Middle-Earth theme park

[Maiar Spirit]

I have this picture of a proposed theme park for LotR that was proposed in the 80's to the tolkien estate but they rejected it saying it would be "exploitation". It looks like it would be really cool and I really wish they would go through with it eventually and make it. I don't know about anyone else but I wouldn't mind experiencing the adventures of LotR. Sorry I can't tell anyone where I got the pic from cuz I am not quite sure, I have like 150 LotR pics and its kinda hard to keep track of them. Once I find it again I will post the link on here. Or once my web site is finished you can get it there.

[bmilder]

Wow, that sounds awesome!

Btw, welcome to the board.

So, what would you include at a Middle-earth theme park? "Journey to Mordor" rollercoasters... lembas vendors... Anduin River boat rides... the possibilities are endless :)

Who knows, it could give Disney a run for its money.

[Wizard of the Secret Fire]

I saw that image somewhere...but where...

[Bullroarer]

Someplace where the rivers are similer...

[Gilthalion]

The Mrs and I did the Spiderman 3D ride at Universal in Orlando.

Too awesome. Virtual Reality is here!

You put on the 3D glasses, get in the ride, and you're hovering around the city with supervillains firing death rays and Spiderman swinging all over the place!

It looked (even animated) and felt, as you rolled in your car, as if you were raised high above the city and dropped from a great height down onto the top of a building...

...from which you slid off and fell many many stories with the pavement rushing up to meet you...

And I won't tell you how it ends. But a LotR theme park in about 20 years or so would be awesome.

[Bullroarer]

Welcome aboard Gwaihir, the Windlord. Please enter from the left and fasten your seatbelt. Prepare for take-off into Middle-Earth.

:p

[Maiar Spirit]

I am sorry everyone, I can not find the site yesterday. I would post it on here but I don't know how. But I am looking very hard for the site I got it at.

[anduin]

Is it in JPG form now?? If it is send it to mcasto@bellsouth.net and I will host it, and post it to this thread. :)

[Michael Martinez]

There was a Web site in New Zealand that had information about a theme park proposal but they seem to have taken it down.

I found the picture I know about (don't know if it's the one you know about) one of Joram Manka's old pages.

www.upstel.net/~manka/ima...mePark.jpg (http://www.upstel.net/~manka/images/TolkienThemePark.jpg)

[Grand Admiral Reese]

A Middle-earth theme park? I'd definatly go to it if one was ever made. :) There're a lot of possibilities to be had with one, too.

[Maiar Spirit]

Micheal Martines you found it! That is the exact one I have. I don't know about everyone, but that would definitly be a good theme park. I would sure go. Plus whoever build would make a lot of $$$$$.

[Grand Admiral Reese]

They'd definatly make a lot of money with one. Probably a lot from me alone. :D

Can you imagine some of the things they'd have there? It'd be amazing!

That's if it were done well, of course. If it weren't...

[anduin]

WOW! Just wow! :)

[bmilder]

Cool :) .

So where would be the best place for this theme park? It would be annoying if it were in New Zealand! I would certainly want it to be in the U.S., but since it's Tolkien, it could wind up in England. But I think the U.S. is better suited for theme parks!

[noldo]

I think the whole idea is just disgusting and nauseating. People standing in line for hours for the Minas Morgul Ultimate Experience. Cheap ME merchandise sold everywhere. Actors in stoopid looking costumes playing hobbits and such.

That would be the last drop.

Must everything be raped and spoiled? Can't we have something sacred and holy?

[Sauganast]

I think if they ever made this theme park (which by the way will never happen, seeing how the tolkien estate said so) it would have to be somewhere secluded with really cool scenery. Like in a valley in the mountain. Because if you ever had the sound of modern vehicles or anything it would totally ruin the effect. Because your trying to pretend your in this time when you rode horses and walked everywhere and carried around a sword.

[Grand Admiral Reese]

I know there'll never be a theme park, but it is good to dream. :)

A friend of mine runs a site dedicated to creating a Lucas-inspired theme park, which will similarly never be made. But it'd still be cool if either was made.

I wouldn't want it to be Disney-esque, that wouldn't fit well at all. But when I was in Florida(which would be a terrible place for such a theme park, it has none of the right topography), Universal Studios seemed to be better for movie attractions. But a Tolkien park couldn't be as flashy as either.

[arynetrek]

i'm with noldo on this one. tourists in our beloved Middle-Earth? ick.

aryne *

[Gilthalion]

Star Wars already has a little something at the Disney MGM park. You stand in line through the guts of a spaceport until you reach a transport. A whacked out droid pilot takes you on a simulator ride that's pretty cool, and over too fast! You exit into the shop.


(The little hobbit wondered what a Middle-earth theme park might be like...)


MIDDLE-EARTH THEME PARK

All of the park is kept in a Wilderness Paradise condition, except for the English Countryside recreation in the Shire, and the Elvish landscaping in various places.

You enter through The Shire. Gift shops, animatronic hobbits, The Green Dragon. On the Road to Bree, don't get sidetracked into The Old Forest or The Barrow Downs!

You could fly from the top of Orthanc. Or in an eagle's eye view of Middle-earth, past Nazgul on the wing, and the towers of Barad-dur to the seething volcanic Mt. Doom!

Can you follow Gollum through the secret pass of Cirith Ungol?

Do you dare enter, The Mines of Moria? Now that would be a wild ride, with a Balrog at the end and Gandalf crying, "Fly you fools!"

Food, drink, and entertainment in Rivendell and Lothlorien. At Lothlorien, imagine the bungie jumps, the ropewalks (Like the Boy Scouts make, I'm afraid.), and the big Drop from Celeborn's Hall. Visit the Mirror of Galadriel, and see yourself CGI'd into fantastic settings. (Of course, you can buy the picture!)

More excitement with the Elves of Mirkwood! Be a Barrel Rider and take the voyage from the plunge into the River under Thranduil's Kingdom and through the spiderous forest of Mirkwood to Laketown and ending with the toystores of Dale.

Then, do you dare enter The Lonely Mountain? Especially since you know there is a Dragon on the other end of that tunnel! (3-D CGI)

Take a pony ride (or a real thoroughbred!) with the Riders of Rohan! Enjoy the Rider's Tournament for King Theoden at Meduseld! (Interupted near the end by Gandalf!) See the jewelry and knick knacks and collectibles and paintings at the Glittering Caves of Aglarond!

Take the Great River Ride and watch out for those rapids! If you're not careful, you might plunge down golden Rauros Falls! See everything from the heights of Ammon Hen! Bring your camera!

The Gates of Mordor is a truly frightening ride, through bewildering dungeons and high battlements, past the torturers, past the enslaved, digging or hauling, past the great turning wheels of machinery, through a desolate landscape, and finally to the volcanic Crack of Doom on Orodruin. All the while, the Eye of Sauron is upon you and a little Orc is describing the action. Hold on to your seats!

Walk through the Garden of Ithilien and enjoy a meal by the rainbow falls.

The splendor of Numenor is remembered when you walk into Minas Tirith, a great recreation of an ancient walled city, with great towers and cobblestone streets, and gift shops and museums and shows. But do you dare to climb the Steward's Tower, and gaze in the Palantir?

Finally, don't go home before you see the show, and have a drink at the Green Dragon! Stay for Gandalf's Fireworks show at Bilbo's Party Pavilion!

You will need a two day ticket.

[Grand Admiral Reese]

Gilathalion, I know all about Star Tours. I rode it twice when I was down there. :)

The thing I was talking about was a Lucasland to rival Disney, not just a single ride.

Those are great ideas for a ME theme park, though. Lots of fun to be had there. :)

[Gilthalion]

A StarWars theme park would be cool. I don't care if they exploit that. Gimme the link!

Our Middle-earth themepark should really have campgrounds and places to swim, too. You and your sweetie or your family book reservations (they provide everything, you just wear good shoes and bring a change of clothes in a light pack), and an Elvish Guide or a Ranger takes your group hiking out to your campsite and takes you through planned wilderness excursions. They should be able to sing and tell stories, as well as help you set up camp and take charge of the meals.

And I forgot the Troll Fells Bar & Grill, Weathertop lookout (like Ammon Hen), Bombadil's Funhouse, Hayrides in the Shire, Springle Ring Dance Hall, The Grey Havens water park with paddlewheel swans and riverboat Elvish Casino...

[Sauganast]

Just imagine how much it would cost to build this middle-earth theme park. There is absolutly no way you could make a descent profit or even a profit at all on this. Unless you charged outrageous prices but then you would have only the very rich coming. How would us real tolkien fans be able to experience these things if we were just ordinary joes? it just would never work out.

[Gilthalion]

If you build it, they will come.

[Grand Admiral Reese]

If they built such a theme park, I'd pay just about anything to get in.

[Gilthalion]

I just wanted to pull this up to the top so Bullroarer could see what we all had already written on this subject.

[Bullroarer]

But yet...forgot.

Your large threads have given me too much.........ouch......

[Elf.Freak]

Yeah! virtual rides, BIG rollercoasters...fun...:)

[Elven Princess Arwen]

That would be Sweet (capital 'S' underlined, twice)!!!!!!!!!

“All things are connected like the blood which unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand of it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.” -Chief Seattle

*~*Arwen*~*

[Blackboar]

I'd love that!
They could have a ride where it's like you're Gandalf; falling into the Shadow in Moria with a robot Balrog! I t could be a cross
between The Big One (Blackpool) and Oblivion (Alton Towers)
It could be as tall as The Big One and as steep as Oblivion.

[Andrew Baggins]

They should not make a theme park but a sort of adventure thing when like a guy dressed up takes you on a journey through mountains etc. that would be great, but just isn't gonna happen. :o

[Eothain]

Sounds good!!!!!!!!!!