Walygator Parc
Encyclopedia
Walygator Parc is an amusement park located in Maizières-les-Metz
, Lorraine
, France
. Since its opening, back in 1989, the park has taken on a variety of names; successively Big Bang Smurf, Walibi Schtroumpf (Smurf), Walibi Lorraine up to its present name Walygator Parc.
The project is expected to cost as much as 110 million €. On-site facilities include a conference centre, an auditorium of 800 seats, a mini-putting course, a water park
, a children playground, a commercial village, a Hard Rock Cafe
and a thousand of hotel rooms (a 4 star hotel of 100 rooms, a 3 star of 300 rooms and a 2 star of 600 rooms).
50 million € are planned to build a monorail
connecting the centre of Amnéville
to the park.
This is the final 650 jobs created over 500 full-time Philippe Brand???, Walywood: between dream and reality,
Le Republicain Lorrain, May 13, 2009.
station.
Maizières-lès-Metz
Maizières-lès-Metz is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It was the original home of the German de Maizière family which, being Huguenots, had to emigrate from France to Prussia in the 17th century...
, Lorraine
Lorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Since its opening, back in 1989, the park has taken on a variety of names; successively Big Bang Smurf, Walibi Schtroumpf (Smurf), Walibi Lorraine up to its present name Walygator Parc.
History
Tentatively named The New World Smurfs, the park eventually opened up on May 9, 1989 as Big Bang Smurf. Built on the site of the former steel mills of Sacilor, the park is then managed by Sorépark, a company headed by Pierre Jullien. Construction costs topped up €110 million.- In 1991, the park, on the verge of bankruptcy, is taken over by Walibi Group. An orange kangaroo is brought alongside PeyoPeyoPierre Culliford , known as Peyo, was a Belgian comics artist, perhaps best known for the creation of The Smurfs comic strip.-Biography:...
's little blue men: Walibi Schtroumpf was born. - In 1998, parent Walibi Group is bought out by Premier Parks. At this point, the land on which sits Walibi Schtroumpf, totals 162 hectares of which only 42 are in use.
- In 2003, Walibi Schtroumpf becomes Walibi Lorraine and the Smurfs characters are withdrawn from the park.
- In 2004 Six FlagsSix FlagsSix 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...
(Premier Parks successor), which had ownership of the park since 1998, divests itself from its European operation (apart from Parque Warner MadridParque Warner MadridParque Warner Madrid is a theme park located 25 km southeast of Madrid, Spain, in the municipality of San Martín de la Vega...
. The park changes hands to Star Parks, of London-based Palamon Partners. - In 2006 Star Parks sells the park, in turn, to Claude and Didier Le Douarin. In the mean time, the licence to use the name Walibi is sold to French leisure giant Compagnie des AlpesCompagnie des AlpesCompagnie 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 new management team is left with no option but to adopt a new name. - In 2007, the park opens its doors under a new name: Walygator Parc.
- In 2008, the park opens with five new attractions, including a ferris wheelFerris wheelA Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
and two new shows. - In 2009, the park enters its twentieth season with two new rides and a new show, theWaly Mille Pates (kids mini railroad), Sheriff Academy (interactive cinema from "Alterface") and Le Cirque de Waly" (Family Biasini).
- In 2010, the park opens a new roller coaster, "The MonsterThe Monster (rollercoaster)Raptor is a steel inverted roller coaster at Walygator Parc, France designed by Bolliger & Mabillard.- External links :* *...
", an inverted roller coaster from Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & MabillardBolliger & MabillardBolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president...
. The ride had previously been anchored ExpolandExpolandExpoland, located in Suita, Osaka, Japan, was opened as the amusement zone at the International Exposition in 1970 and thrived for over 30 years as an amusement park...
in Japan, and is a clone of Raptor at Cedar PointCedar PointCedar Point is a 364 acre amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, United States on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. Cedar Point is the only amusement park with four roller coasters that are taller than...
. - In 2011, the park opens two attractions, the Krinoline and the Südseewellen.
Walywood Project
On May 14, 2009, Le Douarin brothers present another gigantic project Walywood which involves the creation by 2015 of a recreation and tourism area covering a surface of 19 ha, apart from the main park.The project is expected to cost as much as 110 million €. On-site facilities include a conference centre, an auditorium of 800 seats, a mini-putting course, a water park
Water park
A waterpark is an amusement park that features waterplay areas, such as water slides, splash pads, spraygrounds , lazy rivers, or other recreational bathing, swimming, and barefooting environments...
, a children playground, a commercial village, a Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
and a thousand of hotel rooms (a 4 star hotel of 100 rooms, a 3 star of 300 rooms and a 2 star of 600 rooms).
50 million € are planned to build a monorail
Monorail
A monorail is a rail-based transportation system based on a single rail, which acts as its sole support and its guideway. The term is also used variously to describe the beam of the system, or the vehicles traveling on such a beam or track...
connecting the centre of Amnéville
Amnéville
Amnéville is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. The town is an important tourist and thermal center in France.-Main sights:*Traces of Roman road*Remains of a Roman bridge*14th century castle and church*Zoo d'Amnéville...
to the park.
This is the final 650 jobs created over 500 full-time Philippe Brand???, Walywood: between dream and reality,
Le Republicain Lorrain, May 13, 2009.
For English speakers
Park staff, to the proximity of Germany has to speak German, some speak English.Coasters
| Name | Restrictions | Type | Maximum Height | Length | Maximum Speed | Manufacturer | Built | Duration | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaconda | > 120 cm | 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... |
36 m | 1200m | 90 km/h | Bill Cobb William Cobb This article is about the engineer. For other persons by this name, see William Cobb William L. "Bill" Cobb , was an American designer and engineer of roller coasters, as the founder and head of William Cobb & Associates... |
1989 | 2:30 | |
| Family Coaster | > 92 cm when accompanied by an adult |
Kids' roller coaster Roller coaster The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885... |
4m | 132m | 15 km/h | Pinfari Pinfari Pinfari is an Italian brand of portable roller coasters found at travelling fairs. The Pinfari company was founded by Daniel Pinfari in Mantua. The brand has been especially known for compact models with small footprints, such as the popular ZL42. Pinfari was liquidated on 15 July 2004, due to the... |
2007 | 1:30 | |
| Waly Coaster | > 120 cm. | 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... |
24m | 590m | 65 km/h | 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... |
1989 | 1:25 | |
| The Monster | > 150 cm. | Inverted roller coaster Inverted roller coaster An inverted roller coaster is a roller coaster in which the train runs under the track with the seats directly attached to the wheel carriage. This latter attribute is what sets it apart from the older suspended coaster, which runs under the track, but "swings" via a pivoting bar attached to the... |
40m | 1200m | 90 km/h | Bolliger & Mabillard Bolliger & Mabillard Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president... |
2010 | 2:28 | |
Other attractions
| Name | Type | Manufacturer | Built | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caribean boat | Pirate ship Pirate ship (ride) A pirate ship is a type of amusement ride, consisting of an open, seated gondola which swings back and forth, subjecting the rider to various levels of angular momentum.... |
Huss Rides | 1992 | |
| Dark tower | Space Shot Space Shot Space Shot is a type of amusement ride manufactured by S&S Power.The ride is a drop tower type attraction that uses compressed air to rapidly propel riders up the tower then gently lower them with a series of air-cushioned bounces back to the loading platform.The first space shot to be built in the... |
S&S S&S S&S can mean:*Sense and Sensibility - a novel by Jane Austen*S&S Cycle - a manufacturer of aftermarket engine parts and proprietary engines*S&S Worldwide - a designer and builder of amusement park rides, including roller coasters.... |
1998 | Closed since le 01/01/2010 |
| Polyp | Octopus Octopus (ride) The Octopus is a type of amusement ride in the shape of an octopus. Five to eight arms attached to a central axis spin and move up and down in random, while cars at the end of the arms spin on rotary bolts. Each Octopus ride has the arms attached the middle of the ride. The middle of the ride will... |
Anton Schwarzkopf Anton Schwarzkopf Anton Schwarzkopf was a German engineer of amusement rides, and founder of the Schwarzkopf Industries company, which built numerous rides and large roller coasters for both amusement parks and travelling funfairs.... |
2009 | |
| Südseewellen | Orbiter | Anton Schwarzkopf Anton Schwarzkopf Anton Schwarzkopf was a German engineer of amusement rides, and founder of the Schwarzkopf Industries company, which built numerous rides and large roller coasters for both amusement parks and travelling funfairs.... |
2011 | |
| Tang'Or | Topple Tower Topple Tower A Topple Tower is an amusement ride produced by HUSS Maschinenfabrik. The ride was designed by Mr. Theo van Orsouw of van Orsouw Amusement Rides Design Service , the Netherlands Patent Pended nr: PCT/EP2002/012698 Nov... |
Huss Rides | 2005 | Closed since le 01/01/2011 |
Water Rides
| Name | Type | Manufacturer | Built | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquachute | Descent inflatable boat | Van Egdom | 1991 | |
| Rafting | 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... |
Alsthom and Soquet | 1989 | Right now closed for renovations |
| Rivière sauvage | 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... |
Soquet | 1992 | |
| Splash kids | 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... for kids |
Zamperla Zamperla Zamperla is a designing and manufacturing company in Vicenza, Italy. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The company also makes smaller coin operated rides commonly found inside shopping malls.... |
1989 | |
Open during park hours
- Croco'Pasta Bar: Refreshments, soft drinks, ice cream and a pasta bar
- Waly et la Chocolaterie (Waly and the Chocolate Factory)
- Croco Grill: grilled or fried food
- Croco Pizza; Pizzeria,
- Croco Gourmand: sandwiches, chips, drinks, popcorn, muffins
- Croco Magic: fries, chicken nuggets, cheeseburger, chocolate crepes, nutella, jam, candy, ice
- Waly Kebab: Donner Kebab
- Waly Waffle: Waffles granite.
- Croco Crep: Pancakes, hot dogs, and the like
- Croco Garden: Hot Dog, Beverage ...
- Village German: german's Sausage, german's beer
Location
The park is located 15 km north of Metz, at 47.15984 N,2.988281 E. It is served by the eponymous SNCFSNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
station.