Walibi Belgium
Encyclopedia
Walibi Belgium, formerly Walibi Wavre and then Six Flags Belgium, is a Belgian
theme park located in Wavre
, close to Brussels
. During the 1998 to 2004 period, it was owned by Six Flags, Inc
, an American
theme park operator. It was later sold to Palamon Capital Partners. As of 2006, the park is owned and operated, along with Paris' Parc Astérix
, by CDA Parks (a division of Compagnie des Alpes
).
The Walibi name comes from the mix of Wavre
, Limal and Bièrges, three towns in the province of Walloon Brabant
, in Wallonia.
The park was founded in 1975 by Eddy Meeùs under the banner "Walibi Wavre". In its early years, it was known as a water-skiing area. About a decade after, in 1987, a waterpark, Aqualibi, opened next door.
In 1998, the park was bought by Six Flags and, three years later, Walibi Wavre changed its name to Six Flags Belgium.
In 2004, Six Flags sold its European division to Palamon Capital Partners, a London-based investment company.
On November 7, 2004, Six Flags Belgium officially became part of the past. The park reopened its gates on March 26, 2005, bearing the "Walibi Belgium" name.
In 2006, the park was taken over by CDA Parks, a French leisure group.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
theme park located in Wavre
Wavre
Wavre is a town and municipality located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant, of which it is the capital.Wavre is located in the Dyle valley. Most of its inhabitants speak French as mother tongue and are called "Wavriens" and "Wavriennes"...
, close to Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. During the 1998 to 2004 period, it was owned by Six Flags, Inc
Six Flags
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. is the world's largest amusement park corporation based on quantity of properties and the fifth most popular in terms of attendance. The company maintains 14 properties located throughout North America, including theme parks, thrill parks, water parks and family...
, an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
theme park operator. It was later sold to Palamon Capital Partners. As of 2006, the park is owned and operated, along with Paris' Parc Astérix
Parc Astérix
Parc Astérix is a theme amusement park in France, based on the stories of Asterix . Situated approximately north of Paris and from Disneyland Resort Paris, in Plailly in the département of Oise, it opened in 1989...
, by CDA Parks (a division of Compagnie des Alpes
Compagnie des Alpes
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.-History:...
).
The Walibi name comes from the mix of Wavre
Wavre
Wavre is a town and municipality located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant, of which it is the capital.Wavre is located in the Dyle valley. Most of its inhabitants speak French as mother tongue and are called "Wavriens" and "Wavriennes"...
, Limal and Bièrges, three towns in the province of Walloon Brabant
Walloon Brabant
Walloon Brabant is a province of Wallonia in Belgium. It borders on the province of Flemish Brabant and the provinces of Liège, Namur and Hainaut . Its capital is Wavre...
, in Wallonia.
History
In 1998, the park was bought by Six Flags and, three years later, Walibi Wavre changed its name to Six Flags Belgium.
In 2004, Six Flags sold its European division to Palamon Capital Partners, a London-based investment company.
On November 7, 2004, Six Flags Belgium officially became part of the past. The park reopened its gates on March 26, 2005, bearing the "Walibi Belgium" name.
In 2006, the park was taken over by CDA Parks, a French leisure group.
Roller Coasters
| Name | Type | Year Opened | Year Closed | Built By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado | Corkscrew roller coaster | 1979 | 2002 | Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... |
| Vertigo | Mountain Glider | 2007 | 2008 | Doppelmayr Doppelmayr The Doppelmayr Garaventa Group is an Austrian-Swiss company that manufactures chairlifts, cable cars, gondolas, surface tows for ski and amusement parks as well as urban people movers and material handling systems. To date, Doppelmayr and Garaventa have produced over 13,700 installations in 78... |
| Turbine | Launched roller coaster Launched roller coaster The launched roller coaster is a modern form of roller coaster which has increased in use in the last decade. In place of a traditional chain lift, the launched coaster initiates a ride with high amounts of acceleration via one or series of Linear Induction Motors , Linear Synchronous Motors ,... |
1982 | 2008 | Schwarzkopf Schwarzkopf Schwarzkopf refers to:- Place name :Germany:* Schwarzkopf , a mountain of Bavaria, Germany* Schwarzkopf , Berg im Nordschwarzwald* Schwarzkopf , a mountain of Bavaria, GermanyCzech Republic... |
Present Rides
Roller Coasters
| Name | Type | Year Opened | Built By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calamity Mine | Mine Train roller coaster Mine Train roller coaster A Mine Train roller coaster is a steel roller coaster whose trains depict a set of mine carts, sometimes pulled by the reproduction of a steam locomotive which is often designed in a cartoon style... |
1992 | Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... |
| Coccinelle | Steel roller coaster Steel roller coaster A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world... |
1999 | Zierer Zierer Zierer is a German company located close to Deggendorf. Zierer manufactures Tivoli and Force line of roller coasters, as well as panoramic wheels, wave swingers, flying carpets, Hextentanz and Kontiki rides... |
| Vampire | Suspended Looping Coaster | 1999 | Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... |
| Cobra | Boomerang Boomerang (roller coaster) Boomerang is a model of roller coaster built by Vekoma, and named after the hunting implement based on the traditions of the Indigenous Australians... |
2001 | Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... |
| Werewolf | Wooden roller coaster Wooden roller coaster A wooden roller coaster is most often classified as a roller coaster with laminated steel running rails overlaid upon a wooden track. Occasionally, the structure may be made out of a steel lattice or truss, but the ride remains classified as a wooden roller coaster due to the track design... |
2001 | Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... |
Water Rides
| Name | Type | Year Opened | Built By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radja River | River rafting ride River rafting ride A river rafting ride is an amusement ride that simulates whitewater rafting.-History:The river rapids ride concept was proposed by Bill Crandall and developed by Intamin AG... |
1988 | Intamin AG Intamin AG Intamin Worldwide is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The U.S. division of the company is located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and is headed by Sandor Kernacs. The Intamin brand name is an... |
| FlashBack | Log flume Log flume (attraction) Log flumes originally referred to a special construct used to transport lumber and logs down mountainous terrain to a sawmill by using flowing water. Today, however, the term is also used to refer to an amusement ride consisting of a water flume and artificial hollow logs or boats... |
1995 | MACK Rides MACK Rides Mack Rides is a German company that designs and constructs roller coasters. The family that owns the company also owns Europa Park.-History:The creation of the Mack company goes back to 1780, by Paul Mack, when he started building carriages. The Mack company started to design roller coasters in 1920.... |
Thrill Rides
| Name | Type | Year Opened | Built By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton Terror | Drop tower | 1998 | Intamin AG Intamin AG Intamin Worldwide is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The U.S. division of the company is located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and is headed by Sandor Kernacs. The Intamin brand name is an... |
| BuzZsaw | Top Spin Top Spin (ride) The Top Spin is a thrill ride developed by HUSS Maschinenfabrik, and is the generic name for a series of rides from other manufacturers that follow the same principle. The ride consists of a passenger platform suspended between two counterweighted arms... |
2001 | Huss Rides |
| Inferno | Enterprise | 1975 | Intamin AG Intamin AG Intamin Worldwide is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The U.S. division of the company is located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and is headed by Sandor Kernacs. The Intamin brand name is an... |
See also
- BellewaerdeBellewaerdeBellewaerde is a theme park in the West-Flemish countryside near Ypres . Established in 1954 on grounds that were the location of the Battle of Bellewaerde during World War I, named after the old castle that to this day stands near the main entrance of the park. Bellewaerde is the oldest operating...
- Walibi Aquitaine
- Walibi Lorraine
- Walibi Rhône-Alpes
- Walibi Holland