Shangri-La Amusement Park in Miaoli’s “Treasure Island” Catches Fire; Park Hopes to Pivot

▲ Indoor amusement facilities at Shangri-La Amusement Park in Miaoli (Photo / Source)Shangri-La Amusement Park Fan Page)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

A fire broke out at Shangri-La Amusement Park in Zaobridge Township, Miaoli County, on the 17th. Employees arriving for work in the morning noticed white smoke coming from the park’s tin-roofed “Treasure Island” indoor arcade and quickly called 119 for help. When firefighters arrived, only residual flames remained inside the nearly 400-ping tin building, but thick smoke filled the area. It was determined that the fire had been smoldering for some time. The smoke clearance and fire scene cleanup took nearly four hours. Indoor amusement machines, performance area seating, and bowling lanes were all melted. Fortunately, there were no casualties. The operator noted that the park was closed for annual maintenance these past two days and suspects that aging electrical wiring may have caused the fire, which will be further investigated by the fire department.

Shangri-La Amusement Park in Miaoli County once gained fame for hosting the TV show “Go Go Go,” but on the 17th, the “Treasure Island” arcade was tragically destroyed by fire. The operator hopes to turn this crisis into an opportunity.

The long-established Shangri-La Amusement Park has been around for over 20 years. In the 1990s, it gained popularity for hosting the outdoor variety show “Go Go Go,” and the arcade that caught fire today was located next to the swimming pool at the original filming site. Shangri-La Amusement Park covers nearly 40 hectares and was taken over by the Chin Mei Group last year. Su Chien-chang, deputy general manager of the park, said that “Go Go Go” is a shared memory for many and represented “the most glorious period” of the park. Nowadays, many facilities and scenes have aged, and the arcade that burned down today was one of those slated for renovation—“though the timeline has been moved up.”

Su Chien-chang stated that after the group took over, they brought in young artists to create large-scale 3D land art within the park, recreating the challenge scenes from “Go Go Go,” using cultural creativity to revive public memories and inject youthful energy into the park. He pointed out that although the veteran amusement park may no longer have the spotlight of a TV show, the lush greenery covering the entire mountain is its greatest asset. The group plans to reposition the park for the future.

Su Chien-chang said the group is drawn to Shangri-La’s unique and rich forest landscape and diverse plantings, with the intention of creating a one-of-a-kind garden that can rival those abroad. Coupled with the group’s own background in architecture and related fields, they plan to build a large resort hotel. “Whether in terms of scale or architectural style, it will be truly eye-catching.” Given the vastness of the park, a phased development approach is planned, using different styles and routes to reinvigorate the brand of this long-standing amusement park and welcome visitors once again. (News source: Central News Agency)