Yorkshire Dales Monopoly game to be created

It has been announced that The Yorkshire Dales has won a world-wide ‘beauty contest’ to land its very own official MONOPOLY board.

 The region has triumphed over scenic locales such as The Amazon Rainforest, The Grand Canyon of the US and the Serengeti National Park in Africa.

The ‘beauty contest’ was conducted by Winning Moves, who make official MONOPOLY versions all over the world under license from Hasbro, a toy and game company.  The news of the latest unique spin on the world’s most famous board game comes as it was revealed yesterday that the Yorkshire Dales has seen off nine other areas of outstanding beauty across the world. Key factors taken into consideration by the games’ bosses in this contest were:  ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ ; ‘Stunning Landmarks’ and ‘Tourist Appeal’.

Winning Moves Custom Games Executive John Keen-Tomlinson says: “We are very excited by the challenge of putting this unique board for the Yorkshire Dales together. With crown jewels like The National Park, Bolton Abbey and Malham Cove we expect to be wonderfully spoiled for choices producing this edition of the world’s most famous board game.”

The public is getting to have its say on this board. They are being invited to: 

NOMINATE more than 30 Yorkshire Dales landmarks to feature on the famous multi-coloured MONOPOLY squares from the classic London game.  

SELECT customised tokens. A pair of walking boots could replace the famous MONOPOLY boot. A bicycle, a slab of drystone wall and a slice of Wensleydale cheese look other front-runners too. “The choice is bountiful,” says a delighted Mr Keen-Tomlinson.  

DECIDE on the themes of the sets. All the MONOPOLY sets will be customised to the Dales, spanning tourism and heritage .. to leisure and hotels and lots more. 

SUGGEST ideas the Chance and Community Chest cards. One could fine players for ‘Wild Camping’ without prior permission.

The game’s designers predict that famous landmarks of the Yorkshire Dales featured on the board could include The Yorkshire Dales National Park, Bolton Abbey, Malham Cove, the Ribblehead Viaduct, Buttertubs Pass, Jervaulx Abbey and Skipton Castle.

The four train stations are very likely to include Bolton Abbey, Skipton and Embsay train stations.

But the public is getting to decide. Nominations are underway for the public to suggest landmarks, customised cards and some of the tokens to feature in the game. You can nominate by email to: dales@winningmoves.co.uk  or on the official MONOPOLY: Yorkshire Dales Edition game Facebook page. The deadline for nominations is 23.59pm on 31^st August 2023.

Over the last 25 years Winning Moves has produced official versions of MONOPOLY from Palm Springs to Sydney and Dubai to Dublin. Now the dice are rolling on the Yorkshire Dales. In the original MONOPOLY game there is a famous Community Chest card which declares: ‘You have won second prize in a beauty contest. Collect £10.’  Well now the Yorkshire Dales has very much won FIRST prize!

The MONOPOLY: Yorkshire Dales Edition is scheduled to hit shops next spring (2024).