Parque de Atracciones de Madrid is a 20-hectare (49-acre) amusement park located in the Casa de Campo in Madrid, Spain. Opened in 1969, it is the third-oldest operating amusement park in Spain behind Parc d'Atraccions Tibidabo (opened in 1901) and Parque de Atracciones Monte Igueldo (opened in 1911).[2] It is the flagship park of Parques Reunidos, who operates the park under Madrid municipal government concession until 2039.[3]
History
The park was opened in 1969 by Carlos Arias Navarro. Initial attractions included El Tobogán, Los Coches de Choque, El Laberinto de Espejos, El Valle de la Prehistoria, El Pulpo and Jet Star. Since then it has undergone a number of remodels, with some attractions closing or being replaced and news ones opening. In 1990 the northwest zone opened with the attractions Condor, T.I.R, Aserradero, Sillas Voladoras and later Minimotos. Katapult roller coaster was also introduced that year.
In 1998, a major remodelling of the park was carried out at a cost of 8,000 million pesetas (48 million euros).[4] The work included dividing the park into 5 zones and adapting the appearance and name of each attraction to match their respective zone. The park was also decorated, more souvenir shops added and the number of shows increased.
Originally, the park had a mascot called Napy, who appeared on the park tickets. He was a bear characterized and dressed in a jacket and beret with a white handkerchief around his neck. After the remodelling in 1998, Napy was replaced by Trasto, an orange alien similar to a bear with a T inside a circle on its stomach. Trasto was used in promotions and appeared on a TV program called CyberClub, but was phased out by 2007 and not replaced.
In March 2010, the Tree-cafe which forms part of the logo was dismantled and replaced with an attraction called Star Flyer. The park logo was also changed as a result.
Access to the park was originally by one of two tickets; one that permitted access to the park and use of the attractions and another that permitted access to the park and unlimited use of most of the attractions for one day. Since 2012, the entrance ticket included the use of most of the attractions.
Since 2008, the park has more than 350 employees, approximately 2.2 million visitors per year and 39 attractions.
Zones
The park has four different zones. The Tranquilidad zone's "Gran Avenida" area opened in April 2012. The park's newest zone, Nickelodeon Land, opened in April 2014.
Tranquilidad
The park's peaceful and lighter area, with family attractions and several areas to relax.
Attractions
La Jungla: A water raft tour, in which guests enter a jungle and encounter animatronics and water effects.
Zeppelin: A monorail attraction in which guests are mounted on Zeppelins and take a tour of the area.
Star Flyer: An 80-meter high Wave Swinger attraction.
The area where guests can experience adrenaline and thrill-centric attractions.
Attractions
Sillas Voladoras: A classic Wave Swinger attraction.
Tornado: Inverted roller coaster of Intamin, reaches 30 meters high and speeds 80km/h, has 3 inversions.[5][6]
Tifón: A Mega Disk'O attraction that opened in 2008.
La Lanzadera: A drop tower attraction that rises to 63 meters.
La Máquina: A frisbee ride from Huss that opened in 1997.
Tarántula: A Maurer rides spinning coaster with 25 meters high and speeds of 70km/h.
Rotor: A "condor"-styled spinning attraction.
Abismo: A Maurer rides "SkyLoop XT450"-type roller coaster, in which guests experience G-forces of intensity 4 and a 105km/h fall from a height of 46 meters that guests climb vertically.[7][8]
Padrinos Voladores: A Zamperla type "Air Force 5" roller coaster for children in which riders zig-zag in airplane-shaped ride vehicles. Themed to The Fairly OddParents series.
Patrulla Canina: A Zamperla family roller coaster in which guests travel 80 meters and 4 meters high. Themed to the Paw Patrol franchise.
^Dirección General de Áreas Urbanas, Coordinación y Educación Ambiental, Área de Gobierno de Medio Ambiente, Seguridad y Movilidad del Ayuntamiento de Madrid (2011). "Memoria 2011"(PDF): 18. Retrieved 19 June 2013. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
