Europa Park: Explained - Part 2
Since its debut in 1975, Europa Park has expanded at a seemingly ever increasing rate.
Currently the resort is currently home to 5 hotels, as well as over 100 different attractions,
including 13 roller coasters.
However, this wasn’t always the case.
After the construction of Silver Star in 2002, Europa Park continued to develop, installing
both new rides and areas.
2005 saw the debut of a 2nd water coaster, Atlantica Supersplash, within the newly built
Portugal section of the resort.
Atlantica SuperSplash takes guests up to a great height before they plummet over an airtime
hill and into a trough of water, soaking the riders onboard.
A single year later, Europa Park constructed yet another family roller coaster, Pegasus.
The attraction became MACK Rides first Youngstar Coaster, the company’s own take on the classic
family roller coaster model.
However, several years later in 2009 the park installed an attraction that put MACK Rides
on the thrill coaster map.
Expanding their offering, Europa Park constructed Blue Fire Megacoaster, the resort’s first
inverting roller coaster.
Blue Fire became MACK’s signature ride, demonstrating their launch coaster model for
the first time.
After traversing a dark ride section, riders are accelerated to the top speed of 100kmh/62mph
in 2.5 seconds.
They then navigate a mixture of turns, twists and inversions.
Blue Fire opened to the public within the newly built Iceland section of the resort,
sponsored by Russian energy company Gazprom.
It showcased MACK’s ability to create a comfortable and exciting launch coaster, sparking
the production of many Blue Fire clones.
In 2011, Europa Park debuted the world’s first roller restaurant, FoodLoop.
After using a tablet to complete your order, the food is delivered to each table via a
series of roller coaster tracks above the heads of guests.
Each order leaves the kitchen before sometimes undergoing a vertical loop and makes its way
to the correct table for you to enjoy!
After Blue Fire, Europa Park weren’t quite finished improving their thrill coaster line-up.
In 2012 Wodan Timbur Coaster, a Great Coasters International ride opened to guests, becoming
the park’s first wooden roller coaster.
The attraction was constructed next to Blue Fire and Atlantica SuperSplash, even interacting
with its neighbouring coasters multiple times during the experience.
Riders of Wodan first traverse through an immersive queue line themed to Norse Mythology.
After boarding the ride, they’re then subjected to a fast paced experience full of quick transitions
and many small pops of airtime.
Two years later the park continued to expand their family offering by installing Arthur,
MACK Rides’ first inverted powered coaster.
The attraction features suspended seats which can spin independently, allowing guests to
both view dark ride scenes, and be subject to fast roller coaster like speeds.
As its name suggests, Arthur is part of an entire area themed to the children’s book
Arthur and the Minimoys, allowing guests to experience their miniature-world.
2016 saw the construction of two news areas of the park, as well as a mixture of new attractions.
Luxembourg debuted alongside the newly built children’s area, Ireland.
Within this area can be found a large indoor play area, several family flat rides and the
small scale roller coaster, Ba-a-a Express.
A single year later Europa Park debuted Voletarium, Europe’s largest flying theatre.
On the ride guests can experience a breathtaking flight across Europe and even the park itself.
Unfortunately however, developments at the resort haven’t always been positive.
On the 26th of May 2018, a fire broke out between the Dutch and Scandinavian themed
areas.
After many hours the fire had engulfed a significant portion of the resort, burning the entire
Scandinavian themed section, as well as the Pirates of Batavia boat ride to the ground.
Fortunately no one was severely injured.
The park quickly responded to the problem by evacuating the affected areas, and then
the entire resort, as the fire spread.
Several weeks after the incident Europa Park stated that they would rebuild the Scandinavia
section, and the Pirates of Batavia boat ride, for the 2019 and 2020 seasons respectively.
This is on top of the current plans to open a brand new water park, and themed hotel,
for the 2019 season also.
The immersive water resort, named Rulantica, will feature a total of 25 attractions, including
17 water slides, Germany’s biggest wave pool and a relaxing mystery river.
Looking to the distant future, the park have expressed an interest in constructing another
large scale thrill coaster for either the 2020, or 2021 season.
The new addition will be built by MACK Rides, but the exact model is currently unknown.
Throughout the year, Europa Park is also home to a variety of seasonal events.
Surrounding October the resort is transformed into a Halloween Haven, full of countless
pumpkins, straw bales and skeletons.
On top of this, guests can also experience Horror Nights - Traumatica.
During this event, visitors enter 5 post-apocalyptic themed scare mazes, as well as a range of
other attractions.
Towards the end of the year, the park becomes a Winter wonderland, filled with festive charm.
The resort is transformed with thousands of fairy lights and hundreds of Christmas trees,
creating a magical atmosphere.
A large ferris wheel is also installed at the park, allowing guests to see fantastic
panoramic of Europa-Park illuminated against the night sky.
Furthermore, visitors can experience a range of shows, and even ride some of the resort’s
best attractions.
Over its lifetime the purpose of Europa Park has evolved.
Initially a show-floor for MACK Rides products, the Resort has become a world class theme
park offering a range of exciting experiences for all of the family to enjoy.
So much so, Europa Park has been voted as the world’s best amusement park for the
last 5 years within the Golden Ticket Awards poll.
With the resort’s focus on quality attractions, and ability to constantly develop, it’s
likely that Europa Park will continue to remain one of the best overall theme park experiences
within Europe and even the world.
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