Posted on 10/17/2004 10:50:23 AM PDT by maquiladora
LORD Of The Rings director and multi-millionaire Peter Jackson is creating a $4.5-million wonderland at his Wairarapa, New Zealand property.
He is plans to build a 22 million-litre ornamental lake to go along with the three-storey fairytale mansion, two villas and Lord Of The Rings set pieces, including Frodo's home – Bag End, which are already on the property.
The mansion has two towers, a 20m indoor swimming pool and a 100-seat cinema.
Jackson's property has a listed valuation of $2.3 million, with a further $2 million in planned improvements.
According to the plans, the ornamental lake would be the centrepiece of the sprawling property. It would have a figure-of-eight shape, with two islands with castle-like buildings.
The planning documents show that Jackson and partner Fran Walsh plan to use the lake for private swimming and boating.
Earthworks have begun on the lake, but because the plan involves damming a stream and taking water from the nearby Waipoua River, Jackson faces opposition from environmental and Maori groups.
Local Maoris are concerned about their sacred burial sites.
Geeze....$2 Million HERE would get you maybe an acre or two, maybe a "view", and a 3 or 4 bedroom house, not mansion.
Bag End is cool. Wish I owned that piece of property.
I think that could be in New Zealand dollars, not sure what the exhange rate is. But yeah, it's bound to be cheaper anyway!
A second Jackson Wonderland?
The horror.
The "castle" is a bit disappointing. It is Victorian mansion-y, rather than stone castle-y.
Considering his fortune, a rather modest sum for his dream home.
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Last entmoot was in a castle... don't you think we oughta do something different?
Wish I was rich.
But next one will be Shootmoot / Mootstock...so it'd be fun to go back to a castle again for a bit...
Think PJ'd mind?
I can't even imagine having a place like that.
Mamzelle is right, the thing looks like a Victorian mansion more than a castle.
Appropriate, though, IMO, since, in LOTR, the hobbits themselves were drawn as Victorian characters, including dress and mannerisms, but interjected into an otherwise Medieval setting.
I personally enjoy Victorian architecture.
How wonderful. I enjoy seeing the "good guys" reap the benefits of their good work. I hope he has much happiness there & can find many other worthwhile projects to do.
To quote Max Bialystock in The Producers: "If you've got it baby, flaunt it!" Good for Jackson!
WAY cool.
Hhmmmmmmm. Wonder if he needs an estate manager?
Heck, I'd even sign on as head groundskeeper if he'd let me live in Bags End.
Wonder how many sq ft? I'm guessing 14,000 for the main structure. That's really not such a big one for Hollywood parvenu.
I'm surprised you guys didn't catch the above detail. Symbolism anyone? ;-)
Good for him........he earned it.
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