Europa-Park is the most popular theme park in Germany. Having over 4 million visitors in 2008, it is the most popular seasonal theme park in the world.[] Europa-Park is located in Rust, in the south-west of Germany between Freiburg and Strasbourg. It is usually open from just before Easter until the beginning of November (summer season) and from the start of December to the second week in January (winter season).
The park is split into fifteen different areas, mostly named
after European countries or regions. The park mascot is a grey
mouse named "Euromaus" although there are over a dozen other
characters that "live" at the park.
Europa-Park is run by the Mack family which have produced
vehicles since 1780, circus wagons since 1880 and rollercoasters
since 1921. The park was opened in 1975 to act as a showcase for
many of their different ride models - for example, the Wild Mouse
roller coaster. The amusement ride company is now called MACK
Rides. This explains why the park has two of their water
coaster models (one a Super Splash model) and is home to the
one-of-a-kind Euro-Mir. One of the few rides that goes against this
rule is the relatively new Silver Star hyper coaster, designed by
B&M of Switzerland. This is presumably because Mack doesn't yet
offer a hyper coaster model, although they are now developing
taller and faster rollercoasters.
The park is home to ten roller coasters, the oldest being the
Alpenexpress Mine Train, where a powered coaster speeds through a
diamond mine, complete with fire and smoke - and the newest coaster
being Blue Fire which sees the trains navigate a short dark ride
inside an Energy Research complex before being launched at 100kph
through various twists, loops, tunnels and hills. The theme park is
well respected world wide by enthusiasts for its commitment to
keeping queue's short by running rides efficiently and dispatching
trains without delay.
Along with the park and rides, Europa-Park is also a major
resort. It boasts four hotels, a guest house, Tipi Village and
campsite. The largest hotel is called Colosseo which includes a
re-creation of a Roman colosseum.
Across the park, there are many shows performed on a daily
basis, such as an Ice Show, a Gladiator Show, an Acrobatics Show in
an Italianate Theatre and a fully re-created Globe Theatre, based
on that of William Shakespeare. The Magic 4D Cinema also opens
during the evening and shows current blockbusters.
Developments and the
future
In 2007, the park introduced 'Terenzi Horror Nights' based on an
idea by popstar Marc Terenzi and Michael Mack. The idea is to bring
the American idea of Halloween to Germany. These
returned in 2008, attracting double the number of guests. In 2009,
the attraction further boosted visitor numbers and moved into the
Greek area of the park.
Also in 2009 the park opened their first looping rollercoaster,
and biggest ride investment to date. It is a prototype launched
roller coaster named Blue Fire. Constructed by Mack Rides, it
features 4 inversions as part of a 10-15 hectare extension to the
park. The ride forms part of the Iceland themed area and features a
short dark ride pre-launch section. The ride boasts a capacity of
over 1,700 people per hour and features unique trains which allow
very good body movement and comfort.
For 2010, the park has revealed plans for new developments
located between Atlantica Super Splash and Blue Fire - within the
Iceland area of the park. The park will open a Splash Battle from
Mack rides, similar to Battle Galleons at Alton Towers
in England. It will take on the theme of a fishing port and be
named 'Whale Watching'. The park will also extend the smaller of
the two Monorail attractions to the Icelandic area, complete with
new themed station. GazProm will also sponsor Blue Fire for 2010,
and a new exhibition hall will be built based on the theme of
Energy to tie in with the 2009 rollercoaster. Further developments
for 2010 include a Tipi Village extension, Portuguese theming
improvements and new restaurants.
Beyond 2010, the park will construct a new hotel and further
attractions, possibly to include a water park.
Features
Panoramic image of Poseidon
Adventure
Land
Essentially the area that comprises everything besides
Europe.
- Jungle Rafts
- Mississippi Steamer
- Dwarf City
- Fairy Tale Alley
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Children's World/Viking
Land
- Giant Slide Labyrinth
- Viking Boat Ride
- Viking Ship
- Dino Merry-Go-Round - a carousel ride
- Lighthouse
Germany
- Elf Ride - A tow boat ride with a dark ride section
- Vintage Cars - A car ride
- Panorama Train - Also has stations in other areas
- EP-Express - A monorail. Also has stations in Greece, Spain and
Hotel Resort
- Castle Pavilon
- Magical Garden
- Old 99
Russia
-
Euro-Mir - A one-of-a-kind, high-speed, Mack steel track
spinning coaster, based around Russian Space Missions. The spinning
is controlled and only happens during some parts of the ride. The
ride features indoor dark-ride elements, back-to-back seating, an
indoor spiral lifthill, a techno soundtrack, and one of the longest
ride times of any roller coaster. The Mir space station training
module is located above the outdoor queue for the ride.
- Mir Space Station
- Radio Telescope
- Schlittenfahrt Schneeflockchen (Snowflake Ride) - a short dark
ride through a Siberian landscape. The ride features a folklore
theme and has been nicknamed "BENCH: The Ride" for its park bench
style cars.
Italy
- Ciao Bambini - A family dark ride, suitable for young
children
- Ghost Castle (Geisterschloss) - A spooky dark ride with
inspiration from Disney's Haunted Mansion
- Mack Exhibition - A gallery of Mack ride models and Europa
Park's history
- Electric Bird Theatre
France
-
EuroSat - Indoor coaster themed around space travel.
Located inside a large geodesic sphere structure, similar to
Spaceship Earth (Epcot) at Walt Disney World's Epcot. The ride itself is
similar to Disney's Space Mountain, except that the train is made
up of many more cars, and it features a spiral lift hill. The
ride's techno soundtrack was composed by Stark Fader, with "In A
Second Orbit" being the song that plays during the ride and "Sat
Race" being the song in the gift shop.
-
Silver Star - Megacoaster and Europe's highest and third
fastest roller coaster. Built by Bolliger and Mabillard of
Switzerland. One of the few non-Mack rides featured at the park,
presumably because Mack doesn't feature a hyper coaster model. The
ride is sponsored by Mercedes-Benz. Within the ride's hall there is
a coffee shop, a gift shop, and a small-size museum that features a
full scale replica of a Mercedes-Benz Formula One car.
- Puppet Boat Ride
- Universe of Energy - a dinosaur themed dark ride
- Euro-Tower - An observation tower
- Magic Cinema 4D: Sammy's Great Adventure (changes at Halloween
and Christmas)
Scandinavia
- Fjord-Rafting - A river rapids ride through caverns and
waterfalls
- Sunken City "Vineta" - A small walk-through indoor display
- Vindjammer - A swinging ship ride
- Rocking Bridge
- Cable Ferry
- Norwegian Stave Church
- Andersen's Fairy Tale Tower
- Fishing Village
Portugal
- Atlantica SuperSplash - High-speed water ride themed around
Portuguese explorers. The boats are a higher capacity than
Poseidon, and it doesn't feature any high speed turns as on
Poseidon, but still has enough time on the coaster track that it
can be considered a coaster.
- Casa D'Aventura - An Indoor-Playground for Kids.
- Atlantica-Shower - A wooden runway where the visitors can wait
for the next boat of "Atlantica" plunging into the lake and soak
them to the bones.
- Santa Marian - A sailing ship which includes a bar
Spain
- Columbus Dinghy - A Seastorm ride which travels backwards and
forwards
- Feria Swing - A spinning, high speed carousel ride.
- Adventure Playground
Holland
- Rocking Bridge and Chute
- Pirates in Batavia - A tow boat, indoor dark ride featuring a
drop and multiple effects.
- Red Baron - A carousel ride
- Peter Pan - A carousel ride
- Monorail
- Mini Scooter - A kiddie bumper car ride
- Koffiekopjes - A spinning coffee cup ride
- Bouncy House
- Ball Pool
- Windmill
Switzerland
- Matterhorn Blitz - Wild mouse featuring the largest drop of any
wild mouse in the world and a rocking vertical lift. Themed around
a Swiss Farmhouse.
- Swiss Bob Run - Bobsleigh coaster. One of the few ones of this
model to feature a regular style drop. This was a Worlds First when
it opened.
- Jungfrau Gletscherflieger - A high speed spinning plane
ride
- Swiss Village & Parlours
Greece
- Cassandra's Curse - A madhouse type indoor illusion ride
- Pegasus - Family coaster themed around an archeological
dig
- Poseidon - High-speed water coaster with incredibly detailed
theming, such as the Trojan Horse, and the station being located
inside a Grecian temple.
- Atlantis Adventure - Interactive dark ride
- Greek Village Mykonos
- The Flight of Ikarus - A balloon ride
England
- Silverstone Race Track - A car ride
- The British Carousel
- Crazy Taxi - A demolition derby carousel ride
- London Bus - A magic carpet ride
- Arena of Football - A football exhibition, sports bar and
Adidas shop
- Soccer Scooter - Dodgems ride located in the Arena of
Football
Austria
- Alpenexpress - Rollercoaster which includes a trip inside the
World of Diamonds (which can also be viewed by foot). Makes two
trips through its relatively short course to form a complete run,
or three on a quiet day
- Silvretta Nova Wave Swinger - A Chairswing ride
- Tirol Log Flume - A traditional log flume ride through the
World of Diamonds
- Magic World of Diamonds - A walk through attraction
Iceland
- Blue Fire - launched rollercoaster with several inversions,
onboard sound, heartrate monitor and unique restraint system.
Includes various headchopper effects and a dark ride section with a
variety of special effects.
- Icelandic Village
References
External
links
