You are an eccentric millionaire. You have had everything in this world that money can buy, and you have gotten tired of it. You’d like to build a new world, an immersive environment that you could share with the audience of your choice. You want to build the most awsome themepark or resort that the world will ever know.
I’d build Hogwarts, the boarding school from Harry Potter. I’d build a huge and whimsical castle in the woods somewhere in England. It would be a week long boarding program for kids-from nine to twelve years old- I’d alternate between the ultra-rich and (in keeping with the Harry Potter theme) abused kids that could use some magic in their lives.
They’d start out the trip (experience?) being set free in Diagon Alley, a full scale mock-up of a wizarding village. Each kid would get a bag of fake gold coins that they could use to buy stuff during their stay. The different shops would sell wizards robes, wands, furby-esque magical pets, candy (including Bertie Bott’s Everyflavor Beans) or just hang out in the tavern drinking non-alcoholic butterbeer. Adult actors would be everywhere keeping an eye on the kids and providing improv entertainment and street magic.
They would then board the Hogwart’s express train to Hogwarts.
The castle would be as lavish as possible. The great hall would actually have a ceiling that mimiced the sky outside- changing color through the day and showing stars at night. There would be a lavish feast filled with wonderous(and yummy) food. An actor would play Dumbledore and give a welcoming speech.
Throughout the castle would be a mix of high-tech wizardry, acting, and traditional stage magic. There would walking suits of armor. There would be paintings that move and talk to you. There would be holographic ghosts. There would be haunted bathrooms and magic mirrors. The whole place would be wired with voice recognition software that would make things like lights and stuff respond to “nagic words”. There would also be microphones and cameras throughtout so that eavesdropping staff could trigger effects as the kids walked around and interacted. Actors would roam through the school playing the parts of various adults in the book, and the would chat wtih the students. There would be “classes” that are high-tech magic shows, with explosions, magic potions, and other fun stuff. There would be an owlery filled with real owls, a common room wiht huge overstuffed chairs, thematic video games built in to crystal balls, and other fun and entertaining stuff.
There’d be Hagrid’s cabin, and a paddock of animoatronic animals, genetically engineered animals (if technology permits) and animatronics. Kids could take guided walks in the woods, which would be filled with animatronics, whimsicle playgrounds and other diversions.
Oh yeah, there would be virtual-reality Quiddich.
I’d engineer some sort of narrative into the whole thing- some sort of mystery set up by the sorroundings and the actors that the kids would solve in small groups by doing things like playing “wizards chess” (holographically?), going in to special rooms and solving immersive puzzles (think Myst) and doing research in the spectacular Hogwart’s library. Nothing too heavy, just something to give them a sense of purpose. I’d hire writers to make it interesting and compelling.
and that is how I would spend my fortune.