Movie Park Germany

Movie Park Germany is a theme park in Bottrop-Kirchhellen in western Germany, 50 kilometres (30 mi) north of Düsseldorf, with an area of 40 hectares (100 acres). It consists of 7 areas based on movies and TV series. Nearby the park are several film studios.

Movie Park Germany
Previously known as Kirchhellener Märchenwald (1967–1976)
Traumlandpark (1977–1985)
Das Neue Traumland (1986–1991)
Bavaria Filmpark Bottrop (1992–1993)
Warner Bros. Movie World Germany (1996–2004)
Main Entrance
LocationBottrop, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Coordinates51°37′12″N 6°58′21″E
Opened30 June 1996 (1996-06-30) (as Warner Bros. Movie World Germany)
19 March 2005 (2005-03-19) (as Movie Park Germany)
Closed31 October 2004 (2004-10-31) (as Warner Bros. Movie World Germany)
OwnerParques Reunidos
SloganHollywood in Germany
Operating seasonYear-round
Attractions
Total38
Roller coasters7
Water rides4
WebsiteOfficial website

History

The park originally opened under the name "Kirchhellener Märchenwald" in 1967. Märchenpark was run by the West German family Allekötter. The park featured attractions consisting of huts in the woods where guests could press buttons to listen to different fairy tales.[1]

A couple named Hans and Ida Rosenberg bought the park after the 1976 season. They operated the park under the name "Traumlandpark". This became their second park, the first being the Tuddern safari park in Tüddern, West Germany which they purchased from Mr. Löffelhardt and Mr. Schmidt, who sold the park so they could focus on their newest project, Phantasialand. In 1985, the Rosenbergs ran out of money and had to declare bankruptcy with the debt of €22 million.[1]

Wolf-Dieter Jahn from Essen, West Germany and Alexandre Berthé from France, who had previously worked at the park, bought it in 1986 and reopened it in 1987 under the name "Neue Traumland". In 1989 they decided to sell the park to Bavaria Film, and it closed again on 31 August 1991.[1]

The park opened on 6 June 1992 under the name "Bavaria Filmpark". This park was originally scheduled to open in May 1991. The park closed in 1993 after not becoming very popular.[1]

In May 1994, Warner Bros. purchased the location, and began construction on "Warner Bros. Movie World Germany". The park had a grand opening on 29 June 1996 with 20,000 invited guests including Johannes Rau, Ernst Löchelt, August Everding, Gustava Everding, Michael Douglas, Sophia Loren, Ron Williams, Amanda Lear, David Copperfield, Claudia Schiffer, Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Clooney, Chris O’Donnell, Alicia Silverstone, Joel Schumacher, Hans Meiser and Heinz Hoenig as special guests.[2][3][4][5][6] The park opened to the general public on 30 June 1996.[1] Zeitgeist Design and Production's Ryan Harmon served as the Director of Show Development for Warner Bros. International Recreation Enterprises, where he conceived, wrote and managed the design team for Warner Bros. Movie World in Germany's worth of rides, shows and attractions.[7] Botticelli's - Atelier der angewandten Malerei and Sanderson Group were responsible for designing and painting the theming for the park.[8][9] Alan Griffith Architect and Alder Constructions were also involved in the park's development.[10][11]

At the end of 1999, Warner Bros. sold the park to Premier Parks (now Six Flags). Premier Parks continued to license the Warner Bros. Movie World name.[12]

In later years, large investments in bigger, faster, more action-packed attractions made Warner Bros. Movie World Germany no longer a crowd puller for families, but rather in the direction of teenagers and the young at heart. Families stayed away from the park, and many thrillseekers visited it. This, along with a decline in visitor numbers, resulted in Warner Bros. Movie World Germany being acquired by StarParks, a subsidiary of Palamon Capital Partners, on 3 April 2004, which led to the park reopening as "Movie Park Germany" on 19 March 2005, and having a grand opening on 24 March 2005, with the Warner Bros. theming removed from the park and replaced by newer themes from 20th Century Fox, MGM, and Nickelodeon.[13][14][15]

In August 2006, the two-lane roller coaster Cop Car Chase (previously Lethal Weapon Pursuit) was shut down and dismantled, as a repair would have been too expensive from an economic point of view. The vacated space was used for the new Santa Monica Pier themed area, which opened in May 2007. The area based on the Californian Santa Monica Pier also uses part of the area of the also partially dismantled, partially redesigned Downtown area (previously Marienhof). The main attraction of the area is Germany's first stationary Disk’O Coaster.

In addition, the Wonderland Studios (kids' area) was expanded with the Nickland by 15,000 m² for the 2007 season. The themed area, built in collaboration with the German television station Nick, deals exclusively with the station's characters and themed worlds. Attractions include a Suspended Family Coaster (Jimmy Neutron’s Atomic Flyer) and a water attraction (Spongebob Splash Bash). In addition, the 2007 season brought a change of motto, instead of "A day like in the film" it is now "Hurray! I'm in the film" (until 2004 the slogan was " Hollywood in Germany "). With the opening of Nickland, old attractions such as Dishwasher were re-themed.

Since 2007 the sidewalks of the park have been paved. The entire Nickland, Main Street and Vine Street are now paved.

For the 2008 season, the kids' area Wonderland Studios was integrated into Nickland. For this purpose, old children's attractions have been relocated or demolished and other attractions have been redesigned. In addition, a wild water course was built on the site of the go-kart track; the latter was demolished. Another new attraction is an carousel of the model Aviator. The new area opened in May 2008. In the Roxy 4D cinema, a film about SpongeBob SquarePants was replaced by Shrek, which again was replaced for the 2012 season by Ice Age. To this end, the Roxy 4D cinema was redesigned and a new preshow was installed.

On 17 May 2010, Parques Reunidos bought the park from Palamon Capital Partners. No changes to the park's name or theming occurred.[16]

For the park's 15th birthday, on June 18, 2011, the combination of roller coaster and dark ride Van Helsing’s Factory was opened in the hall that formerly housed the Gremlins invasion and had only been used for Halloween since 2005. The roller coaster was built by the Gerstlauer company, the theme is based freely on the character of the vampire hunter Van Helsing from the 2004 film of the same name. According to the park, the roller coaster and the show "Shadows of Darkness", which uses the character of Van Helsing, are attractions that do not require a license. In addition to "Shadows of Darkness", which replaced the X-Men Show (ran in 2010 and 2011 in Studio 7), three more shows were revised for 2012.

The novelty for 2017 was announced for the 20th anniversary of the park. It is a new roller coaster from Mack Rides and is called: Star Trek: Operation Enterprise. The track is located in a completely new themed area that is devoted to Star Trek. The themed area takes up the last parts of the former Marienhof, the former film museum and the unused space between the "Alien Encounter" and "The Lost Temple". The 40-meter-high launch coaster is the second tallest structure in the park and replaces the plans for the "Air Driver" roller coaster that were rejected in 2012. The following year it was announced that the Mystery River - one of the most popular and oldest attractions in the park - will be subject to a complete thematic redesign. The main changes are the waiting area, the theming and the effects during the journey. The ride will also receive a new soundtrack from IMAscore. The course of the journey itself remains largely unchanged. In 2019, the theming of Bermuda Triangle - Alien Encounter was slightly changed, the ride was renamed and a new soundtrack from IMAscore was included.

In the building of the former dark ride Ice Age Adventure, a new roller coaster with the name Movie Park Studio Tour was built. On 23 June 2021, this new attraction had its opening to celebrate the 25th birthday of the park.

Areas

The park is divided up into 7 areas each with their own collection of attractions.[17]

The Hollywood Street Set

  • Area 51 - Top SecretIntamin spillwater (formerly Bermuda Triangle: Alien Encounter (19 March 2005-2018), Das Bermuda Dreieck (30 June 1996 – 31 October 2004)). It is a replica of the previously operated Sea World ride in Australia.
  • Looney Tunes 4D - Roadrunner & Wile e Coyote - A 4-D film shown at the Roxy 4D-Kino.
  • The Lost Temple - Simworx Immersive Tunnel (replaced Movie Magic - Voyagers to Mars (19 March 2005-2010), Movie Magic Special Effects Stage (1996-2004))[18]

Streets of New York

(formerly Gotham City)

Former attractions:

  • Cartoon Theatre - movie theatre (1996-2002)

Nickland

(formerly Wonderland Studios (2005-2006), Looney Tunes Land (1996-2004))

- Zuma’s Zoomer - Zamperla Speedway (-2018 Swiper's Sweeper)
- PAW Patrol Adventure Tour - Zamperla Convoy
- Zuma and Rubble theme - Children's Playground
- Skye’s High Flyer - Zamperla Kiddie carpet (replaced Team Umizoomi Number Tumbler (2012 -2019), Teenage Robot Turnabout (2007-2012), Flying Cloud (2005-2006), The Daffy Duck Thundercloud (1996-2004))

Former attractions:

  • Adventure Express - Zamperla Kiddie Train (2008-2012; replaced Dora's Adventure Express (2007), Wonderland Studios Steam Tour (2005-2006), Yosemite Sam Rail Road (1996-2004))
  • Beetle Dance - Zamperla Turtle Parade (2005-2007; replaced Porky Pig Parade (1996-2004))
  • Blue's Skidoo - SBF Jet ride (-2018) - Themed to Blue's Clues.
  • Brandy Bird's Hat Dance - Mini Jet (2005-2007; replaced Tweety und Sylvester Jr. Chase (1996-2004))
  • Diego's Rescue Rider (-2018) - Zamperla Jump Around themed to Go, Diego Go!
  • Max Mouse Moto - Motorcycle Jump (2005-2007; replaced Taz 500 (1996-2004))
  • Movie Crew Carousel (2005-2006; replaced Looney Tunes Carousel (2000-2004))
  • Nick Speed Racers - Go-kart track (2007; replaced Mister Valentino's Go Kart Races (2005-2006), Speedy Gonzales Go Cart Races (2003-2004), Speedy Gonzales Taxi (1996-2002))
  • Robert's Rat Race - Farm Tractor (2005-2007; replaced Elmer Fudd's Tractor Race (1996-2004))
  • Wonder Pets Flyboat - SBF Kiddie Freefall Tower themed to Wonder Pets (2008-2018 replaced The Backyardigans Hip Hopper (2007), Maple Hopper (2006), Miss Patricia's Treehouse (2005), Tweety's Treehouse (2001-2004))

The Old West

  • Bandit – Germany's first modern wooden roller coaster (Based on the Coney Island roller coaster The Cyclone)
  • Lucky Luke – The Ride: Die Daltons brechen aus (summer 2020) – Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster - former MP Express
  • Side Kick - Huss Frisbee (replaced Blazing Saddles (2000-31 October 2004))
  • The High Fall - Intamin Tilting Gyro Drop. A clone of Acrophobia at Six Flags Over Georgia (replaced The Wild Bunch (6 April 2002 – 31 October 2004)).
  • new interactive laser walkthrough in Studio 7 (ghost hunting theme) - opening within season 2020

Former attractions:

  • Josie's Bath House - Huss Breakdance 4 (2000-2007; dismantled in 2008)
  • The Walking Dead: Breakout - all year-maze, featuring authentic sets from the TV-Show.

Santa Monica Pier

Former attractions:

  • Cop Car Chase - Intamin dueling roller coaster (2005-2006; replaced Lethal Weapon Pursuit (1996-2004))
  • The Walking Dead: Breakout - all year-maze, featuring authentic sets from the TV-Show.

Adventure Lagoon

(formerly part of Looney Tunes Land (1996-2004))

  • Excalibur - Secrets of the Dark Forest - Intamin rapid ride (replaced Mystery River (2005-2017), Unendliche Geschichte (1996-2004))
  • Movie Park Studio Tour - Multi Dimension Coaster - Intamin (replaced Ice Age Adventure (2005-2016), Looney Tunes Adventure (1996-2004))

Federation Plaza

(formerly Downtown (2005-2006), Marienhof (1996-2004))

Attractions

Roller coasters

Picture Name Former Names Manufacturer Type Opened Closed Area Speed Notes
Backyardigans: Mission to Mars Coyote's und Roadrunner's Achterbahn (1996-2004)

Rocket Rider Rollercoaster (2005-2007)

Vekoma Junior Coaster 1996 Nickland 35 km/h (21.7 mph)
Bandit Wild Wild West (1999-2004) Roller Coaster Corporation of America Wooden roller coaster 1999 The Old West 80 km/h (49.7 mph) Oldest operating German wooden coaster
Cop Car Chase Lethal Weapon Pursuit (1996-2004) Intamin Dueling Coaster 1996 2006 Marienhof / Downtown

(now: Federation Plaza)

50 km/h (31.1 mph) only dueling coaster in Germany
Ghost Chasers Tom and Jerry's Mouse in the House (2000-2005)

Mad Manor (2005-2007)

Mack Rides Wild mouse 2000 Nickland 45 km/h (28.0 mph)
Jimmy Neutron's Atomic Flyer Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster 2007 Nickland
Lucky Luke – The Ride:

Die Daltons brechen aus

Eraser (2001-2004)

FX (2005)

MP-Xpress (2006-2020)

Baboo Twister Express (2020)

Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster 2001 The Old West 80 km/h (49.7 mph) in 2011, the roller coaster was part of the

German crime TV film

Marie Brand und die letzte Fahrt

Movie Park Studio Tour Intamin Indoor roller coaster /

Multi Dimension Coaster

2021 The Hollywood Studio Set 60 km/h (37.3 mph) Contains multimedia 360-degree

rotating platform with friction wheel

launching to the front as well as to the rear

Star Trek: Operation Enterprise Mack Rides Launched roller coaster 2017 Federation Plaza 90 km/h (55.9 mph)
Van Helsing's Factory Gerstlauer Indoor roller coaster 2011 Streets of New York 36 km/h (22.4 mph)

Water rides

Picture Name Former Names Type Opened Closed Area
Area 51 – Top Secret Das Bermuda-Dreieck (1996-2004)

Bermuda Triangle: Alien Encounter (2005-2018)

Shoot the Chute 1996 Hollywood Street Set
Dora’s Big River Adventure Log flume 2008 Nickland
Excalibur – Secrets of the Dark Forest Unendliche Geschichte (1996-2004)

Mystery River (2005-2017)

River rapids ride 1996 The Hollywood Studio Set
Ice Age Adventure Looney Tunes Adventure (1996-2004) Water Dark Ride 1996 2016 Wonderland Studios / Looney Tunes Land /

Adventure Lagoon

(now: The Hollywood Studio Set)

SpongeBob Splash Bash Splash Battle 2007 Nickland

Other

Picture Name Former Names Type Opened Closed Area
Avatar Airglider Giant Sky Chaser 2008 Nickland
Back at the Barnyard Bumpers Bumper cars 2008 Nickland
Blue's Skidoo Carousel 2008 2018 Nickland
Brandy Bird's Hat Dance Tweety und Sylvester jr. Chase (1996-2004) Carousel 1996 2007 Looney Tunes Land / Wonderland Studios

(now: Nickland)

Crazy Surfer Disk'O 2007 Santa Monica Pier
Diego's Rescue Rider Jump Around 2008 2018 Nickland
Dora's Adventure Express Yosemite Sam Railroad (1996-2004)

Wonderland Studio Tour (2005-2006)

Kids' Railway 1996 2013 Looney Tunes Land / Wonderland Studios /

Nickland

Fairy World Spin Looney Tunes Tea Cup Ride (1996-2004)

Dishwasher (2005-2006)

Danny Phantom Ghost Zone (2007-2012)

Teacups 1996 Nickland
Film Studio Tour Tram tour 1996 2007 Hollywood Street Set
Filmmuseum Museum 1996 2013 Marienhof / Downtown

(now: Federation Plaza)

Nick Speed Racers Speedy Gonzalez Taxi (2003-2004)

Mister Valentinos Go Kart Race (2005-2006)

Kart racing 2003 2007 Looney Tunes Land / Wonderland Studios

(now: Nickland)

Gremlins Invasion Dark ride 1996 2005 Marienhof

(now: Streets of New York)

Josie's Bath House Breakdance 2000 2007 The Old West
Pier Patrol – Jet Ski Carousel 2007 Santa Monica Pier
Movie Crew Carousel Looney Tunes Carousel (1996-2004) Carousel 1996 2007 Looney Tunes Land / Wonderland Studios

(now: Nickland)

N.Y.C. Transformer Riddlers Revenge (1999-2004) Top Spin 1999 Streets of New York
PAW Patrol Adventure Tour Convoy 2019 Nickland
Pier Side Carousel Marienhof Karussell (2000-2006) Wave Swinger 2000 Santa Monica Pier
Ram Jam Bumper cars ? 2007 Wonderland Studios (now: Nickland)
Rescue 112 Fire Brigade 2007 Santa Monica Pier
Robert's Rat Race Elmer Fudd's Tractor Race (1996-2004) Carousel 1996 2007 Looney Tunes Land / Wonderland Studios

(now: Nickland)

Santa Monica Wheel Ferris wheel 2007 Santa Monica Pier
Sea Swing Swing ride 2007 Nickland
Side Kick Blazing Saddles (1999-2004) Frisbee 1999 The Old West
Skye's High Flyer The Daffy Duck Thundercloud (1996-2004)

Flying Cloud (2005-2006)

Teenage Robot Roundabout (2007-2012)

Team Umizoomi Number Tumbler (2013-2019)

Crazy Bus 1996 Nickland
Splat-O-Sphere Aviator 2008 Nickland
Stormy Cruise Rockin' Tug 2003 Santa Monica Pier
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

License to Drive

Driving school 2013 Nickland
The High Fall The Wild Bunch (2002-2004) Drop tower 2002 The Old West
The Lost Temple 4D simulator 2014 Hollywood Street Set
The Walking Dead: Breakout Maze 2016 2020 The Old West
Time Riders Batman Abenteuer (1996-2004) Simulator ride 1996 Streets of New York
Wonder Pets Flyboat Kids' Drop tower 2008 2018 Nickland
Zooma's Zoomers Swiper's Sweeper (2007-2018) Speedway 2007 Nickland

Shows

Movie Park Germany features many live shows as well as a 4-D movie.[21]

  • Nicktoons Character Show - Let's Party with the Nicktoons
  • Meet the Moviecals Show - live show (2005-2007; replaced Bugs 'n Friends Rock'n Roll Party (2002-2004), Bugs 'n Friends Music Party (1996-2001))
  • Crazy Cops New York - Action Stunt Show - a live action stunt show (replaced Crazy Cops - Action Stunt Show (2013-2016), Crazy Action Stunt Show (2005-2013), Police Academy Stunt Show (1996-2004))
  • Meet the Stunt Crew
  • Meet the TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
  • Street Entertainment in several areas of the park (e.g. Western Stunt Show, Character meeting, Marilyn Monroe impersonator)

Halloween Horror Fest

The Halloween Horror Fest is an annual event around Halloween time that began in October 1999. It features over 250 scare actors and extra attractions like mazes and scarezones, as well as shows.

Maze :

  • Murder Museum (16+) (2023 to...)
  • Final Stop (16+) (2023 to...)
  • Hell House (16+) (2022 to...)
  • Projet Ningyo (16+) (2019 to...)
  • Circus Of Freaks New version (16+) (2023 to ...)
  • The Slaughterhouse (16+) (2015 to ...)
  • St Elmo UPGRADE(16+) (2022 to...)
  • Chupacabra (16+) (2020 to...) (12+ since 2023)

Former mazes (1999-2022)

  • Hostel (18+) (2017 to 2022)
  • Fear Forest (12+) (2021 to 2022)
  • Circus Of Freaks New version (16+) (2021 to 2022)
  • St Elmo (16+) (2020 to 2021)
  • Acid Warrior (16+) (2021 to 2021)
  • Circus Of Freaks reloaded (16+) (2020 to 2020)
  • Insidious 2 (16+) (2016 to 2020)
  • Campout (12+) (2016 to 2020)
  • Deathpital Reloaded (16+) (2014 to 2018)
  • The Walking Dead Breakout (Operates the whole season, 16+)
  • Wrong Turn (16+) (2018 to 2019)
  • Terror Train (housed in the Gremlin Invasion show building from 2002 to 2007)
  • House of Horror (housed in the Cartoon Theatre show building from 2002 to 2008)
  • The Dark Goldmine (housed in the Gremlin Invasion show building from 2008 to 2010)
  • Infected (Former: The Walking Dead, based on the TV show The Walking Dead, 16+)
  • Baboo Twister Club (12+)
  • The Forgotten (16+) (housed in the Cartoon Theatre show building from 2011 to 2014)
  • Noxam Nocere (housed in the Cartoon Theatre show building from 2008 to 2009)
  • City Of The Damned
  • Deathpital
  • Panic Zone
  • Paranormal Activity 2 (based on the 2010 motion picture; housed in the Cartoon Theatre show building in 2010)
  • Knott's haunted Mountain (water ride with live scare actors. The attraction, now known as 'Bermuda Triangle: Alien Encounter', operates the whole season, but without scare actors)

During the HHF the Nickland theme area is a 'Monsterfreie Zone' (engl. 'monster free area') where children can stay at the park without being scared of the scare actors.

References

  1. "Movie Park Germany (Bottrop, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  2. "Movie World - wie alles begann: EURE STORIES". Freizeitparkweb. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  3. "Zuhause auf Zeit für Batman und Bugs Bunny". Der Westen. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  4. "August Everding Frau Gustava Bei Eröffnung Von 'Movie World' In Bottrop". Getty Images. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  5. "German fashion model Claudia Schiffer with her mother at the opening of a theme-park in Bottrop-Kirchhellen (North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany) on 29 June 1996". Alamy. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  6. "Glamour Hits the Ruhr River Valley with Warner Bros. Movie World". AP News. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  7. "Home". Zeitgeist Design + Production. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  8. "Movie Park". Atelier Botticellis. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  9. "WARNER BROS - Movie World - Germany". Sanderson Group. Archived from the original on 11 March 2003. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  10. "Alan Griffith Architects". Architect Gold Coast. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  11. "Inside Today:the Bat, the Bunny & The Bermuda Triangle". Parkz. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  12. O'Brien, Tim (18 October 1999). "Premier Purchases WB's European Parks Division". Amusement Business: 1, 32.
  13. "Movie Park Germany". onride.de. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  14. "Germany's Movie World to change in 2005" (Press release). StarParks. 31 August 2004. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  15. "Movie Park Germany im neuen Gewand". Coastersandmore.de. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  16. "Parques Reunidos buys Movie Park" (Press release). Park World. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  17. "Attractions". Movie Park Germany. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  18. "Movie Magic - Voyagers to Mars". MoviePark-Infos.de. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  19. O'Brien, Tim (17 May 1999). "New Family Rides Add Plenty Of Capacity". Amusement Business. 111 (20): 20.
  20. "Branded Content: Time Riders". Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  21. "Shows & Entertainment". Movie Park Germany. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
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