[2007-11-13]
July 2007 The Swedish Tourist Board produces an annual book. Every year has different themes. Next year´s book will be about parks. High Chaparrall is the oldest theme park in Sweden, started by “Big Bengt” Erlandsson in 1966. “Big Bengt”, who is now 85 years old, has always been fascinated by the Wild West. In the mid-fifties he made a road trip with some friends to the classic historical spots on the North American prairie and some years later he bought a few thousand telephone poles from “Televerket”. They were used to build his first fortress. Today, the park´s annual turnaround is app. 6 million € ! In a three months season, not bad for an old cowboy ! I am proud to have had the honor to talk to him for a few hours and was quite a bit surprised to discover the vast Swedish interest in “the Wild West”.
