Thomas the Tank Engine Theme Park
Thomasland in Japan Joined by a New Thomas Theme Park in UK in 2008
Dec 20, 2007
A Thomasland theme park, based on the ever-popular characters from the Thomas the Tank Engine stories, is set to open in England in 2008. Thomasland will be on the 280-acre Drayton Manor site near Tamworth, which already has lots of thrill rides, but their Robinson Land area has now been closed to make way for the new project. The new Thomasland is aimed at children from about 12 months to five years old.
The first Thomasland is already hugely successful in Japan, but the one in England's Staffordshire will be even bigger. It will include a 145-room hotel, with all the rooms naturally having a Thomas the Tank Engine theme, and there will also be 40 log cabins and room for about 300 caravans. There will also be a huge gift shop fully stocked with thousands of Thomas the Tank Engine gifts.
THE HISTORY OF THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE
The first Railway Stories featuring Thomas the Tank Engine were invented by the Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry in 1943 to entertain his son Christopher, who was ill. The Reverend Awdry was a train enthusiast, and to go with the stories he built a model train for Christopher, who named it Thomas. The first book was published in 1945 as The Three Railway Engines, and Thomas the Tank Engine followed in 1946.
The Reverend Awdry continued writing his Thomas stories until 1972, by which time he had written 26 books. His son Christopher than added yet more Thomas titles to the list of publications. The Reverend Awdry died in 1997 when he was 85 years old.
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THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE ON TV
Since Thomas's first appearance over 60 years ago, more than 200 million books and 50 million DVDs of Thomas's adventures have been sold. Thomas's TV adventures have been shown in 150 countries worldwide. The first programmes were famously narrated by ex-Beatle Ringo Starr, with later adventures told by Alec Baldwin, George Carlin, Michael Brandon and Michael Angelis.
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THOMASLAND
Thomas the Tank Engine's adventures with the other trains including Percy, Henry and Toby, and not forgetting the Fat Controller Sir Topham Hatt, take place on the island of Sodor. Thomasland will recreate the island for children to visit, and a Thomas and Percy ride will transport people to Farmer McColl's Farm. Mrs Kindly's Kitchen will be another creation, and that's where visitors can enjoy the local food. There will also be actors in costume, and no doubt there will be chance to have a photo opportunity with the Fat Controller and with Thomas the Tank Engine himself.
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LATEST NEWS
Thomasland opened in March 2008. Visit the official website.
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