Legoland California Resort in Carlsbad has broken ground on the theme park’s first Legoland Castle Hotel in North America. Scheduled to open in spring 2018, the 250-room hotel will provide themed rooms, including 20 suites, designed to immerse guests in a castle experience, with a grand hall entrance, a full-service royal restaurant and courtly entertainment by the pool.

“I am excited to continue our growth here at Legoland California Resort, as we carry on our tradition of providing guests memorable family experiences and new adventures,” general manager Peter Ronchetti said at the groundbreaking ceremony.

While this is the first Castle Hotel in the area, it is the second Legoland hotel for Carlsbad. “The success of the first Legoland Hotel has helped propel Carlsbad’s tourism economy to record-setting levels," Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall said. "Now with a second one on the way, our residents can look forward to even greater tax revenues, which go to fund day-to-day city services like parks, libraries and police.”

Guests staying in the themed Knight rooms are surrounded by dragons and knights as they prepare to go into battle to defend the king’s castle and treasure. In the Princess rooms, woodland animals such as butterflies, squirrels, owls and songbirds provide the entertainment, and in the Wizard rooms, giggling potions and spells protect the king’s treasure. Other unique features include a slide in the lobby, Lego building stations in each children’s sleeping area, interactive play elements in the courtyard and entertainment by Legoland characters.