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Fantasy World (theme park)

Coordinates: 14°00′56.7″N 120°52′24.9″E / 14.015750°N 120.873583°E / 14.015750; 120.873583
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Fantasy World
Coordinates14°00′56.7″N 120°52′24.9″E / 14.015750°N 120.873583°E / 14.015750; 120.873583
StatusOperating
OwnerECE Realty & Development Inc. (formerly)
ThemeFantasy medieval
Area30 ha (74 acres)
While the theme park is open, there are no functional rides, and the attractions serve as photoshoot subjects for visitors.

Fantasy World is an unfinished theme park in Lemery, Batangas, Philippines. With no operational rides, the site functions as a photo park.

History

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Fantasy World was initially intended to be a members-only club[1] but was changed into a resort-theme park open to tourists coming from Metro Manila and Calabarzon. It received an endorsement from the Department of Tourism in 1997.[1] Land acquisition started in January 1999 while site development began in October with ECE Realty & Development Inc. as the project's initial developer.[1][2][3] In 2001, it was granted pioneer incentives by the Board of Investments.[1]

It was touted to be the "Disney World of the Philippines" and was envisioned to dwarf Enchanted Kingdom.[3] The project was expected to cost 17 billion and was to be fully operational by 2005.[3] However, due to financial issues and illness of ECE Realty head Emilio Ching, development of Fantasy World halted in the mid-2000s.[4][5]

Fantasy World was then open to the public in the early 2010s as a site for photoshoots.[6] The site then was bought by new owners.[4]

Facilities

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Fantasy World castle in 2019

Fantasy World is a medieval theme park covering an area of 30 ha (74 acres). There are rides installed within the park, but none are operational. A Bavarian-inspired[6] castle serves as the centerpiece of Fantasy World.[4] Originally there was a plan to build a 504-room hotel within the theme park's vicinity as well as other facilities for recreation and leisure.[2]

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ABS-CBN's fantasy anthology series Wansapanataym was filmed at Fantasy World for the episodes "Sine-World" and "Rapunzel".

GMA's 2006 television series Majika was filmed at Fantasy World. Likewise, some scenes of Fantastica of Star Cinema and Viva Films were shot at the theme park.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "ECE's P1-B theme park gets perks". Philippine Daily Inquirer. April 16, 2001.
  2. ^ a b Go, Marianne (April 16, 2001). "Fantasy World project gets BOI perks: P1-B tourism facility soon to rise in Batangas". The Philippine Star. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Salazar, Tessa R (February 8, 2000). "Fantasy World's fairy-tale castle almost complete". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  4. ^ a b c d Pastrana, Kathleen (December 31, 2018). "Fantasy World: The abandoned fortress". Sunstar. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  5. ^ Domingo, Katrina (May 21, 2017). "6 things to do at the 'abandoned castle' in Batangas". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Uy, Sasha Lim (October 17, 2017). "The Unfinished Mystery of Fantasy World in Batangas". Esquire. Retrieved November 16, 2021.