A posters advertising an event at the Mystery Park; the sub-title reads "Should we re-write history of humankind". As a pre-conditionning of the public, the images links the cosmonaut to a traditional pre-Columbian sculpture, to prepare the idea of Aliens visiting Earth in ancient times. This photograph was taken in a Swiss railway station. Concerns have been risen about the Federal railways supporting this charlatanism.
Mystery Park is an amusement park located near Interlaken, Switzerland. Designed by Erich von Däniken, it consists of seven pavilions, each of which explores a great "mystery" of the world.
Challenge explores space flight and Mars exploration.
The Panorama Kugel is the central pavilion, topped by a 41-meter high sphere, from which the park's grounds can be seen. The Kugel also contains exhibits of von Däniken's works.
Controversy
Erich von Däniken is well known to advocate alien influence on Earth and write sensational books about the subject. He went as far as grossly forge "proofs". In this context, concern can arise at him setting up an "educational" park. Indeed, all attractions heavily advocate the idea of Alien visits on Earth.
The theme of the park presents fantasy theories in an educational fashion, as if they were serious scientific facts. Notable statements include references to "prehistorical texts" (sic). The central tower is mainly devoted to the personal promotion of Erich von Däniken. The overal impression is quite cheap [1] (http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=105&sid=1918331).
The Mystery Park was qualified a "cultural Tchernobyl" by Académie suisse des sciences techniques member Antoine Wasserfallen, cited by Swiss newspaper Le Temps[2] (http://archives.liste-aleph.org/ml/aleph-200308/msg00043.html) and various other medias [3] (http://www.livenet.ch/www/index.php/D/article/196/10110/). Nonetheless, the Swiss federal railroad company advertises for the park and sells a combined ticket.
In winter 2004, the park and its governemental support have come under heavy criticism in the News of the main state television channel.
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