Europa-Park

Europa-Park
Location	Rust, Germany
Website	www.europapark.de
Owner	the Mack family
Opened	1975
Operating season	April to October, December to January
Area	85 ha (210 acres)
Rides	54 total 10 roller coasters 5 water rides

Europa-Park is the largest theme park in Germany and third most popular theme park resort in Europe. Having over 4.2 million visitors in 2009, it is the second most popular seasonal theme park in the world and is only behind the Tivoli Gardens and Disneyland Paris. Europa-Park is located in Rust, in the south-west of Germany between Freiburg and Strasbourg, France. It is usually open from just before Easter until the beginning of November (summer season) and from the end of November 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 (although Mack do now produce an updated, more compact version of their spinning coaster). One of the few rides that goes against this rule is the 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, - 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 100 km/h (60 mph) through various twists, loops, tunnels and hills. Europa-Park has very high capacity rollercoasters and attractions and the park can accommodate up to approx. 50,000 guests per day.

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 in Greece, a Gladiator Arena Show in Spain, an Acrobatics Show in an Italian Theatre and a fully re-created Globe Theatre, based on that of William Shakespeare. In addition, there are several smaller theatres and outdoor stages, street artists and a daily parade. The Magic 4D Cinema also opens during the evening and shows current blockbusters.

Developments and the future

'2011: There are several new attractions for 2011, including two in the Italian area of the park. 'Piccolo Mondo' takes guests on a gondola ride around Italian cities and landmarks whilst 'Volo da Vinci, which is a new suspended pedal-monorail attraction based on Leonardo da Vinci's flying machines, takes visitors on a tour over some of the leafiest parts of the theme park. There has also been a remodelling and development of the Enchanted Forest between Austria and England with new interactive walkthrough attractions based around the Brothers Grimm, together with a small 3D Cinema and pre-show. A new restaurant has also opened called 'Foodloop' in the English theme area where guests are served food via a series of rollercoaster tracks and loops instead of by waiters. This is the first restaurant in the world where food and drink can be delivered by a system of vertical loops. The park have also invested in new theming - 'World of Trolls' - in and around the Fjord Rafting attraction, new accommodation at the Camp Resort and a new suite in Hotel Colosseo. New for Winter 2011 is a custom made 4D film for the parks Magic Cinema 4D, which will feature an adventure with the park mascots.

2012 On 17th June 2011, Europa-Park announced a major new wooden rollercoaster project for the 2012 season. It will be manufactured by the renowned American coaster manufacturer Great Coasters International. The ride, which will be located in the Iceland theme area, will be 35 metres (115 feet) tall and reach speeds of over 100kmh (63mph) over a course of 1050 metres. The ride will be themed and feature a comprehensive storyline, which is set to be revealed in due course. The rides construction can be viewed by a series of portholes adjacent to the Whale Adventure - Splash Tours ride, in Iceland. In addition to theme park developments, Hotel Bell Rock will be the fifth full scale hotel at the resort, having some 900 beds and 224 rooms and is expected to open in July 2012. The hotel will feature a 35m tall lighthouse, 250 parking spaces and numerous suites together with a bar and restaurant. It is themed around a New England style, based on a colonial English style. Construction will take place throughout 2011 and into 2012.

2013 The park have announced a major new ride for the 2013 season which is believed to be in the Enchanted Forest. A dark ride based around Arthur and the Invisibles is touted, given that the park has launched a working relationship with French director Luc Besson.

Other developments Roland Mack has also stated he wishes to develop a high speed ICE Rail Link to make access to the resort easier. A Water Park is also under consideration, which would be built 1km away at a cost of roughly €100million.

Events

Europa-Park host dozens of events throughout the season. The biggest of these include the Midsummer Party at the end of July, when the theme park hosts a fireworks display and is open until midnight. Horror Nights - Starring Marc Terenzi, takes place through October evenings and features a range of halloween horror mazes, rides and shows. In summer, the park host weekly Beach Parties featuring late night rides on Atlantica Super Splash, music and shows. A complete list of events can be found on the parks website.

Features

Panoramic image of Poseidon

Enchanted Forest (new for 2011)

• Dwarf City - kids fairytale ride.
• Hansel and Gretel House - walkthrough
• Grimm Library - interactive 3D experience with pre-show.
• Sleeping Beauty Castle - walkthrough
• Witches House - walkthrough
• Hydroelectric Power Station - walkthrough

Adventure Land

Essentially the area that comprises everything besides Europe.

• Jungle Rafts - tow boat ride with indoor dark ride section.
• African Queen - steam boat ride.
• Water Fountains - interactive water fountain display.

Atlantica SuperSplash

The Silver Star

Poseidon water ride

Euro-Mir

Euro Sat

Blue Fire

Children's World/Viking Land

• Giant Slide Labyrinth
• Viking Boat Ride
• Viking Ship
• Dino Merry-Go-Round - a carousel ride
• Lighthouse
• Open air childrens theatre - show venue.

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
• Balthasar Castle
• Castle Gardens
• Dancing Fountains
• Old 99 - a tracked ride with a circus theme
• Puppet Boat Ride - circular boats travel through scenes of puppets moving
• Antique Rides - small old fashioned rides for younger children
• Hello/Goodbye Euro-Maus - Meet and greet Europa-Park mascots
• Black Forest House
• Franz Mack statue - memorial to the founder of Europa-Park, who died in 2010

Russia

• Euro-Mir - A one-of-a-kind, high-speed, Mack steel track spinning roller 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 Schneefloeckchen (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.
• Lada Autodrom - a car ride for younger guests (it is, in essence, similar to Silverstone Race Track but for younger children).
• Artisans - craftsman at work with glass blowing and pottery.
• Open air Puppet stage - show venue.

Italy

• Piccolo Mondo - a dark ride around Italy for the whole family (new for 2011).
• Geisterschloss (Ghost Castle) - A spooky dark ride with inspiration from Disney's Haunted Mansion.
• Vola da Vinci - a suspended pedal-monorail attraction based on Leonardo da Vinci's flying machine (new for 2011).
• Carnival in Venice - an electrical bird animatronics display.
• Open air stage - show venue.
• Teatro dell'Arte - show venue.

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 - Hypercoaster 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.
• Universe of Energy - a dinosaur themed dark ride
• Euro-Tower - An observation tower
• Magic Cinema 4D (new custom made film for Winter 2011)
• Open air stage - show venue.

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 roller 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
• Panorama Train - also has stations in other areas.
• EP Express station.
• Hotel Resort - access is available here to Hotels El Andaluz, Castillo Alcazar, Santa Isabel and Colosseo.
• Flamenco stage - show venue.

Netherlands

• Rocking Bridge and Chute
• Piraten in Batavia - A tow boat, indoor pirate dark ride featuring a drop and multiple effects.
• Red Baron - A carousel ride
• Peter Pan - A carousel ride
• Mini Scooter - A kiddie bumper car ride
• Koffiekopjes - A spinning coffee cup ride
• Bouncy House
• Ball Pool
• Windmill
• Childrens theatre - show venue.
• Bamboe Baai stage - show venue.

Switzerland

• Matterhorn Blitz - Wild mouse roller coaster featuring the largest drop of any wild mouse in the world and a rocking vertical lift. Themed around a Swiss Farmhouse.
• Swiss Bob Run - Bobsled roller 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 & Valasian Parlours - a recreated Swiss street with shops and restaurants.

Greece

• Cassandra's Curse - A madhouse type indoor illusion ride with special effects.
• 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 recreated Acropolis temple.
• Atlantis Adventure - Interactive dark ride
• Greek Village Mykonos
• The Flight of Ikarus - A balloon ride
• EP Express station.
• Ice Arena - show venue.

Britain

• 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
• Europa-Park Historama - a Multimedia journey into the history of the park with special effects.
• Historama Museum - exhibition about the history of Europa-Park and Mack Rides.
• Monorail - Transport ride to Iceland.
• Panoramic Train - also has stations in other areas.
• Globe Theatre - show venue.

Austria

• Alpenexpress - Powered roller coaster which is themed like a Mine Train roller coaster and 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
  

  

  Iceland
• Vienna 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 with animatronics

Iceland

• Blue Fire - launched roller coaster 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.
• Whale Adventures Splash Tours - Splash Battle Interactive water ride with animatronic theming and themed fishing port.
• Gazprom Hall - Exhibition hall featuring interactive exhibits about the world of Gas Supply. Comprises a Café-Bar, Toilets and Conference facilities.
• Litill Island - Interactive water playground sponsored by Hansgrohe.
• Monorail - Transport ride to the Historama in England.
• Iceland Museum - viewing area for the Blue Fire launch zone and other Icelandic artefacts.
• Icelandic Village - a range of shops, catering outlets and games units.

• Wooden Coaster 2012 - under construction. Opens March 31st 2012.

Europa-Park Resort

Europa-Park is home to four resort hotels, with a 5th under construction (opening summer 2012). For guests on a lower budget, the resort also has a large Camp Resort, where guests can stay in a Tipi, Chuck Wagon or Log Cabin provided they bring their own sleeping bag. Camping and caravaning is also provided for, next to the Camp Resort.

• Hotel Colosseo (**** Superior)
• Hotel Santa Isabel (**** Superior)
• Hotel El Andaluz (****)
• Hotel Castillo Alcazar (****)
• Guesthouse Rolando
• Europa-Park Camp Resort and Tipi Village
• Santa Isabel Wellness and Spa
• Colosseo Wellness and Spa
• Europa-Park Golf
• Magic Cinema 4D (evenings)
• Confertainment

• Hotel Bell Rock - under construction, opens 2012

External links

• (English) Europa-Park (Official English Site)
• (German) Europa-Park (Official Site)
• Park location via Google Maps
• (English) UK web site for Europa-Park Breaks
• (German) Terenzi Horror Nights Site
• (Croatian) Europa-Park Fun page (Fun Croatian Blog)