Universal Studios’s move to Texas has hit some road bumps, but progress is still moving full steam ahead, with some amazing updates on new lands, attractions, and more.

Concept art for an all-new Universal theme park planned to open in Frisco, Texas
Credit: Universal

Universal Studios’ Move to Texas Is Taking Shape: Although Not Everyone Is Happy About It

When the first designs were revealed, many in Frisco, Texas, gasped—for better or worse. A towering resort bursting with bright colors and beloved characters like Shrek and the Minions will soon loom over one of the city’s quietest communities.

But while the hotel’s new murals are charming and child-focused, some locals are asking: what’s the real price of bringing this dream to life?

A colorful Universal building in Texas features vibrant square and circular windows, a yellow canopy, and people gathered outside; trees and birds fill the bright theme park sky.
Credit: Universal

Shrek, SpongeBob, and… a Showdown With Residents?

This week, the Frisco City Council officially approved new murals for the resort hotel that will greet guests at the upcoming Universal Kids Resort. The colorful exterior designs—featuring favorites like Shrek, Donkey, Puss in Boots, Minions, SpongeBob, Patrick, Trolls, and more—are set to wrap the building in vibrant storytelling magic.

Images provided during the city council meeting show one mural facing outward toward the city and another directed toward the interior of the park. While they’re a feast for the eyes, they’re also directly visible to residents of the Cobb Hill neighborhood—some of whom have pushed back against the resort’s development from the very beginning.

The question remains: will whimsical art be enough to smooth over serious concerns about traffic, noise, and quality of life?

Four colorful panels display the Universal Kids Resort logos surrounded by animated characters like Minions, Trolls, and Shrek on a bright, geometric background, highlighting this exciting new Universal theme park in Texas.
Credit: Universal

Council Approval Clears a Creative Milestone

Frisco’s strict building standards meant Universal needed city approval for any structure over 50 feet tall. This included the resort hotel, which now features six color-blocked sections—orange, yellow, green, pink, purple, and blue—with oval and square windows.

The Barg’N-Mart is taking shape in Universal Kids Resort’s SpongeBob land. (Arrow at the right side of the building. in In the background, the Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coasters supports can be seen rising above the rooflines.) – @Aahs_n_Oohs on X

John Lettelleir, Frisco’s Director of Development Services, confirmed the park is on track for an opening between April and June of 2026. The timing aligns with a broader rollout of immersive family-friendly attractions tied to globally beloved brands.

Each mural directly ties into themed lands within the resort:

  • “Shrek’s Swamp” featuring Shrek, Donkey, and Puss in Boots

  • “Minions vs. Minions” with yellow and purple Minions

  • “Bikini Bottom” starring SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy

  • “TrollsFest” bringing the sparkle with Poppy and Branch

These lands are part of a larger vision for the resort’s six immersive zones, all designed for young visitors and their families.

At Universal Orlando Resort, the iconic globe stands at the center, with Harry Potter on the left and Super Mario alongside other colorful characters on the right.
Credit: Inside The Magic

Beyond the Paint: What the Park Really Promises

While the murals are the most recent development, they reflect a larger commitment by Universal to create a deeply themed, story-driven experience that’s accessible to younger audiences.

The Universal Kids Resort, announced in January 2023 and approved in March of that year, will include lands themed to:

  • DreamWorks’ Shrek

  • Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants

  • Illumination’s Minions

  • Jurassic World

  • DreamWorks’ Trolls

  • DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots

  • Gabby’s Dollhouse Hub Experience

Universal’s smaller-scale approach is intentional—crafted to balance immersive theming with manageable size for families with small children. But it’s this same design, located near residential zones, that has made development controversial from the start.

A collage featuring Aragorn from Lord of the Rings with long hair and a cloak, James Bond dressed in a tuxedo against a resort backdrop, and Doc Brown and Marty McFly in neon lighting, one in a white coat holding a gadget, both looking surprised at this Universal Studios UK theme park coming in 2031.
Credit: Inside The Magic

A Universal Resort for Families, a Test for Frisco

There’s no denying that Universal’s presence in Frisco could spark long-term tourism and economic growth. But it’s also a test of how city planning, corporate development, and community voices can coexist—or clash.

The approved murals may look like child’s play on the surface, but beneath the paint lies a more complex narrative: can this resort bring joy to families while still preserving peace for the neighbors next door?

Only time—and traffic reports—will tell.

The post Universal Relocates Beyond Orlando, Settles in Conservative Market appeared first on Inside the Magic.

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