The Finnish company Moominworld is interested in opening a new theme park in Sweden, on Skutberget hill in Karlstad. The original Moominworld theme park is located in Naantali, Finland. If the venture moves forward, it will entail an investment of SEK 200 million, and will transform Karlstad into one of the country’s largest tourist destinations.
“If this plan becomes a reality, it will be a wonderful and important investment for Karlstad, and for Sweden as a whole,” says Mayor Per-Samuel Nisser (M).
The company has visited and examined several sites in the Nordic region, and Karlstad is one of the interesting locations. The precise location being optioned is a particular section of Skutberget hill, which the municipality’s master plan has designated as being suitable for an amusement park.
“Karlstad is of great interest due to its geographic situation between Oslo and Stockholm, which means that we are easily accessible by up to 6 million potential visitors. 65 percent of Sweden’s population lives within a three hour drive of Karlstad,” elaborates Per-Samuel Nisser.
Moominworld’s profile is in line with Skutberget’s vision of encouraging outdoor recreation, with nature as a starting point and with a focus on children, families and young people.
The Moomin family care about nature and the environment
According to the plans, part of Skutberget will be transformed into Moominvalley, the place where the Moomin family and their friends live. The valley is an idyllic, peaceful place far from the hustle and bustle of city life. Moominvalley is nestled between the Lonely Mountains and the sea, and it is here that the blue Moominhouse can be found. Karlstad Municipality believes that Moominvalley, with its environmentally conscious philosophy, would mesh well with the natural environment of Skutberget.
“Moominworld is an environmentally conscious company that lives according to the Moomin family’s philosophy, and the theme park fits in well with the municipality’s ambitions to make Skutberget attractive to more residents of Karlstad, and above all to children and young people,” elucidates Deputy Mayor Anders Tallgren (S).
The core values that permeate the Moominworld theme park are also fully in line with Karlstad Municipality’s goal of being a climate-friendly and child-friendly municipality for all that live there. Moominworld’s business practices are guided by the Moomins’ values: non-violence and safety, kindness and tolerance, environmental awareness, adventure, and a focus on family and educational values.
The target group for the theme park consists primarily of families with children, but another potential visitor group is made up of adults from Asia, where the Moomin characters are very popular.
Before the investment process can move forward, some additional work and negotiation with the various stakeholders and authorities will be necessary. If all goes according to plan, construction of the park could be completed by 2020.
The continued development of outdoor recreational activities on Skutberget
Karlstad Municipality will also continue developing Skutberget as a destination for outdoor activities and recreation. If the amusement park becomes a reality, it will complement the area and provide added value to both residents of Karlstad and visitors. Areas for exercise, swimming, and other outdoor recreational activities will remain in place and be further developed.
If the amusement park becomes a reality, it will complement the area and provide added value to both residents of Karlstad and visitors. Areas for exercise, swimming, and other outdoor recreational activities will remain in place and be further developed.
“There are plans to build a new service building for day visitors, and over the next three years we will invest a total of SEK 1.8 million in outdoor recreational activities targeted at children and youth. A total of SEK 2 million will be invested in refurbishing our jogging and hiking paths. This LED lighting system, and the revitalization process will begin this year,” said Culture and Recreation Director Johanna Larsson (M).
This particular amusement park company is investigating Karlstad because due to our location between Oslo and Stockholm, we are easily accessible by up to 6 million visitors. 65 percent of Sweden’s population lives within a three hour drive of Karlstad. Moominworld’s profile is in line with Skutberget’s vision of encouraging outdoor recreation, with nature as a starting point and with a focus on children and young people.