Kongeparken (The King's Park) is an amusement park in the village of Ålgård, near Stavanger in Norway. Kongeparken is the biggest amusement park in the south-west of Norway, and the main tourist destination in the county of Rogaland.Region Stavanger: Kongeparken Published 2012, visited 21 October 2013 The park has more than 50 different rides and attractions.Kongeparken: Published 2012, visited 21 October 2013 and has won multiple awards.NRK: Kongeparken vant bransje-"Oscar" Published 16th of Mars 2012, Visited 21 October 2013
History Kongeparken was opened by Gabriel Ålgård in May 1986 and intended to be a park with outdoor activities such as BMX, roller-skating and golf. Construction cost about 220 million Norwegian kroner. Kongeparken had more than 200,000 visitors in its opening year but was bankrupt by July. In 1997, the park was bought by its current owners, the Lund family, who had more than a hundred years experience through the Lunds Tivoli amusement parks. The Lund family added new themes and increased activities, reversing a decline in visitor numbers. Kongeparken is owned and operated by Rogaland Fritidspark AS. Haakon Lund, the son of Bjoern and Veslemoey Lund, is currently in charge.Ålgårds Historie, Ålgård Rotary, Press: Ålgård Offset AS, 2009
Bears theme The Lund family incorporated a bear theme into Kongeparken. In the late 1800s, Håkon Jæger Lund, the great-grandfather of Håkon Lund, was one of the first to introduce teddy bears to Norway. This was due to his experience in the carnival industry. His great-grandsons were further inspired to incorporate bears into the theme following a trip to Canada. The brothers visited a children's hospital that used teddy bears as tools to demonstrate to the children what they were going to do to them. After the visit, the Lund brothers put on a winter fair, and made a teddy bear hospital where they repaired and treated more than 2,000 bears within the first hour. Students from local hospitals would administer the treatment.
While this was two years prior to purchasing the park, bears have continued on to be present throughout the park. The park has two main royal bear mascots, named Brumle and Brumleline, the King and Queen of Bears.
Rides and adventures Kongeparken is targeted at children aged from three to 12 years old but also has more challenging activities for older children. The park has more than 50 rides, along with restaurants and other attractions. New rides are introduced each year, such as the Fossen water ride in 2013. Other attractions include a bobsleigh track, a do-it-yourself chocolate factory, and a children's fire station.
Christmas in Kongeparken Jul i Kongeparken (Christmas in Kongeparken) is held in November and December and features fairy lights, Christmas trees, elves, carol singing and family workshops.
Attractions and rides Opened Name Type Height Limit Status Information Producer1986 Ormen Lange (The Long Serpent) Bobsleigh 140 cm (90 cm with adult) Renewed 2007 The bobsleigh Ormen Lange is 1000 meter long, making it the longest Bobsleigh in Norway. Wiegand, Germany1986 Gulliver Climbing structure No limit Was given away in 2013 A themed climbing structure, built in the shape of Gulliver the giant. Hags, Sweden1986 Kapteinskolen (The School of Captains) Motorized boats 140 cm (90 cm with adult) Currently in use Motorized boats, the children can drive themselves. Engine; Honda, boat; Foster, both from the US. Before 1997 Plogen (The Plow) Bumpercars 130 cm (90 cm with adult) Sold to Sweden in 2011 Traditional bumbercars Preston & Barbieri, ItalyBefore 1997 Gårdsskyting (The Farm shooting) Game No limit Renewed in 2010 A shooting game, with a farm theme. Tornado, UKBefore 1997 Zyklon Roller coaster Removed, sold to France A transportable roller coaster. Pinfari, ItalyBefore 1997 Dyrene i Afrika (The Animals of Africa) Carousel No limit Currently in use Rotating animals and vehicles, suitable for all ages. S&W, UKBefore 1997 Gravemaskinene (The Excavators) Mini excavators No limit Currently in use, renewed in 2011 Mini excavators for children and adults. Norway1997 Grizzly Roller coaster, model ZL42 Removed in 1999 A transportable roller coaster with a loop. Pinfari, Italia1997 Kakaokoppene (The Cocoacups) Carousel No limit Currently in use Rotating cocoa cups. S&W, UK1997 Brumletoget (The Bear Train) Mini railway No limit Currently in use A miniature train, with carriages for the children. This was the first attraction bought by the Lund family for the opening of the park in 1997. Zamperla, Italy1997 Bjørneløypa (The Bear Track) Gocart track 90 cm, max 140 cm Currently in use A gocart track where the children can drive for themselves. Formula K 1997 Humla (The Bumblebee) Troika 120 cm In storage as of July 2023. Norway's largest carousel, originally moved from Alton Towers. HUSS Park Attractions, Germany 1997 Marihøna (The Ladybug) Carousel No limit Removed 2019 Colourful carousel for all ages. Zamperla, Italy1997 Ballongen (The Balloon) Carousel No limit Removed 2011 Children's ride with colourful balloons. Zamperla, Italy 1998 Freia Sjokoladefabrikk (The Chocolate Factory) Interactive show 90 cm, max 12 years Currently in use, shows throughout the day in the openinghours of the park. The Chocolate Factory: A small chocolate factory, only for children. The children learn about chocolate, its origin, and how it is produced. They get to make their own chocolate to enjoy. Adults can attend the last show of the day. Free tickets in the Bamsebotell in the park. Kongeparken, Norway 1998 Svalbard Ekspressen (The Svalbard Express) Roller coaster 90 cm Currently in use. The first themed roller coaster in Norway. Vekoma, Netherlands 1999 Roller Coaster Zyklon Removed in 2001 A transportable roller coaster Pinfari, Italy2000 Bamsebotell (The Teddy Bear Hotel) A teddybear hotel and souvenir shop No limit Currently in use A hotel where the teddybears can relax and enjoy while the owners are visiting the park. Also a souvenir shop with a lot of different items and clothing articles, and a lobbystop, that is a kiosk with a lot of different sweets. Kongeparken, Norway2001 Grizzly 2 Zyklon ZL 42 Removed in 2003 A transportable rollercoaster, with a loop. Pinfari, Italy2001 Kongeraften (The King's Rafting) Waterslide 130 cm, 90 cm with adults, max 110 kg Currently in use Waterslide where guests sit in a boat down the ride, it is possible to be two people in one boat. Metabau, Germany2002 MegaSplash (The Big Splash) A jumping boat 140 cm, 90 cm with adult Currently in use A boat that is thrown ut in the air and lands in the water. Heege, Germany2002 Stjerneskudd (The Shooting Star) A free fall bungy Only in use for the 2002 season In a bungy, two people are dropped in free fall. Fabri, Italy2002 BrumleBand (The Bear Band) A teddybear show No limit Removed 2019 A teddybear show for the children. Here you meet the local bear Bjørnulf, the singer Ferdinand, the Paris-madam Mimi, the explorer Ranja and The hotel manager Bastian. Currently in storage. Norway2003 Fabeldyrene (The Fairytale Animals) Carousel 90 cm, max 12 years Removed 2013 Made by the artist Oscar Wiese for the 2003 EXPO in Switzerland. Doppelmayr, Switzerland2003 Svanesjøen (The Swan Lake) Pedal boats shaped like swans Removed in 2007 Swanshaped boats for the guests to enjoy the waterside. 2003 Luftskipet (The Airship) Carousel 90 cm Currently in use Norway's tallest carousel, which stretches 32 meters in the air Sanoyas Hishino Meisho, Japan2004 Helspinn (The Full Spinn) Carousel 90 cm Currently in use Spinning cups, where you can decide what speed to rotate. Originally from Sanoyas Hishino Meisho, Japan, bought in France.2004 Fuji Smil Med Meg (Fuji Smile With Me) Free 3D camera rental No limit Currently in use Free use of 3D cameras from Fuji, the ability to obtain images digitally, or printed directly in the park. Partnership between Kongeparken and Fujifilm Norway2004 Lag en venn (Make a Friend) Build a bear No limit Currently in use Make yourself a friend, a teddy bear or soft toy, children can decide whether it should be hard or soft, large or small, clothing, eye color and much more. A big heart and a personal birth certificate is also included. Developed by Kongeparken2005 Storm (The Storm) Tilt a whirl ride 120 cm, 90 cm with adult Currently in use Spinning shells placed in the water, themed around Captain Storms sinking ship.