"Laughter is timeless, Imagination has no age and dreams are forever" ~ Walt Disney
If you’re a fan of the movie zombieland or a video game THE LAST OF US and LEFT FOR DEAD, you probably want to experience walking through an abandoned amusement park. I don’t know about you but there’s something hauntingly beautiful about this abandoned wonderland, with their overgrown grasses, empty roller coaster cars, corroded merry-go-round and the goose bumps going up the tall castle you’ll sure to have a great time.
Nowadays, people were so devoured with all the overwhelming changes in our society, whether it’s with their taste music, food preference, place to stay or even people to talk you, right?
But admit it, we millennials at some point would crave and look back to the old memoirs of things. Listen to the 80’s and 90’s songs and eat the most traditional foods made by moms. So here I am, I will show you one of the most beautiful places I went to, an abandoned themed park preserved and maintained to be enjoyed by those hungry for some nostalgic experience.
Fantasy World Batangas: The Disneyland of the Philippines
When one hears of Batangas, one word that comes to mind is "beaches." Batangas is known for its many wonderful and scenic beaches where people flock to for their vacations. But did you know that your visit to Batangas could be a magical one? If you visit Batangas, you shouldn't miss the well-known landmarks and attractions in the area, particularly the Fantasy World Castle. It is a theme park under construction located in Barangay Mayasang in Lemery, Batangas.
This amazing and colorful structure can be easily seen along Diokno Highway going to Tagaytay. It was built back in 2001. There were a lot of speculations about this abandoned theme park. Some say that it was supposed to be the Disneyland in the Philippines; some say that the Japanese businessman who used to own this couldn’t secure all the funds needed to finish everything that’s why it was half built.
You can easily locate the park as it sky high and colorful castle structures will surely nab your attention if you’re on private vehicle. While waiting outside the structure,
Under the management of the neighborhood homeowner's association and curious tourists can still enter by paying a P1, 000 fee for 10 people. Unlike the abandoned amusement parks in Japan which all look eerily decrepit, the facilities in this local Disneyland are still pretty well-maintained. The rides don't run, but they're still clean, sturdy, and, well, full of hope. They use the entrance fee collected from the visitors to maintain the theme park. Inforsource
About 4 hours drive if you’re coming from Manila and 2 hours if your solely coming from parts of Cavite. It would have been easier if the entrance route from Nasugbu to Diokno Highway is open, but guess what, it’s not, and is currently under long term renovation inaccessible to four wheel vehicles, but motorcycles I guess will do. The park is open from 8am to 6:30PM.
My friends and I went to a Batangas trip to relieve us from our stress from work and in our itinerary, our first stop! The FANTASY WORLD! It’s everyone’s first time so we’re on top so excited about it so no one is late in our 5 AM call time.
Upon entrance, I just can’t say no for a photo. Good thing, I did not just took selfies, given that you can see some of their personnel passing by from time to time, you could easily ask them to assist you for some snaps and well, since I’m with my beloved friends, we took thousands of groufies!
No Ride, No Fly
No rides in Fantasy World are operational. In fact, all of them are wrapped with danger lines, but since people are enthusiastic for photos, so you must let us pass!!
I am used to seeing blank playgrounds when I was little, but seeing the park gave me some sort of chills. It was really quiet at the area of the rides, what you can only hear are the gushing of tree leaves and the giggles of my friends. I remembered stories I read from my Goosebumps collection before. You know, where abandoned theme parks got all creepy and shaky with lost souls of trapped children or doomed with possessed clowns or jugglers. :O
But despite all this in mind, I am still happy to have the opportunity to visit.
I did imagine the place however, as fully operational and functioning, there will be ice cream, cotton candy and popcorn stops all over as clowns and other performers juggle their way in all turns of the park, happy tunes keep everyone swaying, there will be beautiful ladies in princess and duchess costumes ready for some photo op, children are shouting all out with fun as they ride their way through these colorful units, mommies and daddies are taking priceless pictures, if only Fantasy World was really brought to life.InforSource
Tree sheds are famous settings in fairy tales, and true enough, these make up the “fantasy package” for Fantasy World.
Hanging Bridge
One of the park's highlights is its dark and creaky treehouse, with vines that wrap their arms around its spiral staircase.
The structure literally is a concrete mimic of a huge trunk of a tree with winding staircases inside and outside the surface, you can choose which way you may want to reach the top. A lazy alert tip though, I went inside using the inner stairs and I probably ran out my breath as the stairs inside I believe are quite longer than the stairs bundled at the outside of the tree, given that I went down using the staircase outside.
Once on top, a hanging bridge will invite you to go to the other tree house, if you would want to take a clearer view of the whole area from that side; both sheds however open a breathtaking view of the property, from bushes to castles.
Meanwhile if you do not want to cross the bridge, inside the tree house you could do another leg of picture taking as it offers great natural lighting number of feet above the ground. InfoSource
Castle Tower
The view from the tower is exhilarating. And a bit tingling on the legs, if you have just a pinch of fear for heights like me. I must admit I cannot be Rapunzel for more than an hour, it is also very windy at the tower’s top, so you gotta loose that fixed hair for a time. It was so high and scary, but worth it!
Overall, you can spend about 2 hours to go around the place. Bringing of food and drinks are not allowed inside, you have to buy it from them.
How to get there
Batangas City is 2 1/2 hours away from Manila when using the old inter-town route. Using the STAR Tollway route, one can reach Batangas City in just an hour and a half. Tanauan City is about one hour away, and between Tanauan City and Batangas City, one will find Lipa City. ALPS The Bus, Inc. is one of the many bus companies that travel the said route.
Travellers can take air-conditioned buses going to Batangas City. Those who want to go to Nasugbu, Calatagan and Lian towns (Matabungkay) can pass via the Tagaytay route.
Travellers going to Puerto Galera can take direct air con buses from Manila (Cubao) to Batangas pier. The best services are BLTB (every hour) and JAM transit (also every hour) from the Kamuin Cubao bus station. Sometimes, esepcially during peak hours, buses run every 30 minutes. The last stop is Batangas Pier (ask the conductor beforehand) from where one can take a ferry to Puerto Galera.
When driving one's own vehicle to Tanauan-Lipa-Batangas City, travelers will pass through the South Luzon Expressway, then the STAR Tollway and can just follow the directional signs along the highway. InfoSource
Itemized made easy for you! :)
• For those who will bring a car, just use Waze
• From Cubao, ride a bus going to Nasugbu or Calatagan
• Drop off at the boundary (Boundary of Nasugbu and Alfonso, Cavite)
• Ride a jeepney going to Lemery, make sure that it’s via Diokno Road
• Asked the driver to drop you off at Fantasy World
Where to Stay
The reputation of Batangas as a tourist destination has resulted in the sudden growth of one-stars, numerous bungalows over the water accessed by boardwalks, with wooden stairs leading down to the sea, and three-stars that are affordable by international standards.
Here’s some of the places you can inquire about for an accommodation:
• Lima Park Hotel, Lima Technology Center, Malvar
• Canyon Cove Resort, Far East Road, Piloto Wawa, Nasugbu
• Lago De Oro Cable Ski Park and Resort, Bo. Balibago, Calatagan
• Days Hotel Batangas (Days Hotel Batangas), Pastor Village, Pallocan West
• Anilao Outrigger Resort, Solo, Anilao, Mabini
• Chateau Royale, Km 72 Batulao, Nasugbu
• Evercrest Golf Resort, Batulao, Nasugbu
• Microtel Inn & Suites, First Philippine Industrial Park, Sto. Tomas
• Matabungkay Beach Resort, Brgy. Matabungkay, Lian
• Hotel Pontefino, Pastor Village, Gulod Labac
• Cintai, Balete/Lipa City
• Hotel La Corona, Lipa City
• Mount Malarayat Hotel and Suites, Dagatan, Lipa City
• The Coral Beach Club, Matabungkay, Lian InfoSource