{
  "id": 2277882,
  "title": "There’ll be some ups and downs: The politics of theme parks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/therell-be-some-ups-and-downs-the-politics-of-theme-parks",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-21T02:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Politico EU",
    "slug": "politico-eu",
    "url": "https://www.politico.eu/article/politics-theme-parks/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the whimsical world of theme parks, there are both thrilling attractions and controversial endeavors. French President Emmanuel Macron recently sought Saudi investment to transform his nation's largest theme park, Mirapolis, into a manga-themed attraction. This once-bustling park, dedicated to French literature and culture, closed in 1991 due to financial struggles.\n\nMeanwhile, Puy du Fou, a French theme park with locations in both France and Spain, is planning to expand into the United Kingdom. Its founder and president, Philippe de Villiers, has strong ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and previously proposed a theme park in Crimea after Russia's annexation of the Black Sea region in 2014.\n\nThierry Breton, the former European Commissioner for the Internal Market and a frequent sparring partner with Elon Musk, helped conceive the idea for a high-tech theme park called \"Futuroscope\" in western France. Its slogan, \"Expect the unexpected,\" perfectly captures the unpredictable nature of these parks.\n\nHowever, theme parks aren't immune to strange and often bizarre concepts. Germany's Wunderland Kalkar, located on the site of a former nuclear power plant that was never operational, offers a unique experience. South Korea's Loveland, an adult-only sculpture park, features explicit artwork. And in Colombia, Parques Temáticos Hacienda Nápoles sits on the grounds of former drug lord Pablo Escobar's ranch, promising a wild and unpredictable ride.\n\nIn an unexpected twist, an EU-style theme park, EUland, is currently awaiting planning approval on the site of the Schuman roundabout. This park will feature absurd rides like Qualified Majority, where participants must agree to take part before the ride starts, Trilogue, where three bumper cars disappear into a dark tunnel, and the slow-moving Strasbourg Express, a monthly ride that serves no apparent purpose. The inspiration for this final ride came from a train that accidentally ended up at Disneyland Paris in 2023, carrying European Parliament members and officials. Despite rumors of a \"Gravy Train,\" this nickname was firmly denied by all involved.",
  "summary": "Some amusement parks are inappropriate, some are political, others are just downright weird.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}