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Romania builds Dracula Land
BBC NEWS ^ | 12/11/2001 | Romania builds Dracula Land

Posted on 12/30/2001 8:46:58 PM PST by florinro

Romania builds Dracula Land Dracula Land could be built near Vlad the Impaler's castle The Romanian Government has announced plans for a theme park in honour of the controversial figure of Count Dracula. Tourism Minister Matei Dan told journalists the park - Dracula Land - would open in the summer of 2002, at an as yet undisclosed location, widely assumed to be in Transylvania. Many thrillers portray the bloodcurdling life of the Romanian hero Count Dracula is a Romanian national hero better known outside the country for the association with legends of bloodsucking vampires - as described by 19th century author Bram Stoker. Mr Dan dismissed criticism that the park would harm Romania's image. -The plans- Announcing the project - expected to cost $60m - he said the park would be a tribute to "the image of a great Romanian hero". He said the proposal included plans for a Dracula Institute, consisting of several conference rooms and a library. Mr Dan said the institute would enable contact with about 4,000 Dracula clubs around the world, which would supply visitors to the park. The minister refused to disclose the location of the new park, which is being built by an American company, in order "to avoid property speculation". -The legend- The myth of Dracula, launched by the 1897 novel of Irish author Bram Stoker, is based on the life of the prince of Vlad, Vlad-the-Impaler. His escapades against the neighbouring Turks and Hungarians in the 15th century have given him the stature of a national hero in Romania. The book immortalised and demonised Dracula But to the outside world, he is better known for his appalling cruelty, for impaling his victims on wooden stakes. The BBC central Europe correspondent, Nick Thorpe, says the novelist combined the already violent accounts of Dracula's life with legends of bloodsucking vampires from the same mountainous regions of eastern Europe. This heritage worries many Romanian critics of the Dracula Land project. "There are some voices in Romania who accuse me of selling a false legend," the tourism minister said. "But I am a pragmatic man and these critics do not put me off. "This is a fantastic project," he added. BBC news Europe


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1 posted on 12/30/2001 8:46:58 PM PST by florinro
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Comment #2 Removed by Moderator

To: florinro

All our rides suck


3 posted on 12/30/2001 8:59:55 PM PST by hole_n_one
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To: florinro
Good for them!! Capitalism hard at work!!
4 posted on 12/30/2001 9:08:51 PM PST by Vote 4 Nixon
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To: JoeEveryman
Like I said, I don't care what dorben says.....

LOL!

6 posted on 12/30/2001 9:13:43 PM PST by hole_n_one
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To: florinro

What, no Wolfman rides? What a rip!


7 posted on 12/30/2001 9:16:43 PM PST by BigBadWolf
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To: florinro
This would be an awesome tourist site for the kiddies :)
8 posted on 12/30/2001 9:18:16 PM PST by Centurion2000
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To: JoeEveryman

Is that Sauruman ??

9 posted on 12/30/2001 9:19:20 PM PST by Centurion2000
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To: florinro
First there's StalinWorld, now Dracula Land. What's next? MussoliniLand? FDRworld? HirohitoLand? MaoWorld? deGaulleWorld? and its fierce competitor, Napoleonland?
10 posted on 12/30/2001 9:23:09 PM PST by Jay W
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To: florinro
This is just too weird!

Guess our great-great-great grand kids will spend their time in Hitler Holiday Park.

What in the heck are these people thinking????? Sorry, this is sick.
11 posted on 12/30/2001 9:26:47 PM PST by lizma
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To: Jay W
I can't wait for the Griswald's next vacation.
12 posted on 12/30/2001 9:26:55 PM PST by Slyfox
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To: Centurion2000
Yes (Christopher Lee).
13 posted on 12/30/2001 9:28:00 PM PST by caspera
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To: nomasmojarras
Didn't Vlad impale his "victims" to deter Turks and Hungarians from sacking and looting his principality?
14 posted on 12/30/2001 9:29:38 PM PST by Navy Patriot
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To: Navy Patriot
Didn't Vlad impale his "victims" to deter Turks and Hungarians from sacking and looting his principality?

From what I've read about him; he dang near impaled everyone and pretty much rectum.

15 posted on 12/30/2001 9:31:13 PM PST by Centurion2000
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Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

To: florinro
Some contributions from the Families in the area.

ROMANIAN CHANDELIER

17 posted on 12/30/2001 9:41:57 PM PST by stlrocket
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To: florinro;nomasmojarras
Thought you might be interested.

Symbol of the order of the dragon, or Dracul, hence Dracula.

The Man Himself, Vlad Dracul

Couple more links,

A good place to start

Also reccomended

Gallery

More background

History of the Region

Story from Frontpagemag

18 posted on 12/30/2001 9:42:49 PM PST by cascademountaineer
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To: JoeEveryman
Be sure to visit our food court for some tasty, juicy steaks stakes...........


19 posted on 12/30/2001 9:45:29 PM PST by hole_n_one
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To: florinro
Here's one of the many imaginative histories of Vlad.
20 posted on 12/30/2001 9:48:33 PM PST by Bonaparte
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