Middle-Earth for Real?

[Estelyn Telcontar]

The one big problem that a Tolkien theme park would face is that of legal rights. While travelling, I just recently visited the one and only movie site that still shows remnants of structures - "Hobbiton" in Matamata, New Zealand. The only reason it wasn't completely cleared away like the other filming sites was because bad weather stopped the deconstruction. When people started coming to see it, the farmer on whose land it is located went through a lengthy process to get permission to keep the hobbit holes as they were - stripped down to the basic structure, but with round door and window openings still visible. Above all, the magnificent Party Tree still stands, and seeing it was worth the admission price!

The guide told us that interest in seeing the location has grown rather than diminished within the past couple of years since the site has opened. Whether the same thing would apply to a theme park is hard to predict. I think it would be fun to collect specific ideas for speculating and dreaming about the kind of park you'd want to see made, if New Line and the Tolkien Estate gave their permission.

What kind of rides would you want to have? (Macalaure's suggestion of a barrel ride on a river is a great idea!) Would there be a song-and-dance show featuring Hobbit songs and the Springle-Ring?

I think a rope climbing wall to simulate the Dwarves' climb up the Lonely Mountain in The Hobbit could be done. Bungy-jumping with Elven rope that looses itself, however, sounds like a bad idea!


[Moderator's note: Since the person who posted nonsense on this thread has been banned, there is no need to respond to his comments. I have not deleted his posts for the simple reason that other responding posts would lose their context if I did so.]

[JennyHallu]

Ooh...ooh! A log flume ride for the Falls! Wheeeee!!!!!!!!!

And Smaug should be a roller coaster.

The "Main Street" area (you know, at the entrance, with few to no rides, but a lot of shops and restaurants and a couple shows) should be the Shire, centered around the Party Tree. There should be crafts demonstrations too...a blacksmith, etc...

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Estelyn Telcontar

The one big problem that a Tolkien theme park would face is that of legal rights. While travelling, I just recently visited the one and only movie site that still shows remnants of structures - "Hobbiton" in Matamata, New Zealand. The only reason it wasn't completely cleared away like the other filming sites was because bad weather stopped the deconstruction. When people started coming to see it, the farmer on whose land it is located went through a lengthy process to get permission to keep the hobbit holes as they were - stripped down to the basic structure, but with round door and window openings still visible. Above all, the magnificent Party Tree still stands, and seeing it was worth the admission price!

The guide told us that interest in seeing the location has grown rather than diminished within the past couple of years since the site has opened. Whether the same thing would apply to a theme park is hard to predict. I think it would be fun to collect specific ideas for speculating and dreaming about the kind of park you'd want to see made, if New Line and the Tolkien Estate gave their permission.

Esty, that farm was chosen because of the tree. The irony is that prior to being chosen as the film location, the farmer's son was about to chop that tree down. They did add some 'digital leaves' to it though, I believe. Did it look as lush in real life?

I wouldn't hold your breath for the estate to authorise a theme park, as that won't happen until the sun turns black and the stars fall from the sky, but the area around Sarehole in Birmingham is rapidly becoming something of a Tolkien tourist area - a new Stratford on Avon?