Fantasy Theme Park Once Meant to Rival Disney is Being Torn Down, and Its New Owner Says Nothing Can Be Saved

Evermore Park in Utah had witches, goblins, and a medieval-style village where visitors could take part in the story. Now the buildings are headed for demolition, including the ones its prospective buyer had hoped to keep.

Fantasy author Brandon Sanderson announced on October 13 that his company, Dragonsteel, and The Will Group are preparing to buy the closed park in Pleasant Grove. Sanderson already owns property next door and wants to expand his planned Dragonsteel development.

He liked the look of Evermore’s buildings and thought some might work for his project. However, after checking into the repairs, his team found it would cost more to bring them up to code than to tear them down and build something new.

Evermore opened in September 2018 with a former Disney Imagineer helping create the attraction. The park closed in April 2024 after less than six years in business.

Why Evermore’s Old Buildings Have to Come Down

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Sanderson had visited Evermore several times with his family and said he enjoyed going there. When the park closed, he hoped somebody would buy it and keep the place going. He was initially offered the property but turned it down. Sanderson already owned land next door for Dragonsteel Plaza, and he wasn’t interested in running a theme park himself.

Other potential buyers came and went, and their plans for the property didn’t work out. Sanderson was approached again and decided to take another look at buying the land.

There’s also a problem with the ground underneath Evermore. Sanderson said the site contains unstable fill that will need to be removed before the land can be regraded for construction.

In an October 14 interview with KUTV, Sanderson discussed plans to begin demolition early next year. That timeline is still tentative, and he hasn’t announced an exact date.

Evermore Was Supposed to Be a Different Kind of Theme Park

Evermore was created by Ken Bretschneider, who wanted guests to become part of a fantasy story instead of spending their time on traditional rides. He hired Josh Shipley, a former Walt Disney Imagineer, to help develop the experience.

In a 2018 interview with Attractions Management, Bretschneider explained that visitors could explore the village or take part in quests involving actors playing different characters.

The park had witches, goblins, fortunetellers, a haunted graveyard and a stone mausoleum. Guests could dress up and interact with the characters, with different stories planned for Halloween, winter and summer.

There was quite a bit of work involved in building the place. Former production design director Josh Steadman said his team created seven sets, decorated five Renaissance tents and designed and carved 2,500 jack-o’-lanterns for the park.

Unfortunately, Evermore struggled financially and never finished many of its planned attractions. The park’s founder confirmed its permanent closure in April 2024.

Brandon Sanderson Plans a Bookstore and New Headquarters

Sanderson isn’t planning to reopen Evermore as another fantasy park. The property will become part of Dragonsteel Plaza, a development he previously announced for the land next door.

The plans include a warehouse, bookstore, event space, and permanent headquarters for Dragonsteel. Sanderson said more details and images will be released once the plans are further along.

He also explained that buying the property hadn’t been financially possible before The Will Group became involved. As of the October 13 announcement, the companies were still preparing to close on the purchase.