Harry Potter Comes to Little Elm!

With 66 miles of shoreline on Lewisville Lake, Little Elm, Texas, has strategically utilized its location, branding itself as "The Town with the Lake Attitude." Boasting the largest public beach in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, the Economic Development Corporation and The Town of Little Elm have concentrated their efforts on attracting amenities to enhance their Entertainment District, The Lakefront at Little Elm. These lakefront attractions include parks, restaurants with stunning lake views, DFW Surf, Hydrous Wake Park, an award-winning marina, sports complexes, and much more.

Little Elm has swiftly become the go-to destination during warm months. Acknowledging the importance of sustaining traffic to local businesses year-round, the town has shifted its focus to providing entertainment throughout the colder months. Notable additions include The Cove at The LakefrontTM, a 42,000 square-foot, year-round indoor waterpark, and Tinman Social, a two-story entertainment venue featuring a full restaurant, two bars, an arcade, ax-throwing, bocce ball, and bowling lanes.

The town's latest attraction is poised to be its most significant winter draw yet. Little Elm's Tourism Department successfully solicited and secured, Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience to lift the local economy during the winter months. Little Elm will be the exclusive global location for this event in 2023.

The Forbidden Forest Experience, produced by Warner Bros., Fever, and Universal Studios, offers visitors an immersive journey into the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Situated in Little Elm Park along two miles of lakeside trails, the event's magical setting enhances the overall experience. Attendees will traverse a mysterious and enchanting forest, encountering interactive moments, mesmerizing lights, and theatrical illusions. Magical creatures such as Hippogriffs, Nifflers, and more come to life, captivating visitors.

Since its opening on October 28, the event has sold over 80,000 tickets, attracting visitors from 41 different states and 5 countries. The full event is projected to draw in 200,000 attendees to Little Elm.

Drew Bailey, Managing Director of Tourism, remarked, "As a result of the Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience opening, we've witnessed a surge in traffic to local restaurants and other businesses throughout Little Elm. Through a software called Placer.ai, we are able to verify how many people visit our businesses both before and after the event. Our hotel, The Elm, is regularly fully booked."

Neighboring cities are also reaping the benefits, experiencing increased traffic and hotel occupancy. The Little Elm Tourism Department and The Little Elm Chamber of Commerce are actively collaborating to bring more diverse events to Little Elm throughout all seasons, to continue to grow tourism and economic development.