David McGowan, a funeral director from Ireland, has decided to open up an educational glamping theme park, that will not only allow visitors to learn about planes and trains, but it will also give them the opportunity to spend the night in the cockpit of a Boeing 747, sleep in a double bed on a luxury train carriage or catch 40 winks at the back of a London taxi. A unique traveling experience one might say, and something that the adventurous soul may find invigorating and unique.
Mr McGowan lives in a small village in Ireland called, Enniscrone. He plans to put it on the map. However, it isn't an easy task as towing the Boeing 747 was a difficult operation that saw McGowan battling many elements.
"That plane was the biggest one and it was one of the biggest moves in the world. It had never been done before as we had to close down Shannon International Airport," Mr McGowan told Sputnik.
"We had to use a 750 ton crane to help lower the plane, and we even managed to get it around a roundabout. However the biggest concern was the weather. I have no control over the elements and you cannot lift a 750 ton crane if the wind speed is not right, so we really had to battle the elements," he added.
McGowan purchased the plane previously owned by Russian airline Transaero from Shannon Airport for US$33,000.
For Mr McGowan and the people on the island, this new theme park will be a major help. The total population is 1200 and this new project will bring about 40 new jobs to the island. The town also only sees two good solid months of summer, so visitors can experience the uniqueness of the season, however Mr McGowan also wanted to drum up business for the town for the remaining months. Thus, he plans to turn it into a visitor's attraction that will allow school children to visit, play and also learn.
"Our town is beautiful but it's starved of attention and I believe this theme park will help to bring more people to the island. For the months when the weather is not so good, I have looked at developing educational sections within the plane and train, for example. The cockpit will be educational and so the kids, for US$15 per person will be able to learn about travel," he said.
The theme park is a six year plan and Mr McGowan wants to tow a train, plane, helicopter, petrol station and of course, add a restaurant. He estimates that in total, this will cost him US$3 million, which he says, he will make back with profit within the first six years. The money he is spending on the project he believes is 100 percent worth it and a much better investment than a house.
"I would prefer to have this rather than build a house, as this is educational. So anyone can build a house, but who can say they have a Boeing 747 in their back yard?" David McGowan told Sputnik.
Mr McGowan is an original and prides himself on not "copy, pasting" ideas from other people. This is also a uniquely different experience from the funeral business, which he says can leave him feeling slightly drained.
"I am a Jack of all trades… This theme park, it's a bit different from my normal day to day job and remember, us funeral directors, we need to see something different. We see death every week. I like the funeral business but you do need to get your mind away from it all," David McGowan told Sputnik.
The towing of the Boeing 747 has also given McGowan fame and notoriety and when the plane finally arrived on the island on the May 7 2016, he was trending alongside President Putin and Donald Trump.
