Investor: God act was part of $60M theme park, RV park scam

RVers have been following a flashy pitch for a $2 billion theme park in rural Oklahoma. It’s one that might have seemed far-fetched from the start—but what’s unfolding in federal court suggests it wasn’t just a dream gone wrong. It may have been, according to the lawsuit, a calculated and deeply personal con. The result has now turned into the American Heartland theme park lawsuit.

92-year-old businessman files American Heartland theme park lawsuit

O. Gene Bicknell, a 92-year-old businessman, philanthropist, and devout Christian, filed suit in July 2025 against three men he once trusted as partners: Richard M. Silanskas Jr., Larry K. Wilhite, and Stephen D. Hedrick. In his complaint, Bicknell accuses them of masterminding a scheme that defrauded him out of more than $60 million by manipulating his religious beliefs and emotional vulnerabilities.

A relationship built on faith—and broken by it

The story began years earlier in Branson, Missouri, where Bicknell had invested in the Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts. That connection brought him into contact with Wilhite, a local preacher who eventually took over management of the theatre. Through Wilhite, Bicknell was introduced to Silanskas, a man pitching big ideas. One of those ideas was a massive theme park and entertainment resort that would be developed in Vinita, Oklahoma.

According to the lawsuit, what followed wasn’t just a failed business venture. It was a multi-year campaign of manipulation designed to drain Bicknell of his wealth while presenting the illusion that the instructions were coming from God.

The lawsuit alleges that Silanskas and Wilhite used “psychological and spiritual abuse” to convince Bicknell that God Himself wanted him to fund the project. They reportedly crafted a barrage of electronic communications—hundreds of them—written as if from God or other religious figures. These told Bicknell that it was his divine duty to continue investing more money in the project and to trust the developers completely.

The messages, according to the complaint, weren’t casual Biblical encouragements. They were specific and strategic, directing Bicknell to act immediately, invest more funds, and even assign ownership stakes to Silanskas and Wilhite. The developers allegedly used this religious impersonation to convince Bicknell that he had no choice but to follow through or risk defying divine will.

The project on paper vs. reality on the ground

The public version of the project was flashy: a $2 billion “American Heartland” theme park boasting patriotic values, family entertainment, and a massive draw for rural Oklahoma. Early promotional materials compared it to Disney World, promising jobs and a major tourism boost. Bicknell became the face and financier behind the effort, pouring in tens of millions of dollars—$61 million, according to the lawsuit.

But behind the scenes, things looked very different. Despite the major announcement in 2023, construction never really got off the ground. Today, the most visible result of the project in Vinita is a gravel road, a fence, some signage, and an empty patch of land. Local contractors and designers claim they’ve gone unpaid. And in the lawsuit’s wake, nearby property owners—some of whom were approached by the developers to sell their land—have publicly expressed their skepticism about the project from the beginning.

One local café owner said he feared the park would raise the cost of living without delivering any benefits. With nothing to show for it, his suspicions now seem justified.

A personal and financial toll

For Bicknell, the lawsuit paints a painful picture of not just financial ruin but emotional devastation. The filing claims that beyond the $60 million lost, Bicknell’s health deteriorated, and his relationships with loved ones suffered under the stress and confusion caused by the manipulation.

The lawsuit says that the defendants also took advantage of Bicknell’s age and declining memory. In one especially bold move, Silanskas and Wilhite allegedly had Bicknell sign over two-thirds ownership of the future park—worth over $1.3 billion if completed—under the impression that it was God’s will.

Stephen Hedrick, the third defendant, is accused of helping facilitate the fraud by coordinating communications, managing false narratives, and reinforcing the developers’ credibility in Bicknell’s eyes.

What happens next?

Bicknell filed his case in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma. You can read the filing for yourself here. He is seeking damages under the federal RICO statute, which is typically used to prosecute organized crime and long-term fraud schemes. Bicknell has asked for a jury trial.

At this point, the lawsuit represents only Bicknell’s side of the story. None of the defendants have commented publicly, and no court rulings have been issued. But what’s clear is that the project, once hailed as a landmark development for rural Oklahoma, has now collapsed under legal scrutiny and public doubt. And that giant RV park that was to come before the opening of the theme park? Right now the area set aside for the RV park would only be suitable for boondocking.

Whether the defendants truly impersonated God or whether Bicknell was simply an aging investor in over his head remains to be seen. But if the allegations prove true, the American Heartland saga could go down as one of the most elaborate and personal frauds in RV and theme park history.

If you wish to comment on this article we invite you to do so here.

Partial list of sources: kfor.com and themeparkinsider.com. 

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