Lego Systems to sell theme parks

Denmark's family owned Lego Systems company is selling its four theme parks.

Big financial losses are forcing the company to sell parks in Billund, Denmark; Windsor, England; Carlsbad, Calif.; and Gunzburg, Germany, Deutsche Welle reported Thursday.

Their parks, the first of which opened in 1968, feature such attractions as miniature replicas of cities and safari parks with animals and dinosaurs, all made out of millions of Legos. The asking price was not disclosed.

Lego cut hundreds of jobs last year and is considering moving some production to eastern Europe or Asia, which have lower wages. They had not done so before because of a loyalty to the Danish city of Billund, where they employ thousands.

Lego was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Christiansen, who began with wooden toys. In 1958, the company made its first Lego bricks, which went on to become one of the most popular toys of all time.

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