Middle Earth Theme Parks?

Post by **Alatar** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 11:13 am

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/02 ... ssibility/

Not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, I find the idea extremely tacky, but on the other, I still kinda would like to visit one! So, personal feelings apart (feel free to start another thread to criticise the possibile debasement of Tolkien's legacy) and in the spirit of fun, what would be your ideas for theme park rides?

A few suggestions

Flight of the Nazgûl/Gwaihir - an immersive 3D motion ride over Middle Earth
Rapids at Sarn Gebir - Try to navigate Boromir's funeral boat to Minas Tirith
The Corsairs of Umbar - Left over Pirates of the Caribbean theme ride with new costumes
Spawn your own Uruk - Play area with Uruk-Hai pods. Release your Uruk and design a symbol to paint on his face
The tinwë Challenge - Using trebuchets as defensive weapons, protect Minas Tirith from the invading hordes. Dunkin Donut Sponsored
Army of the Dead - Spooky Haunted House experience. Now with added skull avalanche!

Eateries
Rivendell - For the healthy option. Salads and baked potatos
The Hungry Hobbit - 8 meals served daily
The Prancing Pony - Sandwiches, Cold Cuts, Fine Ales and Beers
Mordor - McDonalds

Post by **sauronsfinger** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:14 pm

Great idea Alatar.

How about a water ride with the barrels from HOBBIT? People can get in a big barrel shaped boat and bounce around in a rapids. Those seem popular at parks?

There has to be nightly fireworks display to honor Gandalf and his art.

There has to be a restaurant specializing in mushrooms for the hobbit in us.

I like the idea of a haunted house and would build it around a visit into the Barad-dûr. After all, the army of the dead turned out to be good guys.

There are a bunch of scenes in mountains so you could design a terrific rollercoaster experience around such moments.

I would like to see the various hotel accommodations. The Inn at Bree with their hobbit sized rooms would be for the economical. Rivendell could be the high end place to stay for the vacation.

Kids seem to love those kiosks where they do make-up on them so we can all be turned into our favorite character be it a hobbit or dwarf or elf or orc.

Post by **sauronsfinger** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 3:47 pm

One great feature would be a museum. it could have many different areas combining the book history and the film history.

I was at the film displays for FOTR in Toronto at Casa Loma in 2001, then the following year for TTT at the Science Center also in Toronto, then ROTK in B Boston and the big retrospective show in Indianapolis. You could absolutely fill a museum with those exhibits and memorabilia.

I would love to see that as something apart from rides.

Maybe also a Mirkwood Forest area which would be more of a nature walk with a few things thrown in for amusement along the way.

Post by **Elentári** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 3:49 pm

I'll play!

For another eaterie, how about Gollum's sushi restaurant?
or Bert's Kitchen - hotpots a speciality!

My daughter would love the "Ride of the Rohirrim carousel"

As for the Haunted House ride we could have the Minas Morgul Haunted Castle ride...

We could have the Stone Giants broken bridge rollercoaster type ride...
- the eagles' flight ride would be cool if you have a head for heights..
- the POTD Skull Toss sideshow could replace the old coconut shy!
- Whack-a-Troll!!
- The Sinking of Númenor ride could be the M-e equivalent of POTC!!

Just a quick question - would the lost and found be in Gondolin?

Post by **Dave_LF** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 4:00 pm

Elentári wrote:Just a quick question - would the lost and found be in Gondolin?

Maybe, but you don't want to go through what they make you do if you lose something precious to you.

Post by **sauronsfinger** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 4:33 pm

Elentári wrote:I'll play!

For another eaterie, how about Gollum's sushi restaurant?
or Bert's Kitchen - hotpots a speciality!

My daughter would love the "Ride of the Rohirrim carousel"

As for the Haunted House ride we could have the Minas Morgul Haunted Castle ride...

We could have the Stone Giants broken bridge rollercoaster type ride...
- the eagles' flight ride would be cool if you have a head for heights..
- the POTD Skull Toss sideshow could replace the old coconut shy!
- Whack-a-Troll!!
- The Sinking of Númenor ride could be the M-e equivalent of POTC!!

Just a quick question - would the lost and found be in Gondolin?

Great stuff Elen. I really love the sushi idea. I also like my fish raw and wriggling.

The Rohirrim carousel is a terrific idea. Now if we can just find something for the mumakil.

Post by **Alatar** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 4:41 pm

Thats easy. The Mumakil would be another play area with little Legolads and Legolassies climbing up the arrows on his legs to slide down his trunk!

Post by **Teremia** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 4:56 pm

I already live fairly close to a Middle Earth theme park: it's called the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and bits and pieces of the wilder corners of ME can be found there in stunning technicolor and natural 3D.

Post by **Alatar** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 4:58 pm

Hey, I live in the Shire.

Post by **eborr** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 5:08 pm

Pointless Wilderness trail - trip to Osgiliath, have to have lots of exits, from the park arranged in a serial manner. Once you have got through one another appears

Post by **Maria** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 5:19 pm

Have a real Oliphant and people could ride in a palaquin on its back.

And pony rides, of course.

Post by **Alatar** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 5:21 pm

Of course the "Escape from Goblintown" roller coaster should be another ride!

Post by **Elentári** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 5:25 pm

Maria wrote:Have a real Oliphant and people could ride in a palaquin on its back.

Definitely - we could have a group rate…

I love sf's idea of a nature walk – but that would have to be in Greenwood, as I wouldn’t want to come across any Mirkwood spiders! Mind you, we could have the Rhosgobel Petting Zoo where kids can get to hold a baby spawn of Ungoliant as well as pet the Rhosgobel bunnies…

Laketown could hold a rowing regatta, complete with Dragon boat racing on the Long Lake!

As for accommodation, since we were musing on Galadriel’s famous make-overs a while back, I reckon Lothlórien could open as a luxury spa resort, whilst the Galadhrim run a Tree Top Adventure trail on high wires and platforms in the canopy like our Go Ape!

Post by **sauronsfinger** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 5:50 pm

Glad to see all getting in on the fun. Great stuff from all.

A serious question: if this idea does get off the ground, where should it be located?

One would have that the Harry Potter park would have been in England but it found a home in Orlando, Florida with Universal.

Where would you place the Middle-earth park keeping in mind all the normal commercial considerations that go into a business venture of this kind.

Post by **JewelSong** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 6:42 pm

Orlando, Florida.

It's the home of the theme parks....

Post by **axordil** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 6:44 pm

Any Middle Earth Theme Park should be in Middle Earth. You know, New Zealand.

Post by **Frelga** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 7:13 pm

California, or it didn't happen.

Post by **sauronsfinger** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 7:31 pm

axordil wrote:Any Middle Earth Theme Park should be in Middle Earth. You know, New Zealand.

Would that not hurt possible attendance?

Post by **Elentári** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 7:58 pm

NZ tourism is doing pretty well out of actually being M-e...I guess it is only fair another country gets a turn - perhaps somewhere a little more central?

The Germans are rather good at theme parks...and LotR is huge over there!

Post by **Alatar** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 9:34 pm

I expect you would have both. Harry Potter Studio Adventure is in London, and the Theme Park is in Orlando. I could see WB doing something similar with a Middle Earth Theme Park. Perhaps having a Museum/Sets/Props in London and New Zealand with the Theme Park proper in Florida.