salt Lake’s FanX convention in 2014. Founder Ken Bretschneider had developed the idea from Halloween experiences he staged at home. The finished attraction blended a medieval and Victorian-inspired village with costumed performers, themed food, storylines, and activities designed to draw visitors into a fantasy setting. Guests could meet characters, take on quests and ride a train, while additional attractions over the years included axe throwing, archery, and ice skating. Despite the park’s devoted visitors and imaginative atmosphere, keeping the experience running proved difficult. Evermore pursued fundraising campaigns and loans, and it became embroiled in a legal dispute with Taylor Swift over her 2020 album title, Evermore; both sides later dropped their lawsuits. Evermore ultimately defaulted and closed at the end of 2023. The property changed hands on paper, but a planned replacement called RealmTown never materialized after the sale failed to close. In January 2025, Evermore’s owners sued prospective buyers Travis and Michelle Fox over an alleged breach of the purchase agreement, while the Foxes filed a counterclaim. The legal dispute left the site’s future unsettled. What Brandon Sanderson Plans To Build Instead Sanderson explained that he had previously toured the property but declined to buy it because he hoped another owner could restore Evermore’s original concept. He has also been clear that he has no interest in operating a theme park. After other revival attempts fell through, the land became a practical option for expanding Dragonsteel Plaza, which is being developed next door. The existing structures will not be preserved, even though Sanderson said he appreciated Evermore’s unusual design and had visited with his family. According to his announcement, assessments found that none of the buildings could be salvaged economically or brought up to code. The site also needs to be cleared and regraded, meaning even signature locations such as Vander’s Keep cannot be incorporated into the new project. The long-term plan is to make the property the permanent home of Dragonsteel’s operations, including company offices, a warehouse, a bookstore, and event space. Brandon Sanderson has promised that further details and images will be shared after planning work progresses, but has not laid out a full development timeline. For Evermore fans, the purchase closes the door on the park itself while giving the site a different future that is very exciting for Cosmere fans.