Published on: October 15, 2025, 08:00h.
Updated on: October 14, 2025, 11:20h.
“After seven years of planning, a brand new theme park is on the horizon for Las Vegas,” declares Daniel Leo Wittenkeller Jr., a minor TikTok influencer (379K followers) who refers to himself as the “CEO of Las Vegas.”
“This will be the first nostalgia theme park,” Wittenkeller, 28, elaborates in his video from September 30, excitedly pointing to a fenced-off vacant lot with the Las Vegas Strip in the background, claiming to have secured land for his vision. (He hasn’t.)
Wittenkeller, who is collaborating with his real-estate developer father—neither of whom possesses experience in theme park development—promises their park will be “the sole place on Earth to experience America’s most iconic decades.”
These decades include the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s, with rides, dining, and shows themed accordingly, reminiscent of Disneyland. (A “Tomorrow Zone” is also in the works.)
“Everyone longs to escape to simpler times—when life was cooler,” Wittenkeller shared.
Set for 50 acres off the Strip, near the Las Vegas Convention Center, RetroEscapes aims to feature a fountain of youth celebrating icons like Marilyn Monroe and Michael Jackson, complete with a nightly fireworks and light show.
The anticipated budget for this venture is projected to be between $500 and $600 million.
Is There Genuine Interest?
Wittenkeller Jr. asserts that he has contracted PGAV Destinations, a reputable amusement attraction firm, to design this dream park.
PGAV has previously designed the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind coaster for Epcot, and has contributed to thrill attractions like the Manta at SeaWorld Orlando and Cheetah Hunt at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay—along with the complete Aquatica and Discovery Cove parks in Orlando and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi.
Though there are A.I.-generated renderings—such as ’50s car-boat hybrids by malt shops—these representations cost nothing to create.
Additionally, there are social media posts without any financial backing.
If you’re sensing that this project may not materialize, consider that All Net Arena has a better chance of coming to fruition.
As of October 15, no land has been acquired for RetroEscapes, no building permits submitted, no environmental assessments conducted, and, crucially, no disclosed funding.
Historically, no successful Las Vegas project has solicited public backing without first securing initial resources.
The Wittenkellers have yet to finalize the designer they previously mentioned.
When Casino.org reached out to PGAV, a spokesperson confirmed the company has had some discussions with the Wittenkellers but has yet to finalize a contract, expressing enthusiasm about the opportunity to collaborate as the project progresses.
“We’re thrilled by the enthusiasm surrounding RetroEscapes and appreciate the recent media attention the project has generated,” the spokesperson further noted.
This refers to Attractions Magazine, a respected quarterly publication and website that published a news piece on October 7 about RetroEscapes, in which Wittenkeller Jr.’s plans were presented without adequate editorial review.
Importantly, the magazine included a disclaimer advising readers:
“We do not endorse every attraction we report on. Even with the best of intentions, many proposed projects fail to come to fruition. Make sure to verify the legitimacy of the organizers before sharing any financial information.”