Future Time Machine takes travellers back in time

A working telephone booth, a cosmonaut’s helmet, a mini-oven for one cup of tea, centuries-old equipment for a hairdresser’s salon – these are just some of the vintage things that surprise visitors of the adventure and inspiration place “Nākotnes parks” in the antiques repository and workshop “Laika mašīna” in Glūdas parish, Zemgale. And you can not only see them, but also touch them and even try them out! We are already offering you to take 10 steps into the past and get to know some of the exhibits!

Still working phone booth

Is it possible to communicate from the past to the present? Yes, and the Future Time Machine proves it! Visitors to Future Park can call their friends and relatives from a telephone booth made in 1952 and equipped with a 1970s pay phone. The old telephone booth made its way to Zemgale from Dau-Gavpils, where it was saved from the scrap heap during the times of change by collector Vladimirs, who set up a museum on his farm.

Windows with an aura of antiquity

As you approach the Time Machine building, you’ll immediately notice the rounded, colourful mosaic-like windows. Inside the building, which has an aura of antiquity, they look even more spectacular as they create a magical play of colours, especially in sunny weather. The windows, dating from around 1885, come from the historic Liepaja Oil Extraction Factory and still have their original glass. If you come to visit, you too will be able to watch the light play!

Astronaut helmet

No matter what, the astronaut helmet will have to stay in the Time Machine! It attracts the attention of both young and old visitors, because who hasn’t dreamt of going into space as a child?! This helmet was used in the 1970s by supersonic aircraft pilots flying into near space. In “Time Machine” you can not only see the helmet, but also feel it!

Omes fridge

The changing exhibition “Time Machine” features a 1957 refrigerator “Dņepr” in a cosy shape. The owner of the antiques repository, collector Andris Karičkins, has warm childhood memories of it. He restored the old fridge, and now it has the look of a stylish vintage item that would fit perfectly into even a modern interior. “When you turn on the fridge, it buzzes like a bee, but the enges still squeak like they did when I was a kid, when you could always find shelter in my mum’s cosy kitchen after you’d worked up a sweat,” says Andris. But what’s on the fridge shelves? Come and find out!

Wooden “Iz”

The shiny and handsome 1949 iron trunk, popularly known as the wooden hedgehog because of its ponderous gait, was the first exhibit in the impressive motorcycle collection of Future Park. This ride came from an owner who did not want to keep it because of painful childhood memories. It turns out that his father cared deeply about the motorcycle collection, so children were not allowed to see it on their own, let alone touch it! But what boy isn’t interested in motorcycles?! So there were infractions, and the perpetrator was often fined. But in the “Future Park”, you can both touch and climb on the retro equipment. Book a tour and see for yourself!

The most expensive TV

The “Time Machine” features perhaps the most expensive Soviet-era TV! Why the most expensive? Because it was flown from Latgale to Zemgale by helicopter! At one time, in many homes, the TV set was a place of honour, because in the evenings it brought the whole family together to watch Panorama on the black and white screen, to cheer for hockey or to follow the progress of the multi-series film “Four Tankers and a Dog”. But the TV is about to undergo an extraordinary transformation – it will be equipped with much newer technology and will soon be able to watch Netflix. Young people will appreciate it!

Centuries-old hairdressing salon equipment

Can you imagine how ladies 100 years ago got their modern hairstyles? A completely fresh and unused hairdressing salon, decorated with the year 1900, will certainly help you imagine it. It turns out that ladies’ hair was dried with an electric, helmet-like hairdryer even then, and the metal basin is similar in shape to modern analogues. This hairdressing salon equipment was found intact in the attic of a building on Krišjāņa Barona Street in Riga!

Mini oven

Have you ever seen a tiny stove for heating a single cup of tea, a prototype of a real stove with both a chimney and an ash tray? There is one such exhibit in the “Time Machine”! It is particularly popular among hardened travellers who have considered using this mini stove to heat their tents.

Pharmacy cabinet with added value

“The huge and dark wooden medicine cabinet of the Time Machine, where the various medicine bottles are stored, can only be seen in historical films and in a medical museum. The collector Andris acquired it from the owner of an old house in Riga. And everyone was in for a surprise – later, while restoring the wardrobe, they found a stash of money. The “Time Machine” thus became a great addition to the collection – 1722. Coins of the year!

Gramophone for life’s beautiful moments

And finally, the suitcase-type gramophone – a typical attribute of green balls and parties 20. gs. 40.-50. years. For the generation of grandparents and great-grandparents, the gramophone evokes the joy of youth and parties till sunset. Arriving at the Time Machine, the younger generation will be able to see and listen to their ancestors’ Spotify, whose songs changed depending on the availability of vinyl records.

And more – a moped “Rīga 12” as in the famous film “A Gift for a Lonely Woman”, a world map die, a 140-year-old steam-powered lathe, a century-old metal-cutting guillotine, an 1885. The year’s Karosta ladders, large scales made in the famous Silkeborg factory in Denmark.

It is better to see once than to hear a hundred times, so come and visit the adventure and inspiration place “Nākotnes parks” in Jelgava municipality, Gluda parish!

The antiquities repository and workshop “Time Machine” is one of the attractions of the future adventure and inspiration place “Future Park”, where you can see evidence of the past and take part in creative clay clay-making workshops. “Future Park is the place for families, colleagues and friends to relax! Tourists are therefore also welcome to visit the picturesque apple orchard “Apple Trees and Bees”, explore the magical world of helicopters at the helicopter maintenance centre and the “Safe Future Flight” airfield, and taste “Giant!” and “Nature dots” products. See you there!

Guided tours are organised on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, but you can picnic in the apple orchard on other days. Advance reservation is required by phone: +371 25713949 or e-mail: info@nakotnesparks.lv

Address: “Industrial park”, Gluda municipality, Jelgava region, LV-3040

Ticket prices:

• Adults and children (from the age of three) – 8 euros
• Family ticket (two adults and one child) – €22
• Family ticket (two adults and two children or one + three) – €28. For each additional child (from the age of 3), who is listed on the “3+ Family Card”, admission is € 4

The ticket price includes the tour as well as “Giant!” and “Dabas dots” product tastings.

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