Kevin Durant is coming home, but he's not trading his Houston Rockets jersey for a Wizards one. Instead, he’s putting his money where his roots are. His investment firm, 35V, just teamed up with Atlanta-based TPA Group to buy the massive 515-acre site in Bowie that used to house Six Flags America.
If you've driven past that stretch of Prince George’s County lately, you know it’s been a bit of a ghost town since the park shuttered for good in November 2025. For decades, Six Flags was a seasonal staple, but it only generated about $3 million in annual tax revenue—a drop in the bucket for a plot of land that size. The county wanted something year-round. They wanted something "destination-grade." Now, with a hometown legend leading the charge, they're likely to get it.
A native son takes the lead
This isn't just another celebrity slapping their name on a building. Durant was raised in Prince George’s County. He knows the geography, the culture, and the fact that residents have been clamoring for high-end amenities for years. County Executive Aisha Braveboy isn't hiding her excitement, either. She’s been vocal about the fact that having Durant—and his mother, Wanda Durant, who is also an active investor in this deal—involved gives the project a level of local trust you can’t buy with a standard developer.
The strategy here is clear. TPA Group brings the industrial and real estate muscle, while 35V brings the "cool factor" and a deep understanding of sports-adjacent entertainment. We’re looking at a mixed-use redevelopment that moves far away from roller coasters and toward a lifestyle hub.
What's actually going on those 500 acres
Let’s talk scale. Six Flags America only actually used about 20% of the 515-acre property. The rest was mostly underutilized buffer land. That’s a massive canvas for a group with Durant’s resources. While the specific blueprints aren't public yet, the roadmap is leaning heavily into three areas:
- Upscale Dining: No more park hot dogs. The plan involves "destination" restaurants that pull people from D.C. and Annapolis.
- Entertainment Hubs: Think live music venues or high-tech gaming centers rather than a traditional theme park.
- Sports Facilities: Given Durant’s career, it’s almost a given that we’ll see some sort of elite athletic complex or youth sports center.
The goal is to shift from a seasonal model—where the gates were locked half the year—to a 365-day economic engine. Residents in Bowie and Mitchellville have long complained about having to leave the county for high-end shopping or dining. This project is designed to stop that "retail leakage" in its tracks.
The community has some demands
Honestly, not everyone is sold on the "entertainment destination" vibe yet. During early talks, local residents have been vocal about what they actually need. Some want senior housing. Others want walkable green spaces. There’s a legitimate concern that a massive entertainment complex might just bring the same traffic headaches as the old theme park without the community benefits.
Braveboy has promised a series of public hearings and engagement events. It’s a smart move. If Durant wants this to be a true legacy project, he’s got to win over the people who live in the neighborhood, not just the tourists coming off I-495.
Why the timing makes sense
The amusement park industry is in a weird spot. Six Flags and Cedar Fair recently merged, and they're trimming the fat. The Bowie site was deemed "no longer a strategic fit." For them, it was a liability. For Durant and TPA Group, it’s 500 acres of prime real estate in one of the wealthiest Black-majority counties in the United States.
It’s a bet on the "Bowie-Mitchellville" corridor. With the New Carrollton Metro area seeing a massive surge in development and the nearby University of Maryland continuing to expand, the center of gravity in Prince George’s County is shifting.
If you’re a local, keep an eye on the Prince George’s County Planning Department’s calendar for the upcoming community meetings. This is a multi-year project, and the zoning changes alone will take months. If you’re an investor, look at the residential real estate around the site now—the "Durant Effect" is real, and property values in Bowie aren't likely to stay where they are once the shovels hit the dirt.
Don't expect a new theme park. Expect a new downtown.
