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 Шаблон:Currency 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]
Fantasy World is a medieval theme park covering an area of Шаблон:Convert. 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]
In popular culture
ABS-CBN's fantasy anthology series Wansapanataym was filmed at Fantasy World for the episodes "Sine-World" and "Rapunzel".
