New Paramount Park in Murcia, Spain.

[Lofty]

How does Isla Magica get on? I never hear about anybody actually going to there?

The thing what's really surprising is, although Terra Mitica is in Benidorm (near enough), it NEVER gets busy, I've never been there on a busy day, still. To be honest, whether this is down to advertising, money or people not wanting to leave the all-inclusive hotel (Benidorm reference ), I don't know.

The area that this is going to be in isn't exactly tourist based, it's not far from Torrevieja or La Manga, but still, it's not tourist central, so yeah, I see what you mean, if a theme park in a major tourist area can't get many people coming through it's gates, how will one out of the beaten track?

 

[oriolat2]

Needless to say that this park smells like a promise made by a local filthy politician to gain a few more votes. If I am not mistaken, there will be elections in Murcia in no time and this is the perfect time to play the best cards (a park=tourism=money=jobs) although I am not sure this will end up being built or if it will be do a Hard Rock and close after one season...

And Isla Mágica is struggling to get 1,000,000 visitors (they don't quite reach that number) and being limited by land and money to expand (that's why the proposed Vekoma Mine train never got the thumbs up) there's not much the park can do.

 

[Pablo237]

What happened to that Paramount South Korea Movie Park Project??
What ever happened to that??

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEbVyKcFjLc[/youtube]

I agree. Why build another Theme Park when you got plenty of Parks to go to in Spain??

They may think they are going to do good because they are Paramount. But if they just have 4D Theaters and dark rides with no major rides like roller coasters. Then they are bound to fail. They could have a Robocop Dark Ride maybe.

I don't think an Italian Job Coaster is enough. What else can they cook up that is themed to classic Paramount Movies??

 

[gavin]

^Last we heard/saw there were boards up all around the site, with the Paramount logo, which made it look like construction was about to start, but we've heard nothing since.

That's not to say it isn't under construction right now, there's just been nobody on any forums with pictures. The location is not really that close to anything else either, so the only reason anybody would go out there would be to specifically get pictures of the place. There isn't a Korean equivalent to CF, so nobody's doing it.

I imagine it's still going ahead. It's funded by Daewoo, and the land has been secured, so it's not like it was just some random idea with no real backing or finances.

 

[Ian]

*bump*

There's a press release floating about. It mainly bangs on about the new airport, but the new airport is a stepping stone for construction as it includes a high-speed rail hub.

In a nutshell, construction could begin in February next year and open in 2014, a year ahead of shedule. There are plenty of potential investors and €300,000,000 will be spent on finishing the theme park (the largest in Europe) before the restaurants and hotels are knocked up.

Full press release with all the waffle:

According to Murcia’s regional government, construction of the Paramount-branded Theme Park in Murcia could begin as early as February 2012. Promoters pledge that works will be fast and may well complete in 2014 - a year ahead of schedule. This will dovetail nicely with the arrival of the high-speed AVE in Murcia.

Murcian officials are convinced that the Paramount-branded Theme Park green light was given largely on the basis of the brand new Murcia International Airport located within 20 minutes of the site at Corvera. Works on the Airport will complete late this year and open to passengers in spring 2012 following final Government approval. Paramount personnel have conducted site visits to witness its swift progress.

Chris Mercer of Murcia-based agent Mercers, comments, “The Airport’s initial capacity for three million passengers a year, including many who currently use Alicante, was said to be key to securing the flagship project. Murcia International Airport will also become the first airport in Spain to be crossed by a high-speed rail link (AVE) and the third, after Barcelona and Madrid, to have a rail link at all – further opening up domestic and international traffic to the Theme Park. Before long a European spotlight will fall on this area and our property sales are already rising from those keen to cash-in on lucrative rental opportunities of the future.”

The President for Murcia’s Flagship Projects Jesus Samper, on behalf of the joint venture scheme, believes that an initial investment of 300 million euros will be enough to complete main infrastructure for the Paramount-branded Theme Park whilst the remaining facilities such as retail outlets and hotels, costing up to 1,000 million euros, can be completed in phases and be part-funded by those private enterprises keen on benefitting from what is set to be the biggest theme park in Europe.

With a definitive masterplan in place for September this year outlining usage of the 108 hectares of land, 37 dedicated to the Park itself, project members will then embark on a roadshow to attract investors in London, New York, Shanghai and the UAE, among others. Investment funds and business groups have already expressed an interest in the project including Russian billionaire and casino operator Oleg Boyko who made a surprise personal visit to Murcia.

 

[peep]

That is some very interesting news, good find Mr Ian. If they are claiming this to be bigger than Disneyland Paris and Europa Park it should be quite an interesting park. Shall be an interesting one to follow me thinks.

 

[Nic]

"Chris Mercer of Murcia-based agent Mercers"
What a sentence

 

[Lofty]

BUMP.

But. Watch this video:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv8PgsKaIGw&feature=player_embedded#![/youtube]

It shows a lot of concept art off. By the way, a Sleep Hollow themed ride <3

Plus, I can count at LEAST 4 credz. Possibly 5. One of them's a launch coaster, Mine train Coaster, Kiddie Coaster, Another Family Coaster - or it may just be the same one & The indoor Spinner.

 

[Ben]

The Titanic thing should blates be a ride, not a special effects show (which I think is what he said? Efecto especial or something. Spanish = Rusty to say the least... Oriol? This is what you're useful for!)

Also, if they're going to show a clip of Airplane! and not build a ride themed to it, I hate them.

Also, why are Paramount so desperate to get back into parks after their first lot went so well? I know this is more of an ACTUAL movie park, but, still. And why Spain? Spaniards just hate themed rides. They get bored and take siestas halfway round because it's too much like work.

 

[Nic]

Plus, I can count at LEAST 4 credz. Possibly 5. One of them's a launch coaster, Mine train Coaster, Kiddie Coaster, Another Family Coaster - or it may just be the same one & The indoor Spinner.

I can't see the vid because I'm at work, but are we sure it's not just of Gay RainbowLand?!

 

[Lofty]

Also, why are Paramount so desperate to get back into parks after their first lot went so well? I know this is more of an ACTUAL movie park, but, still. And why Spain? Spaniards just hate themed rides. They get bored and take siestas halfway round because it's too much like work.

I think the thing is, the fact that Paramount aren't forking out for this one is a BIG part of it. They're simply putting their stamp on it in terms of the theming, rides, shows etc. But the actual park won't be owned by them.

Plus, I can count at LEAST 4 credz. Possibly 5. One of them's a launch coaster, Mine train Coaster, Kiddie Coaster, Another Family Coaster - or it may just be the same one & The indoor Spinner.

I can't see the vid because I'm at work, but are we sure it's not just of Gay RainbowLand?!

Nope. It's a Mack one. They have their own designs for it. It seems like it's a Space themed Indoor Mack Spinning Coaster. Like the one that opened late last year, Space Fantasy The Ride: http://rcdb.com/9034.htm

 

[Martyn B]

That actually looks really good. Seemed very Disney-esqe in that video, which cant be a bad thing.

 

[Nemesis Inferno]

Also, if they're going to show a clip of Airplane! and not build a ride themed to it, I hate them.

That's what I thought... Would be the best ride ever...


Still looks rather good... Might save up for Spain in a few years then... In fact it's very Universal Singapore, looking at the concept art in several ways...

However, Sleepy Hollow area? Star Trek simulator? Random Launched coaster? Awesome...

 

[gavin]

I think the thing is, the fact that Paramount aren't forking out for this one is a BIG part of it. They're simply putting their stamp on it in terms of the theming, rides, shows etc. But the actual park won't be owned by them.

Same deal with the Korean park then; Daewoo are stumping up the cash for that. I guess there's nothing for Paramount to actually lose if it all goes wrong?

 

[CoasterCrazy]

^Sure looks awesome...however it seems to lack seriously 'big' rides like the south Korean one had....

I guess the park is designed to be a 'family' day out though!

 

[Lofty]

I think the thing is, the fact that Paramount aren't forking out for this one is a BIG part of it. They're simply putting their stamp on it in terms of the theming, rides, shows etc. But the actual park won't be owned by them.

Same deal with the Korean park then; Daewoo are stumping up the cash for that. I guess there's nothing for Paramount to actually lose if it all goes wrong?

Yes, exactly. It's pretty clever of them really, they get their name and franchise out more, then they don't need to pay the bill. Pretty clever, although, it leaves them in a **** position, due to the possibility of the park being a success, then the owners kicking out Paramount, although I'm sure there's a lot of contracts stating that they can't do this for a number of years...

^Sure looks awesome...however it seems to lack seriously 'big' rides like the south Korean one had....

I guess the park is designed to be a 'family' day out though!

Um, this is more of a park like Terra Mitica, in my opinion. This area of Spain has a LOT of Ex-Pats living over there, I know a few, they bring their families over a lot, it makes sense to be a family park.

 

[Robbie]

A special effect experience based on Titanic seems very bad taste. "Remember that thing where 1500 people died? Well, this is just like that!"

 

[Ben]

^But, making a film about it is fine?

And video games.

And enough tat to ironically sink it again.

Plus, Disney have a Pearl Harbour stunt show. You know, the thing that brought the US into the Second World War? Especially since some of the visitor's grandparents would have actually been the villains in that.

 

[Lofty]

A special effect experience based on Titanic seems very bad taste. "Remember that thing where 1500 people died? Well, this is just like that!"

Ben had some great points above, it really isn't bad taste. Any ride with the name "Tsunami", "Earthquake", "Tidal Wave", "Hurricane" or the such should ALL be renamed then, as these have killed many, MANY more people then the Titanic did. Before anyone starts, yeah, I do know that one did get renamed after the Tsunami of Boxing Day...

 

[Venom2053]

This looks pretty amazing...though how well it will do I don't know. I know most (if not all) of there american parks failed but at least they are going with a different look this time. Kinda reminds me of Universal studio. Anyhoo should be an amazing park if it turns out like the concept art does.

Though the Star Trek ride is a total rip-off of the Star Tours one at Disney.