Hobbiton Green Dragon Pub for Lord of the Ring Groupies Opens in New Zealand

Prime Minister John Key used giant steel cutters to release the chain on <a href="http://www.hobbitontours.com/hobbiton-movie-set-and-farm-tours/about_idl=1_idt=4756_id=27162_.html">Hobbiton's new Green Dragon Pub</a>. The latest in a string of tourist attractions on the verdant north island farm used to film The Lord of the Rings trilogy in New Zealand, the pub is expected to draw 100,000 visitors following the release of <em>The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey</em>. Albeit quite different than the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/lord-of-the-rings-hobbiton-now-serves-as-sheep-farm/">grass-covered hobbit houses</a> on site, the thatched building boasts all the qualities of a green structure that we love.

A new pub for hobbits opened in New Zealand

The latest in a string of tourist attractions in Hobbiton, the pub opened to the public on 1 December, 2012

The dark interior features an assortment of earthy furnishings

The thatched building is nestled into the rolling green hills

300,000 people have visited The Hobbiton in the last decade

The Prime Minister cut the steel chain on the door at a recent opening ceremony