Hobbiton, Phillipsville, CA
As a former epicenter of Hobbit-themed attractions, Hobbiton started in the mid-1970s and took guests on a redwood nature walk through the mystical story of J.R.R Tolkien’s, The Hobbit, complete with scenes and characters such as Bilbo Baggins, Gollum, and Gandalf!
On the trail, the scenes you could find were the fierce battle with dragon Smaug and Gandalf enlisting Bilbo’s help. The characters were crafted from cement, which left some key players looking a bit unusual. Gollum and Aragorn were said to look incredibly lumpy, but fortunately, each tableau came with a button-activated speaker that would explain the scenes being presented.
The park closed in 2009, with theories hinting that legal troubles forced this frail middle earth to close. However, these days the area is still a popular haunted redwood trail. Expect to see an abused Gandolf and an alien-looking Gollum being swallowed up by nature! It’s still fascinating to visit either way if you’re a Hobbit fan!
