by Donald Wood
Last updated: 3:46 PM ET, Mon March 2, 2015
PHOTO: A scene from "The Hobbit," though this new amusement park is more about the "Hobbit" lifestyle than the movie itself. (Or at least that's how you get around copyright issues.)
Fans of J. R. R. Tolkien's books will now have another place they must visit after it was formally announced that Rincon de la Victoria, Spain, will be the site of a "Hobbit"-themed amusement park. It's just a bit unclear just how official the part will be.
According to Euro Weekly News, the park will be called "La Comarca", meaning "The Shire" in Spanish. The Shire is a Hobbit-inhabited region of fictional Middle-earth, as explained in Tolkien's books, including The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
The site of the building project is only eight hectares (the American equivalent of just over 19.7 acres) and will be much smaller than many top amusement parks in the world. For example, Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida, sits on 27,258 acres.
Rincon de la Victoria mayor Francisco Salado spoke to Euro Weekly News about the social and economic impact adding a theme park to his town will have on the local population and the environment.
"The Shire will become one of the major tourism attractions of our town. The material will have a very low environmental impact, to create an integrated image in nature," Salado told the newspaper.
"It will be a place in which family leisure, sports and nature will go hand-in-hand in a unique space of great beauty set in a time of fairy tales and the magic of the elves. Without a doubt, Rincon de la Victoria will have a top-rated tourist attraction, which will also add to the variety of attractions of Malaga."
The idea was presented at the international tourism fair, FITUR, and would encompass many of the aspects of Tolkien's books and charcters that have created such a rabid fan base. The success of the movie franchise has only added to the Hobbit-mania.
Through the usage of augmented reality, the park's designers are looking to give the visitors a fully immersive experience by making them feel as if they're part of the surroundings. With two different sections of the park, a welcoming area called Parque Urbano and a more interactive Zona de Aventura, there is something for everyone.
Parque Urbano is the portion of the park for people unwilling to walk long distances, but the Zona de Aventura will give the thrill-seeking guests the opportunity to relive the Tolkien's books by, "climbing walls, hobbit homes, swings and slides," according to Euro Weekly News.
There has been some controversy, though, as questions about copyright issues have been raised. In a separate report by Euro Weekly News, Warner Bros. Entertainment is analyzing the park to ensure copyright infringement isn't an issue, but Mayor Salado guaranteed the situation had been handled.
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