It's a small world theme park after all

December 13, 2002 10:43 AM

"They're sprouting like mushrooms. And slowly it will become something tourists to most destinations will expect to be part of their itinerary." - Eiran Gazit Welcome to the wide world of miniature theme parks. Have one built to your specifications for just US$ 4,000,000. Or you can build a virtual village for free. Enjoy.
posted by snez (6 comments total)

I went to the one in Holland expecting good campy fun, but I was quite impressed with the technical skill involved and the incredible attention to detail (right down to the topless bathers at the mini-beach). It’s fun to feel like a giant or, as one site claims, a Gulliver in Lilliput. Oh and don’t forget your souvenirs. U.S. Capitol with Fez anyone?
posted by snez at 10:45 AM on December 13, 2002

This post is the most fun I've had since Bollywood.
posted by thewittyname at 10:53 AM on December 13, 2002

Hmmm. This reminds me of this. Must be the season.

Nice post, by the way.
posted by pardonyou? at 11:03 AM on December 13, 2002

Model villages are popular with this crowd. As a kid I was obsessed with the idea -- although having grown up much more familiar with HO model railroad kits than Euro-style model villages, I wondered what tiny people would want to live inside a plastic shell without even interior floors.

It may seem that for Americans, the preferred scale seems to be around 5/8... but really, I think we're just not enamored of the outside variety, being quite familiar with museum scale dioramas; and there is no better collection on the continent, certainly, than Chicago's Thorne Rooms at the Art Institute. Best of all: No stooping to see inside.
posted by dhartung at 4:06 PM on December 13, 2002

I wonder whatever has become of the South LA theme park (with professional actors playing gang members and junkeys)?...or was it just a bad dream caused by too much habanero pepper sushi?
posted by troutfishing at 9:53 PM on December 13, 2002

Styrofoam Sybl RULES!
posted by dfowler at 7:45 AM on December 14, 2002