MiniHollywood, Almería, gets a €20m glow up (spurs optional)

This is not just a nostalgic slice of cinematic history quietly ticking along in the Almería sun. Mini Hollywood is entering a new chapter, backed by a €20 million investment that promises to transform the site from charmingly eccentric to impressively ambitious, while hopefully keeping the gunfights safely theatrical.

A little history of MiniHollywood

First, a quick rewind. The site began life in 1965 as a purpose built film set for Sergio Leone’s For a Few Dollars More. Designed by Carlo Simi, it quickly became one of the most recognisable backdrops in cinema history, later appearing in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and dozens of other westerns. Almería, for a brief but glorious period, was effectively Hollywood with better weather and fewer agents.

When filming slowed, the set could easily have been dismantled and forgotten. Instead, in a plot twist worthy of the films themselves, it was preserved and turned into a tourist attraction, reportedly by people who had worked as extras on those very productions. It is possibly the only time in history that background actors decided to keep the entire town as a souvenir.

MiniHollywood is still occasionally used as a film set. Regular readers will know that I’m a huge Doctor Who fan… and so I was very excited to learn that much of the episode “A Town Called Mercy” was filmed at MiniHollywood and Fort Bravo. Dammit – that was right on our doorstep! But we didn’t move to that area until six months after filming stopped in 2012. The episode was screened in 2014.

Where we are at today

Fast forward to today and Mini Hollywood attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. It offers a curious but enjoyable mix of Wild West streets, stunt shows, a zoo, botanical gardens and swimming pools, because nothing says frontier hardship like a well timed dip.

Now, about that €20 million. The investment marks one of the most significant upgrades in the park’s history and signals a clear intention to modernise the experience without losing the dusty charm that made it famous in the first place.

A large part of the funding is being directed towards sustainability and environmental improvements, which feels particularly relevant given the park’s location in Europe’s only mainland desert. Plans include more efficient water management systems, energy optimisation and upgrades designed to reduce the environmental footprint of the site. In other words, the Wild West is going a little bit green, which is not something Sergio Leone probably saw coming.

The zoological area is also set to benefit from substantial enhancements. The reserve, which already houses more than 200 species, will see improvements to animal habitats, welfare standards and visitor facilities. The aim is to create a more immersive and educational experience, rather than simply a place where you wander from lions to lemurs wondering how you got there from a cowboy shootout.

Visitors can also expect upgrades to infrastructure across the park. This includes improved access, refurbished spaces and modernised amenities, all designed to handle growing visitor numbers more comfortably. In practical terms, this should mean fewer queues, better facilities and a generally smoother experience, though sadly it is unlikely to reduce the number of people attempting to take dramatic slow motion videos in the street.

Technology is another area of focus. The investment is expected to introduce more interactive and digital elements to the visitor experience, helping to bring the history of the films and the setting to life in new ways. This could include enhanced exhibitions, audiovisual displays and possibly even immersive storytelling experiences that go beyond the traditional stunt show format.

Speaking of shows, the entertainment offering is also due for a refresh. While the classic bank robbery and shootout performances are not going anywhere, there are plans to expand and diversify the programme, potentially incorporating new narratives and more elaborate productions. The idea is to give repeat visitors something new to enjoy, while ensuring first timers still get that essential Wild West moment.

A piece of history

There is also a strong cultural angle to the redevelopment. The investment aims to reinforce Mini Hollywood’s role as a living piece of film heritage, highlighting Almería’s importance in the history of cinema. This could involve expanded museum spaces, curated exhibitions and a greater emphasis on the stories behind the films, the people who made them and the impact they had on the region.

All of this comes at a time when interest in film tourism is on the rise. People are increasingly keen to visit real world locations from their favourite films and series, and Mini Hollywood is perfectly placed to benefit. After all, it is not a replica or a themed imitation, it is the genuine article, complete with decades of cinematic history baked into the scenery.

The wider Tabernas Desert is also part of the appeal. Its stark, otherworldly landscape continues to attract filmmakers, photographers and the occasional visitor attempting to recreate a dramatic showdown using nothing but sunglasses and determination. The investment in Mini Hollywood is likely to have a knock on effect for the region, boosting its profile and reinforcing its identity as Europe’s answer to the American West.

Importantly, the redevelopment is not about turning the park into something unrecognisable. The goal appears to be evolution rather than reinvention. The saloons, the dusty streets and the slightly surreal combination of cowboys and cacti are all staying. They are simply being polished, expanded and gently brought into the twenty first century.

So what does this mean for visitors? In short, the same Mini Hollywood, but better organised, more engaging and a bit more future proof. You will still be able to watch a duel at high noon, wander through a film set and question your life choices while standing next to a cactus. You will just do it with improved facilities, enhanced experiences and the comforting knowledge that the place is being looked after for years to come.

Mini Hollywood has always been an oddity, in the best possible sense. A slice of the American Wild West transplanted into southern Spain, kept alive by a mix of history, enthusiasm and a certain refusal to let go of a good idea. With this €20 million investment, it looks set to continue doing exactly that, only with slightly better infrastructure and perhaps fewer splinters in the saloon doors.

And if nothing else, it proves that in Almería, even the Wild West can enjoy a rather successful second act.