Universal Kids Resort Invests in Mature Trees to Beat the Texas Heat

Universal understands the assignment. Their first Texas theme park needs shade, and they’re bringing it. Over the last few days, Universal Kids Resort has taken delivery of some mammoth Texas live oaks. While the canopies were pruned for transport, these are the kind of trees that can block out the sun if left to their own devices.

That matters, because while most Frisco residents are excited about Universal coming to town, many are wary of what the park will feel like during Texas’s brutally hot summers. Most of the attractions are outdoors, and Universal Creative’s concept art shows long stretches of exposed walkways. Trees appear in the renderings, but they read more as decoration than meaningful shade.

The arrival of the live oaks gives me hope, as do comments Dan Cuffe made to the Frisco Rotary Club last week, shared with us by Wes Tacker. Cuffe, Vice President and General Manager of Universal Kids Resort, said the park is set to receive 1,500 trees.

Not all of them will be as massive as the mature live oaks now arriving on site, but that’s a staggering number for a 97-acre resort. With many of those trees planned for the park’s 32-acre footprint, Universal is making it clear that guest comfort and safety are a priority.

Cuffe referenced Epic Universe in his remarks, acknowledging concerns over the lack of shade in Orlando’s newest park. According to Tacker’s recap, Cuffe said Universal has taken those lessons to heart by upping the ante in Frisco. He noted that the task is somewhat easier in North Texas, where procuring large trees is far less challenging than it is in Central Florida.

Universal is also introducing more non-tree shade to the park. Cuffe told attendees that Universal Kids Resort’s many free-play areas will include canopies, elements not represented in the current concept renderings.

What are Texas live oaks?

A Texas live oak is a slow-growing, extremely stubborn tree native to Central and North Texas. It keeps its leaves year-round, lives for centuries, and likes to grow wider than tall (although that can be mitigated with regular pruning). This variety is highly tolerant of heat, drought, wind, and neglect, which explains why just about every yard in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex has at least one.

Fannin Tree Farm supplied Universal Kids Resort’s oaks, delivering each on its own 18-wheeler flatbed. Their size requires both a telehandler and a 275-ton crane just to get them off the truck and into a staging area. The root balls appear to be around 14 feet wide, and the tallest tree stretches beyond 40 feet.

To put that in perspective, the Texas live oak in my front yard is just under 30 feet. It was a few years old when our home builder planted it 20 years ago.

So we’re talking trees that are decades old, and that kind of maturity comes at a price. While local farms don’t list costs for live oaks this large, one retailer is selling a younger tree with a 12.5-inch trunk diameter for $13,500, with installation running at least $4,000 more.

The trees being planted at Universal Kids are far larger and require specialized equipment and additional manpower. It underscores just how significant an investment Universal is making for guest comfort.

Where will they be used?

While most of the new oaks are in a holding area, one was relocated this morning to a spot between the hotel and the Minions area. We don’t yet know where the rest of the oaks will end up. Beyond providing shade, they could also help visually separate the park’s different lands. No matter how they’re used, we love their aesthetic. Their natural beauty is a great addition to the clean lines and bright colors seen throughout the rest of Universal Kids Resort.

And the live oaks aren’t the only trees to have arrived at Universal. Several months ago, Universal planted dozens of trees of varying sizes near a large maintenance building on the east side of the resort. Those are expected to be relocated elsewhere in the park. We’re seeing signs of that already happening, with Dreamworks’ TrollsFest now home to some towering Southern Magnolias.

All of this proves Universal isn’t waiting for shade to grow in. They’re installing it. That kind of upfront investment signals a park designed to withstand scorching Texas summers. And that may end up being one of Universal Kids Resort’s smartest design decisions.

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