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A theme park with an estimated $2 billion price tag is coming to the Midwest — and its location may surprise you.

The 1,000-acre development, named the American Heartland Theme Park and Resort, is scheduled to open in 2026 in the northeastern Oklahoma city of Vinita, according to a news release Thursday from the Missouri-based Mansion Entertainment Group, which is heading up the project.

The amusement park itself will cover 125 acres, which according to developers is comparable in size to Florida's Magic Kingdom and Disneyland in California.

It will have an Americana-themed environment with "a variety of entertaining rides, live shows, family attractions, waterways as well as restaurant-quality food and beverage offerings," Mansion Entertainment said.

It will also include rides and shows in "six distinctly American lands:" the Great Plains, Bayou Bay, Big Timber Falls, Stony Point Harbor, Liberty Village and Electropolis.

In addition to the amusement park, American Heartland will feature a 300-room hotel, indoor water park and an adjacent 320-acre RV park, and a 300-cabin campground named Three Ponies.

The park's design team includes more than 20 Disney Parks builders and Walt Disney Imagineers, according to the Mansion Entertainment. It also hired design firms that have been used in the past by other major amusement parks, including Six Flags and Universal Studios.

Once open, developers expect the park to attract two million visitors per year, according to Kristy Adams, a sales and marketing executive with the Mansion Entertainment.

Oklahoma state Sen. Micheal Bergstrom said in a statement through Mansion Entertainment that the park will add at least 4,000 jobs provide a boost to the state's tourism economy.

"We are thrilled to make Oklahoma the home of American Heartland Theme Park and Resort," American Heartland CEO Larry Wilhite said in a statement. "At the crossroads of the heartland, Oklahoma is an attractive location for a family entertainment destination."

Simrin Singh

Simrin Singh is a social media producer and trending content writer for CBS News.

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – A long-awaited bridge that opened in Oklahoma City last month has run into a problem.

In June, News 4 covered the ribbon-cutting for the Pedestrian Bridge over the Northwest Expressway at MacArthur. Funding for the bridge dates way back to 2007 and construction started in 2021.

After the recent opening, some residents are concerned seeing construction near the bridge.

“We don’t have any advertising space anymore and that was a big thing for us,” said Don Schrader, an assistant manager at CDR Electronics. “We thought about putting a giant gorilla up there but we’re not there yet.”

He says this new bridge construction has partially blocked the store’s visibility on a busy street and blocked one of their entrances temporarily.

“But we really feel like the way we do business, it will ultimately win out and it will overcome any obstructions that we’re having to deal with right now,” Schrader said.

The city tells us it is working on a portion of the bridge that’s not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Those who live nearby say crossing this intersection without the bridge can be very dangerous, especially for those with disabilities.

“There was a disabled lady on a small scooter,” said Donald Annoh, who lives a couple of blocks away. “It was really risky for her.”

While work is underway to get the bridge up to code, it is still open. The city says it is safe to use – not stopping some that use it multiple times per day.

“I really don’t mind that it’s under construction still,” said Monty Hall, who crosses the bridge to get to work. “It still works for me.”

The city tells us they found the portion that was not ADA compliant in a post-construction inspection.

The contractor added the temporary shoring under the bridge as plans are developed to address that section.

Notices will be made if scheduled work will close the walkway.

Below is the full statement from a City of Oklahoma City employee:

“A post construction inspection of the walkway found that a section appeared to be out of ADA compliance. Further inspection by the contractor and engineer determined that temporary shoring be placed under the section until additional investigation could be completed. The engineer is completing the additional investigation, and plans are being developed to address section of walkway that is out of compliance. A timeline has not yet been determined for any additional work. The bridge and walkway will remain open, and notices will be made when work is scheduled that may require closure of the walkway.”

Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

It may be summertime, but soon enough K-12 Oklahoma students will be returning to school.

Districts resume classes all throughout August. Here's a list of when school districts in the metro resume classes so you can be ready:

Bethany Public Schools

Classes start Aug. 3. Check out the full academic calendar at https://www.bethanyschools.com

Choctaw-Nicoma Park Public Schools

Classes start Aug. 15. Check out the full academic calendar at https://www.cnpschools.org/information/calendars

Deer Creek Public Schools

Classes start Aug. 10. Check out the full academic calendar at https://www.deercreekschools.org/calendar

Edmond Public Schools

Classes start Aug. 17. Check out the full academic calendar at https://www.edmondschools.net/page/calendar

Epic Charter School

Classes start Aug. 21. Check out the full academic calendar at https://www.epiccharterschools.org/calendar

Midwest City-Del City Public Schools

Classes start Aug. 9. Check out the full academic calendar at https://www.mid-del.net/o/mchs/article/620877

Millwood Public Schools

Classes start Aug. 15. Check out the full academic calendar here.

Moore Public Schools

Classes start Aug. 10. Check out the full academic calendar at https://www.mooreschools.com

Mustang Public Schools

Classes start Aug. 11. Check out the full academic calendar at https://www.mustangps.org/explore/mps-calendar-pdf

Norman Public Schools

Classes start Aug. 17. Check out the full academic calendar at https://www.normanpublicschools.org

Oklahoma City Public Schools

Classes start Aug. 10. Check out the full academic calendar at https://www.okcps.org/calendars

Piedmont Public Schools

Classes start Aug. 10. Check out the full academic calendar at https://www.piedmontschools.org/district/calendars

Putnam City Public Schools

Classes start Aug. 10. Check out the full academic calendar here.

Santa Fe South Charter Schools

Classes start Aug. 3. Check out the full academic calendar at http://santafesouth.org/

Shawnee Public Schools

Classes start Aug. 10. Check out the full academic calendar here.

Western Heights Public Schools

Classes start Aug. 16. Check out the full academic calendar at https://www.westernheights.k12.ok.us/district/calendar

Yukon Public Schools

Classes start Aug. 17. Check out the full academic calendar at https://www.yukonps.com/calendar

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – When a parent goes to prison, unfortunately, their children may someday follow that path. Growing up with a parent in prison can create an unstable upbringing, and often leads to a cycle – a family curse – called “generational incarceration.”

However, one school in Oklahoma City, designed exclusively for kids growing up with a loved one behind bars, is teaching students to succeed by breaking that cycle.

“I want to write music and go on tour, and travel the world playing music,” Marcus Flores said. Marcus is one of 29 students at Little Light Christian School, who was born into a life shackled by the chains of generational incarceration.

“I come from a dark place,” he said. “It was tough for me. Both my parents have been to prison. I have plenty of uncles and aunts that have been to prison, I had a grandmother who served about five years.”

Because of that devastating, downward cycle, four years ago, Marcus and his younger sister, Nina, were enrolled at Little Light Christian School – a free, non-profit, private school, funded by donations.

“I will be the first person to graduate high school in my family,” Marcus said.

It is here where Marcus learned to play the electric guitar, taught by music teacher Ernie Tullis.

“Marcus is just… I love that boy like he was mine,” Ernie said.

“Mr. Ernie,” as the kids call him, knows all too well the extra load his students carry. He was once one of them.

“I speak their language,” said Mr. Ernie.

Ernie left home at 16, hitchhiked to New Orleans, and got a job playing piano at a bar on Bourbon Street. That’s where, surrounded by sin, Ernie found God, became a minister – and broke free. He says generations of family felons ended with him.

“You can break chains, you can change your family tree,” said Ernie. “One of my favorite verses in the Bible that I tell the kids all the time and just speak into them, is that someday your kids and your grandkids will say, ‘We are blessed and you are blessed, because you took us a different way.'”

After decades of teaching, Ernie now has 85 former students playing music in churches across the globe in four countries, and one current student playing in Choctaw, Oklahoma.

At 18, Marcus is the youngest member of the praise band at Choctaw Road Baptist Church, where he shares the stage with Mr. Ernie, who plays the keys.

Next to the young man Ernie loves like his own, is Ernie’s son Caleb, on the drums. All of Ernie’s sons play in churches. He’s a very proud dad, just like Marcus’ father, whose complete transformation after prison led to Marcus’ strong faith.

“He did a complete 180 for me and my sister,” Marcus said of his father. “I think, to this day, that’s why I believe. Because God can take something that’s so wrong and turn it into something good.”

What started as a wrench thrown into the mix of Marcus’ young life, is changing course. He strums his own tune now, rewriting the one life handed him. Marcus has seven original songs ready to track at Mr. Ernie’s recording studio this summer.

“He’s very gifted,” Ernie said.

Marcus will be a senior this fall, and in 2024, he will walk the stage with not only his family’s first high school diploma, but also with a college associate’s degree, after taking a full load of concurrent classes.

“I will be the first to graduate, I will be the first to go to college, so it’s a bunch of chains that I’m already breaking in that cycle. It’s amazing because I get to show them, ‘Hey, here’s the mess, and here’s me,’ and I’m going to turn from that and steer us in a different direction,” Marcus said.

Mr. Ernie boasted, “The sky is the limit with that one. He can be as good as he wants to be. He’s just on fire.” A fire, that already burns so brightly, and sparked from the help of one “Little Light.”

“It just comes to show what God can do,” said Marcus, smiling.

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Plans are in the works for a world-class 12,000 seat outdoor amphitheater to be built in Oklahoma City.

It’ll be located in the Mustang Creek Crossing development, off of the John Kilpatrick Turnpike and I-40.

“It is our great pleasure to welcome The Sunset Amphitheater to Mustang Creek Crossing,” said Sam Coury, principal owner of Mustang Creek Crossing. “Our family strives to grow this district into an entertainment and experience hub for the city’s west side and encourage investment for a stay and play destination that families from across the state and region will embrace.”

Coury, along with Carol Courey Hefner have joined forces with Notes Live, a Colorado-based live entertainment company for the project.

“I can tell you one thing, it’d be the most luxurious amphitheater ever built in Oklahoma,” said JW Roth, the CEO of Notes Live. “We’re just super excited about it. It’s going to be awesome.”

The project will feature 120 luxury fire pit suites, a landscaped grass berm, traditional reserved seating, and premium hospitality offerings.

“It’s super high end in terms of its amenities, food and beverage. It has, I believe it has 12 Super suites, corporate suites,” said Roth.

Roth added that the amphitheater will also greatly help the city’s economy.

“It’s going to bring up roughly $110 to $125 million a year to the economy here,” said Roth. “It’s awesome for home values. It’s awesome for business values. It’s awesome for the economy.”

In a statement, Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell weighed in on the project saying, “I am thrilled about the partnership between Notes Live and Mustang Creek Crossing in bringing The Sunset Amphitheater to our great state. This state-of-the-art venue will not only enhance our entertainment landscape but will also serve as a catalyst for economic growth and tourism. With its capacity to host the largest touring acts in the country, The Sunset will draw music enthusiasts from far and wide. Oklahoma’s allure as a premier entertainment destination is growing stronger, and the Sunset Amphitheater will be a testament to our commitment to providing unforgettable moments for residents and visitors alike.”

Notes Live plans to break ground in early 2024 and have the outdoor amphitheater open in time for Summer 2025 tours.