DESPOT PARK CHICAGO
Making Oppression Fun Again
Learn tyranny's playbook. Build democracy's defenses.
Part theme park, part haunted house, part historical museum, fully immersive and completely revolutionary.
Planned Opening
July 4, 2033*
Projected Height
1,500+ feet*
Proposed Location
401 N. Wabash Ave*
Official Project Proposal
Download the complete 50-page proposal with architectural plans, economic impact analysis, and detailed attraction descriptions.
Download PDF →Target Opening in:
*Dates and specifications are preliminary and subject to change
The World's First Vertical Theme Park
Rising 1,500 feet above Chicago's skyline, Despot Park will transform the former Trump Tower site into an unprecedented entertainment destination.
Part theme park, part haunted house, part historical museum, fully immersive and completely revolutionary.
Experience the grandeur and gloom of history's great dictatorships through darkly humorous, tongue-in-cheek attractions that educate while they entertain. Each floor represents a different era of authoritarianism, revealing the recurring patterns tyrants use to seize power—from exploiting economic anxiety to scapegoating minorities to dismantling democratic institutions. By understanding these timeless tactics, visitors learn to recognize and resist them in their own time.
110
Floors
$2.9B
Investment
2033
Opening Year
Despot Park illuminated against Chicago's skyline at night
Architectural Vision
Explore the revolutionary design and engineering behind the world's first vertical theme park
Dictators' World Fair 2033
A Century of Not Progress – Marking 100 years since Chicago's 1933 World's Fair
Thrill Rides
Extreme vertical rides including spiral coasters, drop towers, and observation elevators with panoramic city views from unprecedented heights
Immersive Experiences
Dark rides, escape rooms, and interactive exhibits with costumed performers, period-appropriate music, and themed cuisine from each culture
Democracy Defense Training
Interactive exhibits teach visitors to identify the warning signs of rising authoritarianism—from propaganda techniques to the erosion of independent media—building civic resilience for the future
Cultural Exchange
Rotating programming featuring different historical periods and international perspectives, celebrating diversity and democratic values
Tyranny's Playbook Exposed
Satirical storytelling reveals how dictators throughout history have used identical tactics: divide and conquer, control information, weaponize nostalgia, and promise simple solutions to complex problems
Architectural Innovation
The world's first entertainment skyscraper featuring seamless integration of rides, restaurants, and observation decks within a single tower
Signature Attractions
Each floor tells a different story of power, propaganda, and ultimate downfall
Führer's Fury
Extreme ThrillHigh-speed indoor dark ride through a bunker, simulating the downfall of Hitler's regime with a literal "Blaze of Defeat" finale that reinforces the moral message
The Gulag Escape
Family AdventureFamilies collaborate to "escape" a mock labor camp, learning how authoritarian regimes use isolation and dehumanization to control populations. Teams discover that unity, communication, and mutual aid—the very tools needed to solve the escape room—are also democracy's greatest defenses against tyranny
Missile Launch Coaster
Extreme ThrillLaunched roller coaster that shoots riders through vertical loops, themed as riding a North Korean "rocket" with satirical propaganda
Great Leap Forward Freefall
High ThrillThrilling flume ride in "grain barrel" boats, ascending inside a silo before a 60-foot plunge into water, highlighting agricultural policy failures
Five-Year Plan Ferris Wheel
ScenicIronically slow observation wheel that takes exactly 5 minutes per rotation, symbolizing Soviet inefficiency while offering spectacular views
Hall of Heroes
EducationalThe tower's crescendo: an inspiring tribute to resistance movements and ordinary citizens who stood against tyranny. Interactive exhibits reveal how democratic heroes used specific tactics—organizing, coalition-building, nonviolent resistance—that visitors can apply in their own communities to strengthen democracy
Nero's Wild Fire Coaster
Extreme ThrillMulti-launch roller coaster spiraling around a facade of the Colosseum with bursts of flame and animatronic effects
Trotsky's Ice Axe
High ThrillDrop tower ride where riders are "dangled" 200 feet high in darkness before a sudden 20-story plunge with dramatic historical narration
Springtime for Hitler Revue
Live ShowDark-comedy musical performance in a cabaret theater inspired by satirical approaches to underscore the absurdity of Nazi propaganda
Preliminary Project Timeline
All dates are tentative and subject to regulatory approvals and permits
Visualization of construction phases and architectural evolution
2025-2026
Planning & Approvals
City Council authorization, eminent domain proceedings, and design development
2027
Demolition & Site Prep
Ceremonial "Tyrant Teardown" event and careful deconstruction of existing tower
2028-2032
Construction Phase
Tower construction, ride installation, and themed environment creation
July 4, 2033*
Target Grand Opening
Planned Independence Day celebration to launch the "Dictators' World Fair 2033" year
Vertical Themed Lands
Journey through history as you ascend the tower - each level represents a different era of authoritarian rule
Grand Entry Hall & Victory Square
Theatrical entrance featuring grandiose statues and propaganda displays, setting the stage for your journey through history. Contains ticketing, main lobby, and administrative offices disguised behind thematic facades.
Imperial Rome (Caesars' Court)
Step into the Roman Empire at its peak with marble arches, forum plazas, and costumed centurions. Experience the grandeur and decadence of ancient imperial power through attractions like Nero's Wild Fire Coaster.
Third Reich Rally Grounds
A sobering yet educational area depicting 1930s Germany with appropriate gravity and irony. Features the Führer's Fury dark ride and educational exhibits curated with Holocaust educators to ensure historical accuracy.
Stalin's Soviet Union (Iron Curtain Heights)
Experience Cold War-era Soviet cityscape with brutalist architecture and propaganda posters. Home to The Gulag Escape, Five-Year Plan Ferris Wheel, and Comrade Café serving traditional Eastern European cuisine.
Modern Dictatorships
Contemporary authoritarian regimes explored through attractions like the Missile Launch Coaster and interactive exhibits about modern propaganda techniques and resistance movements.
Hall of Heroes
The tower's crowning achievement - a celebration of freedom fighters, democratic heroes, and resistance movements. Features observation decks with panoramic views and exhibits honoring those who fought for liberty.
Transforming Chicago's Skyline
Architectural Marvel
Becoming Chicago's tallest building while housing the world's most innovative vertical theme park with multiple outdoor sky terraces
Economic Engine
Creating 3,000+ jobs and generating over $500M annually in tourism revenue while supporting local businesses and cultural organizations
Democratic Resilience Training
Teaching visitors to recognize authoritarian patterns and building civic skills for democratic defense—from media literacy to coalition building—creating educated citizens who can resist tyranny in their own time
Global Recognition
Positioning Chicago as a leader in innovative entertainment architecture and cultural tourism, attracting visitors from around the world
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Project Information
401 N. Wabash Ave
Chicago, IL 60611*
July 4, 2033*
1,500+ feet (110 floors)*