COTALAND Revealed: Matt Hughey on Coasters, Culture & F1 Buzz

With the 2026 Formula 1 season kicking off in Melbourne, Australia, this weekend, we asked how motorsport energy is influencing theme-park design at a new theme park coming to Austin, Texas. On this episode of Corkscrew Convos, we sit down with Matt Hughey to unpack the jump from a small family attraction to a coaster-forward destination, the inspiration behind standout rides, and how COTA’s event ecosystem shapes the vision for COTALAND. If you love coasters and/or motorsports, this conversation blends theme park design, operations, and showmanship into one fast lap.