Lord of the Rings Theme(ish) Park Announced

[HalfGlass]

http://www.slashfilm.com/lord-of-the-rings-theme-park/

Not quite a theme park, but it shows the Tolkien estate may be willing to let his IP grow outside of film. I wonder if any attractions will be announced or if it will merely be a place to visit and sightsee.

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

It only has a budget of $2 million, I wouldn't expect anything major.

 

[Stitch_101]

Interesting enough, though the scope of the project is probably how it was approved by the Tolkien estate. It's basically just a "Shire" recreation as a park as appose to a typical theme park. And given the trademark issues between the books and films, it will probably not be aloud to use the same design elements as the films (which could erk some fans, and confuse some casual public)... However that's probably exactly how Christopher Tolkien wants it.

 

[Teebin]

Do we actually know that this was approved of by the Tolkien estate? It seems more of a generic look-alike than anything.

 

[Stitch_101]

If it wasn't, I see a cease and desist order and possible lawsuit in the very near future.

 

[Teebin]

I feel confident "the shire" is not trademarked as it is an old historic word. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shire

 

[Stitch_101]

True, but this is Christopher Tolkien we are talking about. He is super obsessed with what he considers maintaining his fathers legacy, to the point of disowning some of his own family. And while the term "The Shire" may not be trademarked, building a park called "The Shire" with the intent to copy or mimic a location called "The Shire" from a world famous series of books could bring up some trademark/copyright issues.

 

[Teebin]

Here is a link to an article that asks the same question: http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2015/02/the-shire-theme-park-to-open-in-malaga/

 

[Jon84]

The place won't last. The Spanish have a terrible history of running and maintaining parks. Slack management and slack maintaining schedules.

The only half decent one left Portaventura, but that has changed hands more than I care to remember.

Terra Mitica is suddenly two parks to allow them to close half of it when it's quiet.