A proposal for a 132-acre STAR bond district in Olathe, KS surfaced last month, but limited details left locals in the dark. Now, we know who the major minds of the project are: none other than KC’s Hunt family.
They aim to turn Olathe Gateway — an area around 119th Street and Renner Boulevard — into a major entertainment hub featuring:
- 155,000-sqft sports arena with an outdoor skating rink
- 8.5-acre theme park complete with a sensory village, train depot, and carousel
- Six-story, 150-room hotel
- Eight restaurant buildings
- 30,000 sqft of retail space
The most notable feature? It will be an “ultra-accessible” experience, allowing people with disabilities to enjoy all the amenities. The project was inspired by the Hunts’ 10-year-old grandson, Michael Arkell, who “has a rare genetic condition, is non-verbal and uses a wheelchair.”
Who are the Hunts?
Only one of KC’s richest and most influential families. They currently have an estimated net worth of $24.8 billion — yes, that’s billion with a “b.” The family’s wealth is owed to their ancestor, H.L. Hunt, an oil tycoon who had the foresight to make an early investment in the industry.
What in KC have the Hunts developed?
A lot. Let’s take a look at the highlight reel:
Kansas City Chiefs | Obviously. Originally known as the Dallas Texans, the team was first founded by Lamar Hunt Sr. in 1960 and has since remained in the family. In 1963, the Texans were moved to KC and renamed the Chiefs. (That’s why Lamar is also known as one of the forefathers of the NFL.)
Worlds of Fun + Oceans of Fun | After the Chiefs won their first Super Bowl in 1970, Lamar Sr. celebrated by building this $20 million development near the Missouri River as a “gift to the city.”
Splish splash at KC’s iconic water park.
Photo via Worlds of Fun + Oceans of Fun
Sporting KC | Lamar Hunt Sr. also created the Kansas City Wizards in 1995, now known as Sporting KC. The team is one of the original charter members of Major League Soccer.
Subtropolis | Touted as the world’s largest underground business complex, the 55 million-sqft artificial cave opened in 1964. It is a tunnel system buried 160 ft beneath the surface, with each tunnel separated by 25-ft limestone pillars. Fun fact: Its first tenants included Ford, Pillsbury, and Russell Stover.
What Hunt developments are in progress?
Outside of the aforementioned Olathe Gateway project, the Hunts have at least four major KC projects in progress:
Google Data Center | Opening early 2025 | The $1 billion data center will be housed in the Hunt Midwest Business Center (NE Parvin Road, KCMO). It will bring along its Skilled Trades and Readiness (STAR) program, a paid training course which aims to nurture a pipeline for skilled trades.
Ace Hardware Distribution Center | Opening in 2025 | Also coming to the Hunt Midwest Business Center, the hardware giant’s new space will cover ~1.5 million sqft and employ 350+ people.
KCI 29 Logistics Park | Opening fall 2024 | The 3,300-acre, 20 million-sqft megasite will provide FedEx, UPS, USPS, and Amazon Prime Air distribution services — capitalizing on both our newly improved airport + centralized location (they don’t call KC the Heartland for nothing).
Keystone Automotive Industries | Opening date TBA | The car biz is leasing 530,455 sqft of the Heartland Logistics Park Building III (24550 W. 43rd St., Shawnee, KS) which is also a Hunt family property.
