Phantasialand is a theme park in Brühl, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, that attracts approximately 2 million visitors annually. It was opened in 1967 by Gottlieb Löffelhardt and Richard Schmidt. Although starting as a family-oriented park, it has added thrill rides, especially in recent years. Following the example of Europa-Park, it has also set out to attract business customers under the slogan 'Business to Pleasure'.
Phantasialand is known for its high theming detail. It introduces new attractions more often compared to other German theme parks to compensate for its small area, and is regularly voted one of the world's best theme parks.
Among its thrill rides is Taron, the world's third fastest multi-launch coaster; Black Mamba, a Bolliger & Mabillard inverted coaster; and a themed Mine Train roller coaster called Colorado Adventure, which runs between some of the mountains in the park's Mexico section, and was opened by Michael Jackson. The most recent addition was F.L.Y., a Vekoma launched flying coaster.
History
Phantasialand was opened by Gottlieb Löffelhardt and Richard Schmidt on 30 April 1967.
On 1 May 2001, a cable fire, caused by faulty wiring in the "Grand-Canyon-Bahn", destroyed two roller coasters, a theatre, and parts of the Westernstadt. The blaze cost about 38 million Deutsche Mark ($17 million in U.S. dollars.) in damage and 54 people were injured. Phantasialand reopened about two weeks later and invested about €2 million in fire safety, equipping every building with sprinkler systems.
Phantasialand is also home to "Mystery Castle", an indoor Intamin Ride Trade Bungee Drop featuring a walk through a haunted castle. Next to the castle is "River Quest", a rapid river ride which features a lift, built by Hafema in 2002. It replaced "Grand-Canyon-Bahn" and Gebirgsbahn which were destroyed in the 2001 cable fire.
“River Quest” has two lifts near the start of the ride to take boats to its highest point. It previously held the record for the largest drop on a rafting ride. This record was broken by Infinity Falls at SeaWorld Orlando. The space available was relatively small for a river rapids ride. To save space, two elevators are used to take boats to their highest point, rather than the more traditional lift hill. The two rides were the only ones in Mystery until Klugheim opened with Taron and Raik in 2016. This led to River Quest being slightly re-themed in 2017 to fit in with the Klugheim theme.
In 2002, Winja's Fear & Force, two indoor spinning coasters, were built by Maurer Söhne along with a new area called Wuze Town. New for 2006 was an African-themed B&M inverted roller coaster called Black Mamba.
A four-star on-site hotel called Hotel Ling Bao, which is Chinese-themed, opened in 2004. The hotel's roof tiles were imported from China, and every room door was hand-engraved. The hotel has two restaurants; one of them - the LU CHI - is renowned for its Euro-Asiatic cuisine, a bar, a pool with sauna, garden area, spa and its own entrance to the park. A second (three-star) hotel called "Matamba" opened in August 2008 in the Deep in Africa section.
Phantasialand opened another ride for 2007 called Talocan, a Suspended Top Spin by Huss Maschinenfabrik. It is located in the Mexican section of the park. In 2008, a splash battle ride, Wakobato, opened in the lake in the old fairytale forest. The attraction is highly debated among residents living next to the park, who complain about noise pollution.
In 2010, Phantasialand opened five new attractions for children in Wuze Town: Baumberger Irrgarten (Maze), Die fröhliche Bienchenjagd (Jump Around by Zamperla), Wolke's Luftpost (Magic Bikes by Zamperla), Der lustige Papagei (Crazy Bus by Zamperla), and Würmling Express (Monorail). The Berlin part of the park has also been reworked, with many Berlin-themed houses, fountains and a tribune for shows. Also new in 2010 was the show 'Sieben' (seven) by Jan Rouven.
In 2011, Phantasialand opened two new attractions: Maus au Chocolat, an ETF dark ride in Alt Berlin, and a chair-swing on the Kaisersplatz. The old shop in Berlin was replaced with a funhouse-style attraction called "Verrücktes Hotel Tartüff", built by the park's engineers and opened in 2012.
For the 2013 season, Phantasialand built a new log flume-style attraction to replace their two previous water attractions. It is embedded in a large area of canyons and mountains, as a miniature model on display in the park had already been revealed during construction. Chiapas: DIE Wasserbahn (Chiapas: THE Log Flume) opened on the 1st of April 2014.
After the winter season 201314, Silver City (a western theme town) and the dark ride Silbermine were removed to allow construction on the park's 2016 launched roller coaster, Taron, and the new themed area Klugheim, which was to become a part of the Mystery area. Another roller coaster, Raik, is located in the Klugheim area, and is more family-oriented than the likes of Taron. The coaster is a Vekoma family boomerang model attraction.
Also in 2016, Race for Atlantis was removed to make way for a new themed area called Rookburgh with a rollercoaster named F.L.Y., the world's first launched flying roller coaster and the longest flying roller coaster in the world.
Theme areas
Name Theme Dragon Opening date Berlin(with Rookburgh) Historic Berlin with the nostalgic flair of the early 20th century; Boulevard with the Kaiserplatz; Industrial quarter "Rookburgh" in steampunk design Drago 1970 Mexico Plaza Mariachi with Mexican buildings; Rockwork of Chiapas; Aztec and Maya cultures Quetzal 1973 China Town Traditional Chinese buildings and gardens Wang 1981 Mystery(with Klugheim) Medieval village "Klugheim" with Nordic symbolism in a mystical dark atmosphere; Basalt Mountains; gloomy castle complexes Schneck 1998 Fantasy (with Wuze Town) Playful, child-friendly fantasy world around the Wuze people in Wuze Town and Baumbergen at the "Mondsee" (moon lake) Phenie 2002 Deep in Africa Savannah and rainforest landscape with West African adobe buildings Kroka 2006
Roller coasters Coaster Picture Opened Manufacturer Area Description Black Mamba 2006 Bolliger & Mabillard Deep in Africa An inverted roller coaster Colorado Adventure 1996 Vekoma Mexico A mine train Crazy Bats 1988 Vekoma Fantasy An indoor steel roller coaster with an additional virtual reality experience F.L.Y. 2020 Vekoma Berlin (Rookburgh) A launched flying roller coaster Raik 2016 Vekoma Mystery (Klugheim) A steel family boomerang Taron 2016 Intamin Mystery (Klugheim) A multilaunch steel roller coaster Winja's Fear & Force 2002 Maurer Söhne Fantasy (Wuze Town) Duelling spinning roller coasters
Water rides Ride Picture Opened Manufacturer Area Description Chiapas 2014 Intamin Mexico A log flume River Quest 2002 Hafema Mystery A rapids ride Wakobato 2009 Preston & Barbieri Fantasy A boat ride Wözl's Wassertreter 2003 Phantasialand Fantasy Pedalos
Thrill rides Ride Picture Opened Manufacturer Area Description Mystery Castle 1998 Intamin Mystery Enclosed drop tower Talocan 2007 HUSS MexicoSuspended top spin Wellenflug 2011 Zierer BerlinChair swing
Dark rides +RidePictureOpenedManufacturerAreaThemeGeister Rikscha1981Schwarzkopf GmbH (System) Heimo (Theming)China TownChinese mythologyMaus au Chocolat2011ETF Ride Systems AlterfaceBerlinCake factory with a plague of mice
Other attractions RidePictureOpenedManufacturerAreaDescriptionAvoras2024Kinderland Emsland SpielgeräteFantasyPlaygroundBolles Flugschule2010Preston & BarbieriBerlinRed BaronBolles Riesenrad2010Preston & BarbieriBerlinFerris wheelBumper Klumpen2003Preston & BarbieriFantasyBumper carsDas verrückte Hotel Tartüff2012Hofmann GmbHBerlinFunhouseDeep in Africa - Adventure Trail2022PhantasialandDeep in AfricaParcoursDer lustige Papagei2010ZamperlaFantasyCrazy BusDie 3 Mausketiere2025?Berlin4D cinemaDie fröhliche Bienchenjagd2010ZamperlaFantasyJump AroundFeng Ju Palace2002VekomaChina TownMadhouseMopti's Monkey Depot2024Kinderland Emsland SpielgeräteAfricaPlaygroundPferdekarussell1998Preston & BarbieriBerlinMerry-go-roundTikal2011ZiererMexicoFamily drop towerTittle Tattle Tree2002VekomaFantasyPara TowerWabi's Krabbelinsel2003?FantasyIndoor playgroundWavy Battle2025?FantasyWater playgroundWinni Splash2025?FantasyWater playgroundWirtl's Erlebnishöhle2003?FantasyIndoor playgroundWirtl's Taubenturm2007HeegeFantasyLifting towerWolke's Luftpost2010ZamperlaFantasyMagic BikesWözl's Duck Washer2003Preston & BarbieriFantasyTeacupsWupi's Wabi Wipper2003?FantasyChildren's drop towerWürmling Express2010Preston & BarbieriFantasyMonorail
Removed attractions
Due to its particularly small area Phantasialand is known to remove attractions more frequently than other theme parks to gain space for new attractions.
+RidePictureOpenedClosedManufacturerDescriptionThemeAutoscooter19681986?Bumper carsnoneBallonfahrt19932009ZamperlaBalloon ridenoneBaumberger Irrgarten20102021PhantasialandMazeMazeBienchenflug19792009?Carousal with bee-looking gondolasnoneBolles Spieleland / Penaten Kinderparadies / Ronnies Spieleland1970s2010Phantasialand & PenatenPlaygroundnoneBottichfahrt19711993PhantasialandWater ride with tub-looking gondolasnoneBullenreiten20042009PhantasialandMechanic bullAmerican frontierCine 200019781995Omnivision180-degree CinemanoneCondor19862006HUSS ridesCondornoneDjembe Musikschule20062020PhantasialandDjembe drumsAfricaCrazy Loop19952004Fabbri GroupBreakdance1995-1996: none 1997-2004: MexicoGalaxis-36019821985?360-degree CinemanoneGalaxy19942005 (re-themed to Race for Atlantis)Simtec Systems & IMAX CorporationSimulator rideScience fictionGebirgsbahn19752001 (burned down)Schwarzkopf GmbHSpeed Racer (Roller coaster)Mountain rangeGondelbahn 1001 Nacht19702009PhantasialandDark rideStories from One Thousand and One NightsGrand-Canyon-Bahn19782001 (burned down)Schwarzkopf GmbHPowered roller coasterMountain rangeHollywood Tour19902020IntaminWater dark rideHollywood moviesJumbo19792000?Aerial carousal ride with elephant-looking gondolasnoneKäpt'n Blackbeards Piratenflotte20012004PhantasialandModel ships navigated by water gunsPiratesKinder-Riesenrad19932009ZamperlaFerris wheel for kidsnoneKlettergarten20092012PhantasialandClimbing parcoursenoneMärchenwald19672007PhantasialandFairytale ForestFairytalesOctowuzy20032023?Water playgroundFantasyOldtimerbahn19671986PhantasialandVintage car ridenonePhantasialand Jet19742008Schwarzkopf GmbHMonorail1974-1996: none 1997-2008: MexicoPirates 4D19982025Renaissance Entertainment4D cinemaBuilding: Early 20th century Berlin, Film: PiratesPolyp19751983Schwarzkopf GmbHOctopusnonePonyreitbahn19671975PhantasialandPony rideAmerican frontierProfessor Wuzipuh's Clever-Bollen20032016PhantasialandEdutainmentFantasyRace for Atlantis20052016Simtec & IMAX CorporationSimulator rideAtlantisRuderboote19671967PhantasialandRowing boatsnoneSchloss Schreckenstein19722008PhantasialandWalkthroughScary castleSeeräuberfahrt nach Carthagena19681978 (re-themed to Wikingerbootsfahrt)PhantasialandThemed water ridePiratesSilbermine19842014Schwarzkopf GmbH (system) Hofmann (Theming)Dark RideAmerican frontierSilverado Up 'n' Down / Wamazonen-Flugcenter / Wuzi's Going Up20042015PhantasialandBungee-trampolinesnoneSpace Center19882001 (re-themed to Temple of the Night Hawk)VekomaRoller CoasterSpaceSpider19841985Schwarzkopf GmbHOctopusnoneStonewash Creek1974 (together with Wildwash Creek as Wildwasserbahn)1992: split into two water rides 2011Mack RidesLog flumeAmerican frontierTemple of the Night Hawk20012019 (re-themed to Crazy Bats)VekomaRoller CoasterJungleTretboote19671968PhantasialandPedal BoatsnoneWalzertraum19932009Mack RidesThemed water rideFlowersWikingerbootsfahrt19791999PhantasialandThemed water rideVikingsWildwash Creek1974 (together with Stonewash Creek as Wildwasserbahn)1992: split into two water rides 2011Mack RidesLog flumeAmerican frontierWosi's Abenteuerpark20032013?Indoor playgroundnoneYeti19892004PhantasialandAnimatronicYeti