Last Thursday saw the opening of a theme park near the Baranya county village of Bikal (pop. 854). Élménybirtok (roughly, “Experience Estate”) bills itself as the world’s first historical Hungarian theme park, and features a “living” reconstruction of a medieval town complete with palace and a “knights’ arena.” It cost around Ft 2 billion (approximately €7.5 million), which doesn’t seem like much, until you think about the modest size and purchasing power of its likely customer base. On the other hand, compared to some of the other theme parks and related projects currently on the drawing board in Hungary, making this thing profitable will probably be a walk in the park. Over the past few days we’ve been collecting information on a trio of related projects that are planned but have yet to open. If you can think of any others we haven’t found, let us know in the comment selection below. In the meantime, enjoy the ride.
Titanic Waterpark
A firm called Titanic Waterpark Befektetési és Projectkezelő Zrt is planning an ocean liner-themed adventure park in the outskirts of Budapest. According to the project’s website, the complex will “surpass all imagination.” A countdown on the site shows how many days are left until the park’s planned opening on Saint Nicholas Day (December 6) 2012.
A report by business daily Világgazdaság late last year said the park would be built in the town of Gyál and include a 600-room hotel, a conference center and stores. According to the paper, the complex would cost tens of billions of forints, and that attempts to get more details out of the investment group behind the deal were unsuccessful. The paper also noted that another investor group was planning a thermal baths and hotel complex at the same location a few years ago, but that project was never realized, probably due to lack of backing. Earlier, hetek.hu reported that the Titanic park would be built in Nagytarcsa, which is a village 23 kilometers away from Gyál. At that time, Nagytarcsa mayor Péter Győri spoke enthusiastically about the investment. Currently, the website of the project states that the exact location of the park will be announced “soon,” and that the information will be sent first to people who register for their email newsletter.
Gastroland
According to a (subscriber-only) article published last fall on vg.hu, the local developers of a long-planned culinary theme park called “Gastroland” are negotiating with two new foreign investors. Gastroland Zrt, the company behind the project, which is 50% owned by Hungarians, wants to spend €500-600 million on the park, which would feature numerous pavilions serving the cuisines of dozens of countries, as well as a museum and a “high-level education center” for the World Gastronomy Association (Gasztronómiai Világszövetség).
The need for new money arose when the previous co-investors left as a result of the crisis. The location of the park remains uncertain; the towns of Szob (Pest County) and Tata (Komárom-Esztergom County) were both mentioned. According to 2007 plans, construction would have started last year and been completed by 2011-12.
Újbuda Amusement Park”
In late February, tabloid Blikk broke the news that a group of private investors are planning to build a new amusement park in Budapest’s District XI (Újbuda). The park would be twice the size of the city’s historic Vidámpark – which is across the river, in Pest’s District XIV – and would feature such attractions as skiing and waterfall rides, in addition to the traditional roller-coasters and carousels, Blikk learned. Ferenc Karl, the head of the company planning the park, told the paper that entry tickets would cost Ft 3,000 (€11) and would allow visitors to enjoy between 40 and 50 rides.
The company has reportedly signed a 20-year rental contract with the local government for a 13-hectare riverside area near the final station of tram line 18. In the middle of the field, an artificial hill has already been built for year-round skiing. The park is planned to be opened within one or two years. The news closely followed reports that Vidámpark is close to bankruptcy.
Do these people not read books? This is an aptly named project because it is doomed to failure. Then they could open up the Hindenburg Air park.
How about opening up a theme park called, corrupt connivance of characteristic calamity.
I feel sure it would do well.
Alternatively, invest in BKV and watch your “hard-earned” disappear faster than a bottle of free palinka at your local watering hole!