PLANE’S LEFT ENGINE. YIKES. ALL RIGHT. THERE’S NO SECRET THERE’S A LOT HAPPENING WITH CENTRAL FLORIDA’S THEME PARKS. ONE OF THE LATEST PROJECTS FROM UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT INCLUDES A HUGE PLOT OF LAND IN THE HEART OF THE TOURIST DISTRICT. WESH 2’S CHRISTINA WATKINS TOOK A FLIGHT IN CHOPPER TWO TO SHOW US THE WORK THAT’S HAPPENING. THIS IS A MASSIVE SPACE AND IT IS REALLY CATCHING THE EYE OF PARK FANS. I WANT YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE’RE SEEING HERE FROM CHOPPER TWO. IT SITS RIGHT BETWEEN ICON PARK AND TOPGOLF. WE KNOW UNIVERSAL ORLANDO OWNS THIS LAND, BUT WHAT’S COMING REMAINS A MYSTERY. CREWS WERE BUSY ON TUESDAY CLEARING THIS PLOT OF LAND ALONG UNIVERSAL BOULEVARD IN ORLANDO, JUST WEST OF UNIVERSAL EPIC UNIVERSE. IT’S A LARGE PROJECT, AND I THINK IT’S EXCITING TO SEE SOMETHING HAPPENING, ESPECIALLY SO CLOSE TO EPIC UNIVERSE AND NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS YET. ALICIA STELLA FROM ORLANDO PARK, STOP, SAYS SHE FIRST NOTICED THE PERMITS LAST FALL, BUT SHE DID NOT EXPECT WORK TO BEGIN THIS QUICKLY ON THE 87.2 ACRE SPACE. IT’S CONNECTED RIGHT UP AGAINST TOPGOLF AND ANDRETTI RIGHT THERE, AND IT IS BEHIND ICON PARK, BUT ALSO PRETTY CLOSE TO THE CONVENTION CENTER. SO IT’S IN A PRIME REAL ESTATE FOR MORE THAN JUST HOTELS, AND COULD BE SOMETHING THAT UNIVERSAL WANTS TO COMPETE WITH. THE ENTERTAINMENT OFFERINGS DOWN THERE. WHILE THAT MYSTERY PROJECT TAKES SHAPE, ANOTHER CONTINUES TO RAPIDLY DEVELOP AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA WITH FAST AND FURIOUS HOLLYWOOD DRIFT CHOPPER TWO SPOTTED PART OF THE TRACK OF THIS NEW THRILL COASTER. IT’S EXPECTED TO OPEN NEXT YEAR. I’M NEVER GOING TO SAY NO TO MORE THEME PARKS, TO MORE ATTRACTIONS, TO MORE RIDES, TO MORE ANYTHING. ANOTHER LOOK HERE FROM CHOPPER. TWO OF CREWS CLEARING THIS SPACE AND DUMPING MORE SAND. ONCE WE KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT COMING FROM UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT WILL OF COURSE LET YOU KNOW. COVERING PARKS CENTRAL FROM CHOPPER TWO CHRISTINA WATKINS WESH TWO NEWS AND UNIVERSAL ORLANDO IS ALSO BUILDING A PERMANENT FIREWORKS LAUNCH PAD BEHIND EPIC UNIVERSE, SO THE COMPAN
Crews begin clearing nearly 90 acres of land for Universal Orlando project
The 87.2-acre parcel sits along Universal Blvd. near Top Golf and Andretti Indoor Karting & Games
Updated: 4:26 PM EDT Mar 31, 2026
It’s no secret that there’s a lot happening with Central Florida’s theme parks.One of the latest projects, from Universal Orlando Resort, includes an 87.2-acre parcel in the heart of the tourist district.Chopper 2 flew over the land on Tuesday and spotted crews clearing the land. The parcel sits along Universal Boulevard, west of Universal Epic Universe.”It’s a large project, and I think it’s exciting to see something happening, especially so close to Epic Universe, and not know exactly what it is, yet,” said Alicia Stella, from Orlando Park Stop. Stella says she first noticed the permits last fall, but she didn’t expect work to begin this quickly.”We saw permits last fall from South Florida Water Management District for water drainage that said they were going to clear this land for future construction. So, I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon. So, they’re going to build up this land and shape it with some land grading. It’s very exciting because it’s such a large parcel,” she said.”It’s connected right up against Top Golf and Andretti right there. And it is behind ICON Park, but also pretty close to the Convention Center. So, it’s in a prime real estate for more than just hotels, and could be something that Universal wants to compete with the entertainment offerings down there.”Stella says some wonder if the space could be used as a midway transit hub for Universal Orlando.”The Shingle Creek Special District is also working on a transit system that will connect all of the disparate areas of Universal Orlando, which, if they are building something on this nearly 90-acre plot of land, that’s something that could be connected to the northern Universal Orlando and southern Epic Universe areas in the middle,” Stella said.While this mystery project takes shape, another continues to rapidly develop at Universal Studios Florida with Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift. Chopper 2 spotted part of the track of the new coaster, which is expected to open next year.”I’m never going to say no to more theme parks, to more attractions, to more rides, to more anything,” Stella said with excitement.Universal Orlando is also building a permanent fireworks launch pad behind Epic Universe. Though the company has not officially announced any new nighttime shows just yet.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
It’s no secret that there’s a lot happening with Central Florida’s theme parks.
One of the latest projects, from Universal Orlando Resort, includes an 87.2-acre parcel in the heart of the tourist district.
Chopper 2 flew over the land on Tuesday and spotted crews clearing the land. The parcel sits along Universal Boulevard, west of Universal Epic Universe.
“It’s a large project, and I think it’s exciting to see something happening, especially so close to Epic Universe, and not know exactly what it is, yet,” said Alicia Stella, from Orlando Park Stop.
Stella says she first noticed the permits last fall, but she didn’t expect work to begin this quickly.
“We saw permits last fall from South Florida Water Management District for water drainage that said they were going to clear this land for future construction. So, I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon. So, they’re going to build up this land and shape it with some land grading. It’s very exciting because it’s such a large parcel,” she said.
“It’s connected right up against Top Golf and Andretti [Indoor Karting & Games] right there. And it is behind ICON Park, but also pretty close to the [Orange County] Convention Center. So, it’s in a prime real estate for more than just hotels, and could be something that Universal wants to compete with the entertainment offerings down there.”
Stella says some wonder if the space could be used as a midway transit hub for Universal Orlando.
“The Shingle Creek Special District is also working on a transit system that will connect all of the disparate areas of Universal Orlando, which, if they are building something on this nearly 90-acre plot of land, that’s something that could be connected to the northern Universal Orlando and southern Epic Universe areas in the middle,” Stella said.
While this mystery project takes shape, another continues to rapidly develop at Universal Studios Florida with Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift.
Chopper 2 spotted part of the track of the new coaster, which is expected to open next year.
“I’m never going to say no to more theme parks, to more attractions, to more rides, to more anything,” Stella said with excitement.
Universal Orlando is also building a permanent fireworks launch pad behind Epic Universe.
Though the company has not officially announced any new nighttime shows just yet.