Universal has a $6 million permit for an Islands of Adventure building, and the file asks for a new restaurant name

Somewhere inside Islands of Adventure, a building identified in city permit records as B261 is getting a $6 million makeover, and the paperwork reportedly mentions kitchen equipment.

The Orlando Business Journal reported the project on Thursday, November 12. Universal has not said which building it is or what is going in. The Business Journal says details in the filing suggest a link to Thunder Falls Terrace in Jurassic Park.

What the permit says

The permit is BLD2026-13610, a City of Orlando building permit for an alteration at 6100 Universal Blvd. A public listing of the city's permit records shows:

• Description: "SPC: B261 INTERIOR ENHANCEMENTS"
• Estimated value: $6 million
• Applied: April 27, 2026
• Issued: October 19, 2026
• Status: Open

That one line is the listing's entire description of the work. "B261" appears to be an internal building code (other Universal permits at the same address carry similar codes, such as B254B and B287A), and nothing in the listing translates it into a name.

What the filing references

According to the Business Journal, which cited the city's records, the work is interior only, inside an existing 8,641-square-foot building, and Universal City Development applied for the permit in April. The paper says the filing mentions a dishwasher, a walk-in cooler and a freezer, notes that "information on the previous restaurant is needed," and calls for the new restaurant's name. Universal did not respond to the paper's request for comment. Inside the Magic followed up on Friday with the same details.

The Business Journal made the Thunder Falls Terrace connection, writing that the investment "may be tied to" Universal's previously announced plans for Jurassic Park and that the filing "hinted this may be the case."

The Thunder Falls Terrace connection

Thunder Falls Terrace was a quick-service restaurant in Jurassic Park. In a May 15 release, Universal said it "will close this summer and transform into an all-new dining concept that will become the new signature full-service restaurant in Universal Islands of Adventure." Universal said the rethemed restaurant will debut in 2027.

Thunder Falls Terrace then went dark in July, with July 19 appearing to be its last day, as we reported at the time. The same May release said Mythos Restaurant in The Lost Continent will close in 2027, part of a phased wind-down of that land ahead of a new themed area.

Still, the Thunder Falls Terrace link is the Business Journal's reading of the filing, not a confirmation. Universal has not tied permit BLD2026-13610 to Thunder Falls Terrace, and Inside the Magic also notes that the permit could cover a separate project elsewhere in the park.

A busy park

The Business Journal, citing the Themed Entertainment Association's latest Global Experiences Index, puts Islands of Adventure's 2025 attendance at about 9.2 million. The paper framed the $6 million job as one more piece of "a growing slate of investments across Universal Orlando, including a new roller coaster, restaurant and future Epic Universe attraction."

What to watch: the restaurant's name. The Business Journal says the plans need to "provide the name of the new restaurant," and Universal has not announced one. A name in a later city filing, or word from Universal on where the work is, would likely settle which building B261 is.

Sources

• Orlando Business Journal, "Universal plans $6M project at Islands of Adventure. Here's what we know.," November 12, 2026 (subscription)
• Inside the Magic, "Universal's $6 Million Overhaul Targets Original Islands of Adventure Location After 27 Years," November 13, 2026
• US Permit Search, City of Orlando permit listing for 6100 Universal Blvd (BLD2026-13610)
• Universal Orlando Resort, "Universal Orlando Resort Prepares for Exciting New Experiences Across the Destination," May 15, 2026
• Parks Magic, Thunder Falls Terrace closure report, July 21, 2026

Image credits: WDW News Today (Thunder Falls Terrace), Universal Orlando Resort (Jurassic World VelociCoaster).