Gran Scala was a huge European project to build a "destination city of leisure for all ages" on a site in the desert of
Los Monegros
Los Monegros is a comarca in Aragon, Spain. It is located within the provinces of Zaragoza and Huesca. The area is prone to chronic droughts, and much of the area is a natural region made up of badlands.
Los Monegros borders seven comarcas: Hoya ...
, near
Ontiñena
Ontiñena () or Ontinyena () is a municipality located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census (INE
INE, Ine or ine may refer to:
Institutions
* Institut für Nukleare Entsorgung, a German nuclear research center
...
, in the province of
Huesca
Huesca (; an, Uesca) is a city in north-eastern Spain, within the autonomous community of Aragon. It is also the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and of the comarca of Hoya de Huesca. In 2009 it had a population of 52,059, al ...
,
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' ( Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, ...
. The project included the construction of 32 casinos, 70 hotels, five theme parks and a town of 100,000 inhabitants.
Opening was planned for mid-2012.
Development
While being a private investment project by a consortium called ILD (International Leisure Development), it has backing of the Aragonese government which is providing the construction of all necessary connecting infrastructure. ILD is looking to attract different investors of the hotel, gaming, and leisure industry to develop the facilities.
The project schedule, proposed by ILD, has construction work beginning in September 2008, just after the
Zaragoza 2008 International Exhibition. A first opening would take place around mid-2010.
As of 2015, no development has taken place and the project appears to be one of many in Spain that failed after the 2008 financial crisis left its mark very heavily in that country.
Criticism
A large majority of the Aragonese population supported the project. However, it was facing criticism from ecological lobby groups for its construction on one of the richest and most delicate ecosystems in the European continent and its survival was incompatible with a development of this scale and nature. The project was highly controversial not only because of the environmental impact that it would have on the ecosystem but also because of its large size, promoting luxury activities such as betting money, and massive consumption. Moreover, an aquatic theme park was planned in an area where drought is common and water is limited.
References
External links
Gran Scala Blog(not updated since 2012)
Los Monegros & Gran Scala(no longer active)
{{coord missing, Spain
Buildings and structures in Aragon
2012 establishments in Spain
Tourist attractions in Aragon