Forget Cincinnati: The Midwest’s Disney Dream of Mickey Should Run Through Indiana, and Name it Hoosierville

“Crossroads of Merica” -TM (trademark)

For several weeks, social media was flooded with reports claiming Disney had selected Cincinnati, Ohio, as the site of a third major American theme park resort. The story spread quickly, generating excitement throughout the Midwest before being exposed as fiction.

The rumor may have been fake, but it revealed a very real truth: millions of Midwestern families feel forgotten.

Today Disney’s American empire is concentrated on the coasts. Families in California have Disneyland. Families in Florida have Walt Disney World. Meanwhile, much of the nation’s heartland must travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to experience a Disney vacation.

If Disney ever decides to build a third American destination resort, perhaps company executives should stop looking at Cincinnati and start looking at Indiana.

Hey Mickey: Disney executives should be seeking deal with Gov. Mike Braun similar to his offer to the Chicago Bears. Specifically, the largely undeveloped corridor north of Westfield and south of Kokomo off of HWY 31 deserves serious consideration

Indiana occupies a geographic advantage few states can match. It sits at the center of one of the largest concentrations of population in North America.

Within a reasonable driving distance are:

• Indianapolis

• Chicago

• Cincinnati

• Columbus

• Louisville

• Detroit

• Milwaukee

• St. Louis

• Nashville

• Cleveland

• Pittsburgh

• Kansas City

• Toledo

• Fort Wayne

• Grand Rapids

• Dayton

  
  

Taken together, these metropolitan areas represent tens of millions of potential visitors. No expensive airline ticket required. No cross-country journey. Just a family road trip to the Crossroads of America.

Unlike crowded coastal locations, central Indiana offers abundant developable land, relatively affordable real estate, modern infrastructure, interstate access, and a business climate that generally welcomes major investment projects.

The area is already proving its growth potential. Westfield has emerged as one of the fastest-growing communities in Indiana. Nearby Hamilton County continues to attract families, businesses, and new development while maintaining a quality of life that consistently ranks among the nation’s best.

A Disney destination resort would transform the region.

Hotels, restaurants, entertainment districts, convention facilities, transportation improvements, and thousands of permanent jobs would follow. The economic ripple effects could stretch across Indiana for generations.

Critics will immediately point to Indiana winters.

Fair enough.

But theme parks in 2026 are not simply roller coasters and outdoor rides. Modern resorts rely heavily on indoor attractions, climate-controlled entertainment venues, water parks, shopping districts, convention centers, sports facilities, and year-round programming.

A Midwestern Disney resort could become a four-season destination unlike anything currently operating in the United States.

Will Disney actually build in Indiana?

Probably not anytime soon.

The company appears focused on expanding its existing resorts rather than constructing a third domestic destination.

Yet the viral Cincinnati rumor accidentally highlighted an important question: if Disney ever decides to expand in America, why should the Midwest once again be overlooked?

The answer is that it shouldn’t.

And if executives ever begin studying maps for a third American resort, they may discover that the shortest route to millions of families runs straight through the heart of Indiana.

After all, they don’t call Indiana the Crossroads of America for nothing.

Hey Disney Executives make Hoosierville the happiest place in the Crossroads of America!