Landmark to develop Chinese theme park

200-acre project to include hotel, entertainment venues

By VARIETY STAFF

Landmark Entertainment Group has signed on to design and develop a $150 million theme park in the central China city of Wuhan.

The 200-acre project will include a hotel as well as retail and live entertainment venues for Wuhan, already a tourist center where about 250 million Chinese live within a 500-mile radius. Wuhan is about a two-hour flight from Hong Kong.

"In Wuhan, the mayor is progressive and interested in making his region an entertainment destination within China," said Tony Christopher, prexy of Los Angeles-based Landmark. "In larger cities, we have been told projects take a little longer to get off the ground."

Phase one of the entertainment center is expected to be completed within three years. A significant parcel of the project will be enclosed, including an Imax theater, retail stores, restaurants and indoor attractions.

Landmark's previous creations include "Jurassic Park --- The Ride" for Universal Studios and "Caesars Magical Empire" for Caesars Palace. In addition, the company is currently in production on Paramount Parks' "Star Trek: The Experience," in the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas.