Bellewaerde



Theme Park:Bellewaerde (since 2014)
Bellewaerde Park (1972 - 2013)
Safari Bellewaerde (1969 - 1971)
Toeristisch Centrum Bellewaerde (1954-1968)
Address:Meenseweg 497
8902 Ieper
https://www.bellewaerde.be/en
Operated by:Compagnie des Alpes

Bellewaerde in Ypern nearby the French Border by Kortrijk is one of the biggest theme- and animal parks in Belgium. The park was founded in 1954 and is currently being operated by the French group Compagnie des Alpes. The park offers a wide range of family rides, among them you can take a ride on the only HUSS Topple Tower left in operation.

Fun Fact #1: The roller coaster Boomerang is the first of its kind in operation, but it is actually the second one ever build.

Fun Fact #2: The rapid river Bengal Rapid River is one of just two Vekoma Raft Rides. It is the only one still featuring the original boats, which guarantee a splashing adventure through the ride.

 
 
 

Highlights of the Animal and Theme Park

 




 

Bengal Rapid River

A rapid river by Vekoma

 


 

Boomerang

The first of its kind

 


 

Coccinelle

A family classic

 


 

El Volador

The only remaining of its kind

 


 

Maison Magique d’Houdini

A Mad House

 


 

Huracan

A very fun family coaster

 



 

Jungle Mission

A raft ride adventure

 


 

Niagara

Such a wet beauty of a ride

 


 

Screaming Eagle

A vertical experience

 


Climbing mountains in Fort Fun Abenteuerland

Preface

After the Sternrodler was tested, we went past the actual highlight of the trip, the Bruchhausen Stones, towards the village of Wasserfall to visit the local amusement park. The Fort Fun Abenteuerland was founded from the western city Fort Fun City and can still show this leading theme today, but also the ski lift and the two former summer toboggan runs led to the success of the park at that time.

After I informed the cashier about the 50% discount of the Movie Park Germany annual ticket, we went into the park. David was luckier than me concerning the staff, so that his first impression about the customer friendliness and motivation of the staff was still positive.

Tour of the park

Devil’s Mine

This should not change even at the first attraction visited, the Vekoma roller coaster Devil’s Mine. But first you have to pass the much too long, but worth seeing queue, even if it’s too dark in the first part. The ride itself is surprising and very fun due to the two airtime moments after the hills with the friction wheels. Unfortunately we could not make another ride in the afternoon because the ride had a defect.

Crazy Washhouse and Mystery Warehouse

Other attractions on the really beautiful top level of the amusement park Fort Fun Abenteuerland include a wave swinger, the Funhouse Crazy Washhouse, which lost all its charm due to empty rooms and offering just some mirrors, a Nauta Bussink Ferris wheel and the ghost train Mystery Warehouse. The latter ride was quite amusing and even thematically convincing due to individually placed theming elements.

Rio Grande

Probably the best themeing can be found at the small rafting ride Rio Grande from Bear Rides, which can score with its original cacti. Even if you look at the age of the ride and how wet it is, the ride is still one of the better rapid rivers.

Dark Raver

The path now led us further and further downhill and so directly to the next highlight in the Fort Fun Abenteuerland, the Indoor Round-Up Dark Raver. Even though the building is rather strange from the outside, the ride was really successful. The light effects and the music give the old Fähtz ride another live.

The show stage and the climbing structure next door don’t look very nice, even though the idea was not bad. We didn’t watch the show itself, because it seemed to be over by the time we arrived. Furthermore there is plenty of space for attractions on this level of the park, but the use of this area is rather sparse. Considering how many top-class rides have left the park in the course of time, I wonder why they did not find their place here, as attractions are generally missing in this park.

Trapper Slider

Our way leads us to the highlight par excellence of the amusement park Fort Fun Abenteuerland with a ride that changed my world view on alpine coasters in general, the Trapper Slider. The slogan “Feel the thrill – Rock the hill” basically says it all, because what the ride offers is outstanding. After a little longer time in the lift you reach the top of the lifthill and after a small 270° downhill helix the ride starts. After a very short time you reach your cruising speed of about 50 km/h and you are sent over elements that would virtually pull you out of your seat if the seatbelt was not so tight. The centrifugal brake has to work quite hard in the curves, provided there is no lurker in front of you. After a good 1300 m the ride is over and the only thing you can think of is the word brilliant.

Wildwasserbahn

Those who need something leisurely after the ride can get into the chair lift next door or go downhill for a few metres and take the Wildwasserbahn. This early log flume, from the cooperation of the manufacturers Mack and Arrow, has a considerable track length and a great setting. As with the log flume in Thorpe Park, England, there is a mixture of different styles, which unfortunately is not really convincing here. The degree of wetness of the ride was quite high, because the two passengers got really soaked.

Tomahawk

Next to a ship swing from the manufacturer Huss you can admire an exotic in the park: a Shake R5 from Mondial. The ride was long and balanced, but there were no rollovers. If you know the Commander von Hanstein or if you have done a round in Schäfer’s Shake & Roll, you will be a bit disappointed here, but if you know how awful sometimes the rides on Vorlops Shaker are, you will find the ride good. For a medium sized park the Tomahawk is a good investment.

Speed Snake

The roller coaster Speed Snake, a Vekoma Whirlind, was formerly known as the whirlwind. Since the original Arrow chaises unfortunately became too old, as in Heide-Park, a new train had to be brought in. This one is a first generation Vekoma train from the Prater in Vienna. If you have any bad suspicions now you will be disappointed, as it is usually the case with the Dutch manufacturer, because the train offers the same seating comfort as the old Arrow trains and this even with legroom in the second row. The ride itself is surprisingly intense in the corkscrews, as I previously only knew the identical specimen in the Zoo Safari- und Hollywoodpark Stukenbrock with an empty train, I was a bit surprised, and will pass through without any significant jerking or even hitting. The theming does not enhance the ride, but it is nicely placed and easy to look at, and the successful train does its best to do so.

Marienkäferbahn

Where the Fort Fun Abenteuerland on the top level could still create a harmonious picture, the design decreased more and more, which at first sight is not really disturbing, because the gardeners do a good job here. But there is a place in the park that really belongs to the worst what you can see in a park. The whole thing is declared as a children’s land and can be seen next to some cheap rides of Italian origin, the Zierer dragon train, which has been unused for some years, with an ugly blue facade and a Tivoli large. The Marienkäferbahn scores with its location in the middle of a forest, and the ride also offers a decent amount of speed – which is not always the case on such a roller coaster ride.

Beverly Hills Drive

At the lowest point of the park you will again find a well-designed attraction. The Monza track, known as Beverly Hills Drive, offers a long driving distance and a design that can be found in a similar form at Disney.  In any case, the ride is a ray of hope for the rather weak lowest part of the park.

Fun Xpress

Because we missed the Fun Xpress we went back up the mountain by foot. As the gastronomy in the lowest area of the park was more busy with itself than with the customers, we went to the gastronomy at the log flume. The offer here is decent, but also a bit expensive. After a while the staff noticed me and I ordered a portion of Pommes Spezial. The taste was great and I was satisfied.

Pictures Fort Fun Abenteuerland

 


What is your opinion about the theme park Fort Fun Abenteuerland? Just write it in the comment field below the report or in our social media channels:

 

          


A magical afternoon at Magic Park Verden

Preface

Not far from the city of Verden an der Aller is the Magic-Park and therefore the only place in the triangle of Bremen, Hamburg and Hannover where there was something new for me to ride. The park is a similar children’s paradise like the Rasti-Land, which is 40 km away from Hanover, but gives a much better impression, even if the number of attractions here is a bit smaller.

Magic Park Verden

Familienachterbahn

Much of this park was bought second-hand and so it is not surprising that you sit in the former Seeschlange roller coaster of Hansa Park when riding the Familienachterbahn. Even if the train creeps a little over the hills, the ride within this family roller coaster with its four laps special is very entertaining. In direct comparison with the sister park in Hodenhagen this ride does a lot better.

Wildwasserbahn

A few meters aside the roller coaster is the log flume Wildwasserbahn of the Magic-Park, whose manufacturer is Big Country Motioneering Ltg. The track is very similar to an oval, only you have to pass some small curves before the chain lift. The first and only drop is very convincing and the degree of wetness is high.

Märchenwald

You can feel just like in the Dutch amusement park Efteling when you follow the fairytale trail. On the edge of the path you will find a total of six elaborately designed scenes that are brought to life by numerous animatronics. The individual fairy tales are also very well presented, even if I didn’t know the fairy tale about the flower miracle until now.

Miscellaneous

Past the ship swing Schiffschaukel, which you can operate yourself, we now go to the large playground part of the amusement park, where you can find some interesting play equipment, a vintage car ride and the Drachenbahn (a small monorail) from Metallbau Emmeln. Normally, every child should be able to use up his or her remaining energy in this part of the park.

Pictures Magic Park Verden

[vls_gf_album id=”9167″]

Closing Words

For the roller coaster fans among us it is recommended to visit the park from 15:30 p.m., because then the entrance fee is only 10€ or nothing at all if there is nobody in the cash area. Also one could serve free drinks at the right moment, as at some snack stands there was nobody to be found. As I am honest I waited of course. Unfortunately many small amusement parks seem to want to do without money.

 

What is your opinion about the Magic Park theme park?  Just write it in the comment field below the report or visit our social media channels: