This Philippine Landmark Was Meant to Dwarf Disney—Here's What Happened

Description

Fantasy World in Batangas is a massive, unfinished theme park that was meant to rival Disneyland. See what remains today. This video explores the history of Fantasy World, the abandoned theme park located in Lemery, Batangas. Many travelers pass by the site without knowing the ambitious plans that were originally intended for the hill. We examine the current state of the property, including the iconic painted castle that still rises above the trees. Fantasy World Batangas, the abandoned Disneyland of the Philippines, Lemery Batangas theme park, Philippines history, abandoned places Philippines, unfinished theme park Philippines, Enchanted Kingdom Philippines this is the story of the ₱17 billion theme park in Batangas that was meant to rival Disney World and never opened. In the late 1990s, a businessman named Emilio Ching set out to build the grandest theme park the Philippines had ever seen. Backed by the Department of Tourism and the Board of Investments, Fantasy World in Lemery, Batangas was designed to dwarf Enchanted Kingdom with a Bavarian-style castle, a 504-room hotel, a golf course, and a full lineup of amusement rides. Construction made real progress through the early 2000s and then it stopped. Today, the unfinished castle still stands, fading and frozen in time, and the site has quietly become one of the most photographed abandoned places in the Philippines. Quick Facts: Location: Lemery, Batangas, Philippines (~4 hours from Manila) Developer: ECE Realty & Development Inc., led by Emilio Ching Planned budget: ₱17 billion Department of Tourism endorsement: 1997 Construction began: 1999 Target completion: 2005 (never reached) Current status: Unfinished, open as a photo park (~₱1,000 entry per group of 10) If you enjoyed this dive into Philippine history, hit subscribe for more stories about abandoned places, forgotten landmarks, and the untold history hiding across the Philippines. 0:00 Intro – The Park That Never Opened 0:24 Where Fantasy World Is Located 1:23 The Original Plan (1997) 1:44 Constr