Walibi Holland

Last updated
Walibi Holland
Previously known as Walibi World (2005–2010)
Six Flags Holland (2000–2004)
Walibi Flevo (1994–1999)
Flevohof (1971–1991)
Walibi logo.png
Location Biddinghuizen, Flevoland, Netherlands
Coordinates 52°26′24″N5°45′45″E / 52.44000°N 5.76250°E / 52.44000; 5.76250
Opened1971 (1971), Flevohof (old park)
Owner Compagnie des Alpes
General managerMascha van Till-Taminiau
SloganHard gaan
Operating seasonApril - October
Attractions
TotalMore than 40
Roller coasters7
Water rides3
Other ridesca. 30
Website Official website

Walibi Holland (previously called Flevohof, Walibi Flevo, Six Flags Holland and Walibi World) is a theme park in Biddinghuizen, Netherlands.

Contents

History

The park was opened in 1971 as 'Flevohof'. It was an educational theme park themed after agriculture and farming. Having struggled to compete with more modern family attractions, Flevohof went bankrupt in 1993, and was subsequently purchased by the Walibi Group that autumn, who redeveloped the site as an amusement park. After a major winter-long programme of reconstruction the park reopened as Walibi Flevo on 7 May 1994, featuring the world's first Vekoma suspended looping coaster (SLC), El Condor. [1] The park also adopted the wallaby mascot of its sister park, Walibi Wavre in Belgium created in 1975 by Eddy Meeùs, a Belgian businessman. (The name 'Walibi', incidentally, is derived from the first two letters of three towns in Belgium put together to form a single word: Wavre - Limal - Bierges).

The Walibi parks, including Bellewaerde in Belgium, were purchased by Premier Parks Inc. in 1998, who subsequently overhauled the Flevo park, removing the 'Walibi' branding and building thirty new attractions as part of its transformation into Six Flags Holland in 2000. Six Flags's nominal expansion into Europe saw a similar refurbishment of the Belgian Walibi theme park, which was renamed to Six Flags Belgium. Both parks benefiting from the group's rights to use Warner Brothers characters within them, leading to the creation of a Looney Tunes-themed area and a powered-launch coaster themed around popular comic figure Superman, later changed to the Xpress.

In 2004, Six Flags Holland and its sister parks were purchased by financiers Palamon Capital Partners, who grouped the attractions under the name "StarParks". The park reverted to Walibi branding in 2005; numerous attractions having been rebranded as the sale of the parks also meant the loss of any references to Looney Tunes and DC Comics characters rights.

In the second half of 2006, the parks were sold for the second time in as many years to the French group Grévin & Cie (Compagnie des Alpes), most notably the operators of the French themed resort Parc Astérix, who also purchased two other Dutch attractions - the Dolfinarium Harderwijk and Avonturenpark Hellendoorn. In 2011 the park was renamed as Walibi Holland, which introduced new mascots.

The adjacent associated event grounds were originally developed with Scouting Nederland for the EuroJam 1994 and the 18th World Scout Jamboree in 1995. It is or has been the location of many festivals such as the Lowlands music festival and the Defqon.1 music festival.

Attractions

Present rides

Roller coasters

NameOpenedManufacturerTypeNotes
Drako1992 Zierer Family roller coaster Rattlesnake (2011-2013)

Wok's Waanzin (2005-2010)

Road Runner Express (2000-2004)

Keverbaan (1992-1999)

Condor 1994 Vekoma Inverted roller coaster El Condor (1994-2013)
Speed of Sound 2000 Vekoma Boomerang La Via Volta (2000-2007)
Xpress: Platform 13 2000 Vekoma Launched roller coaster Xpress (2005-2013)

Superman The Ride (2000-2004)

A clone of Rock N' Roller Coaster at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Goliath 2002 Intamin Mega Coaster
Lost Gravity 2016 Mack Rides Big Dipper
Untamed 2019 Rocky Mountain Construction Hybrid roller coaster RMC conversion of Robin Hood (2000-2018)
Eat My Dust2023 Zamperla Junior Coaster J2SK 200m

Thrill rides

NameOpenedManufacturerTypeNotes
Blast2000 HUSS Top SpinExcalibur (2000-2018)
G-Force1998 HUSS Enterprise
Space Shot 1998 S&S Worldwide Space Shot Tower
Spinning Vibe2000 HUSS HUSS MagicIl Gladiatore (2000-2010)
Skydiver2002 FunTime Skydiver
The Tomahawk2000 SBF Visa Dance Party

Family rides

NameOpenedManufacturerTypeNotes
Fibi's Bubble Swirl2000 SBF Visa Wonder FlightSpotted Bubbles (2005-2010)

Elmer's Weather Balloons (2000-2004)

Haaz Garage2000 SBF Visa Big FootRocky's Trucks (2005-2010)

Bugs Bunny's Trucking Company (2000-2004)

La Grande Roue2000 Vekoma Giant Ferris Wheel
Le Tour Des Jardins2000 Chance Rides Antique Cars
Los Sombreros1994 Soriani & Moser Mexican Fiesta
Merlin's Magic Castle2000 Vekoma Madhouse
Merrie Go'Round1992 SBF Visa CarouselCavalli Barocca (2000-2010)

Galopant (1992-1999)

Pavillon de Thé2000 Chance Rides Teacups
Space Kidz2000 SBF Visa Tweety's ClubhouseOscar's Treehouse (2005-2008)

Tweety's Tweehouse (2000-2004)

Super Swing1992 Zierer SwingsPiccolini (2000-2010)

Wave Swinger (1992-1999)

Squad's Stunt Flight1994 SBF Visa Red BaronJoe's Stunt Kite (2005-2010)

Yosemite Sam's Flight School (2000-2004)

Red Baron (1994-1999)

Tequilla Taxi's2000 SBF Visa Bumper CarsSpeedy's Taxis (2000-2004)
WAB World Tour2000 SBF Visa Looney Tooter TrainHorn (2005-2010)

Looney Toones Tooter (2000-2004)

Walibi Express1994 Chance C.P. Huntington TrainSix Flags Express (2000-2004)

WALIBI Express (1994-1999)

Flevohof Train (19??-1992)

Walibi's Fun Recorder2000 SBF Visa Crazy CarsKoa's Komische Carts (2005-2010)

Taz's Traffic Jam (2000-2004)

Zen's Graffity Shuttle2000 SBF Visa Flying CoachFunny Lily (2005-2010)

Daffy's Crazy Bus (2000-2004)

Wind Seekers2023 Zamperla Magic Bike

Water rides

NameOpenedManufacturerType
Crazy River1994 Mack Rides Log Flume
El Rio Grande1994 Vekoma River Rapids
Splash Battle2005 Preston & Barbieri Interactive Boat Ride

Former rides / attractions

NameOpenedClosedManufacturerTypeNotes
Aztec20002009 HUSS Rainbow Demolished due to other Rainbows having issues.
Boris Klauter Island20052010 Playground
Double Inverter20002004 Chance Double InverterMoved to Walibi Rhone Alps
El Toro20002006 HUSS Breakdance Moved to Bellewaerde
Flying Dutchman Gold Mine 20002010 Mack Rides Steel Wild Mouse Coaster Moved to La Mer de Sable as Tiger Express
Kids Playground20052013Soft PlayPetanqueBoris Factory Balls (2005-2010)
Safari1982?1999Whirlgig
Sherwood's Revenge19952006 HUSS Tri-StarMoved to La Mer de Sable as Peroke
Tornado20002004 Chance ChaosMoved to Walibi Aquitaine as Kosmic
Hudson Bay19942016 HUSS Pirate ShipReplaced by Lost Gravity
Waikki Wave19951999 Vekoma Waikiki WaveReplaced by Excalibur
Robin Hood20002018 Vekoma Wooden CoasterReplaced by Untamed
Karting20002022Go Kart TrackRace Way Go Karts (2000-2010). Replaced by Eat my Dust and Wind Seekers

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Six Flags</span> American entertainment company based in Arlington, Texas

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, formerly Six Flags Theme Parks, Inc., is an American amusement park corporation, headquartered in Arlington, Texas. It has properties in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Six Flags owns the most theme parks and waterparks combined of any amusement-park company and has the seventh highest attendance in the world. The company operates 27 properties throughout North America, including theme parks, amusement parks, water parks, and a family entertainment center. In 2019, Six Flags properties hosted 32.8 million guests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Six Flags Great Adventure</span> Theme park in Jackson, New Jersey

Six Flags Great Adventure is an amusement park located approximately 20 miles southeast of Trenton in Jackson, New Jersey. Owned and operated by Six Flags, the park complex is situated between New York City and Philadelphia and includes a water park named Hurricane Harbor. It first opened to the public as simply Great Adventure in 1974 under the direction of restaurateur Warner LeRoy. Six Flags acquired the park in 1977. The park is located right off of Interstate 195 and is along Monmouth Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Six Flags America</span> Amusement park in Maryland

Six Flags America is a theme park and waterpark located in the Woodmore CDP of Prince George's County, Maryland, near Upper Marlboro, adjacent to the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Six Flags Darien Lake</span> Amusement park in Corfu, New York

Six Flags Darien Lake is a 1,200-acre (4.86 km2) amusement park and resort located in Corfu, New York, off of Interstate 90 between Buffalo and Rochester. Six Flags Darien Lake features a theme park, water park, campground and lodging. It is owned by EPR Properties and operated by Six Flags.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geauga Lake</span> Defunct amusement park in Ohio

Geauga Lake was an amusement park in Bainbridge Township and Aurora, Ohio. It was established in 1887, in what had been a local recreation area adjacent to a lake of the same name. The first amusement ride was added in 1889, and the park's first roller coaster – the Big Dipper – was built in 1925. The park was sold to Funtime, Inc., in 1969 and was expanded over the years with additional rides and amenities. Funtime was acquired by Premier Parks in 1995, and for the 2000 season, they re-branded Geauga Lake as Six Flags Ohio, adding four new roller coasters. The following year, Six Flags bought the adjacent SeaWorld Ohio and combined the two parks under the name Six Flags Worlds of Adventure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Six Flags New England</span> Theme park in Agawam, Massachusetts

Six Flags New England, formerly known as Gallup's Grove (1870–1886), Riverside Grove (1887–1911), Riverside Park (1912–1995) and Riverside: The Great Escape (1996–2000), is an amusement park located in Agawam, Massachusetts. Opening in the late 19th century, it is the oldest amusement park in the Six Flags chain, acquired by Premier Parks in 1996 and rebranded Six Flags New England in 2000. Superman The Ride is among the park's most notable rides, having appeared as a highly ranked roller coaster in the annual Golden Ticket Awards from Amusement Today since the ride opened in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Six Flags Over Georgia</span> Theme park in Austell, Georgia

Six Flags Over Georgia is a 290-acre (1.2 km2) theme park located in Austell. Opened in 1967, it is the second park in the Six Flags chain following the original Six Flags Over Texas, which opened in 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Six Flags Fiesta Texas</span> Theme park in San Antonio, Texas

Six Flags Fiesta Texas, formerly known simply as Fiesta Texas, is a theme park located in Northwest San Antonio. It opened on March 14, 1992, in the La Cantera master-planned development and district as the first business in that development. Spanning 200 acres (81 ha), the park was originally built to become a destination musical show park with its focus on the musical culture of the state of Texas. The park was purchased by Time Warner in 1995, and branded as a Six Flags park for the 1996 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Six Flags Great America</span> Amusement park in Gurnee, Illinois

Six Flags Great America is a 304-acre (123 ha) amusement park located in Gurnee, Illinois, within the northern Chicago metropolitan area. The amusement park originally opened as Marriott's Great America on May 29, 1976, as one of two theme parks built by the Marriott Corporation. Six Flags acquired the amusement park in 1984 after the theme park division was an earnings disappointment for Marriott. The sale gave Six Flags rights to the Looney Tunes intellectual properties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walibi Belgium</span> Theme park in Wavre, Belgium

Walibi Belgium is a 64-hectare theme park located in Wavre, Walloon Brabant, Wallonia, Belgium, close to the city of Brussels. It is one of the largest theme parks in Belgium; roughly 1.45 million visitors attended in 2018. The park was originally called simply Walibi, followed by Walibi Wavre, before Six Flags took over and renamed the park Six Flags Belgium. The park’s current name was affixed in 2004. Between 1998 and 2004, Walibi was managed by Six Flags, until Six Flags ultimately sold the park to Palamon Capital Partners, whom operated the park under their StarParks Group division. Just two years later, in 2006, Palamon sold the park to Compagnie des Alpes, whom have owned Walibi ever since. Walibi Belgium was the first park in the company’s chain of theme parks, and features “Walibi”, an anthropomorphic “wallaby” character as its mascot. Walibi can be seen in various advertisements and media, as well as a costume character greeting park guests and their kids. The original word “Walibi” is an abbreviated play-on-words, a ”mash-up” of the three local district names within the province of Walloon Brabant, where the park is located—Wavre, Limal and Bierges—with the acronym coming from Wavre, Limal and Bierges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frankie's Mine Train</span> Steel roller coaster

Frankie's Mine Train is a steel roller coaster located at Frontier City and Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor, which are both Six Flags parks. The roller coasters are located in their parks' respective Timbertown sections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T3 (roller coaster)</span> Defunct roller coaster

T3 (stylized as T3; pronounced "T-three", "T-cubed", or "Terror to the third power") was an inverted roller coaster located at Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky. The Suspended Looping Coaster model manufactured by Vekoma originally opened as T2 on April 8, 1995. Following the amusement park's closure in 2009 due to financial difficulties, the ride sat idle for several years. Under new park ownership, the roller coaster was refurbished and renamed T3, which reopened to the public as T3 on July 3, 2015. The ride closed permanently following the 2022 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Ronde (amusement park)</span> Amusement park in Montreal

La Ronde is an amusement park located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was originally built as the entertainment complex for Expo 67, the 1967 World Fair. Today, it is operated by Six Flags, under an emphyteutic lease with the City of Montreal until 2065. In-addition to being the Six Flags chain's northernmost location, La Ronde is the largest amusement park in Quebec and the second-largest in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shuttle Loop</span> Steel shuttle roller coaster

Shuttle Loop is a type of steel launched shuttle roller coaster designed by Reinhold Spieldiener of Intamin and manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf. A total of 12 installations were produced between 1977 and 1982. These 12 installations have been located in a total of 22 different amusement parks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Compagnie des Alpes</span>

Compagnie des Alpes is a French company created in 1989 to operate many ski resorts in Europe. Compagnie des Alpes is a part of Caisse des dépôts et consignations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walygator Grand-Est</span>

Walygator Grand-Est is an amusement park located in Maizières-les-Metz, Lorraine, France. Since its opening in 1989, the park has had a succession of different names: Big Bang Schtroumpf (Smurf), Walibi Schtroumpf, Walibi Lorraine and now Walygator Parc.

Walibi Rhône-Alpes is a French theme park located in the commune of Les Avenières, in the Isère department. It is the largest theme park of the Rhône-Alpes region. The park contains more than 33 rides and it covers an area of 35 hectares. It is a sister park to Walibi Belgium, which was created in 1975 by Eddy Meeùs, a Belgian businessman. The name "Walibi" comes from the three municipalities in which the Walibi Belgium park is located: Wavre, Limal and Bierges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor</span> Amusement and water park

Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor is an amusement and water park owned and operated by Six Flags. It is located approximately 60 miles (97 km) north of Albany, in Queensbury, New York. It was one of three Six Flags parks not to be officially branded with the "Six Flags" name until 2022, with La Ronde in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and Frontier City in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, being the last two without the Six Flags branding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiki-Waka (roller coaster)</span> Steel roller coaster at Walibi Belgium

Tiki-Waka is a steel family roller coaster located at Walibi Belgium in Wavre, Belgium. The Polynesian-themed coaster opened for the 2018 season as the headlining attraction in the newly re-themed Exotic World area, and kickstarted a multi-year, €100,000 expansion plan.

References

  1. Marden, Duane. "El Condor  (Walibi Holland)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 13 April 2012.