Parque de la Costa
Encyclopedia
Parque de la Costa is an amusement park located in Tigre
, a northern suburb of Buenos Aires Province
, Argentina.
(on the Luján River
), was developed by Santiago Soldati
, whose family holding company, SCP
, had been bolstered by record earnings in its Compañía General de Combustibles (CGC) unit, an energy sector distributor, during the early and mid-1990s. Its development was preceded by the Tren de la Costa
, a 16 km (10 mi) tourist light rail line inaugurated in 1995, and connecting Vicente López
(just north of Buenos Aires) with the northern suburbs.
Following an investment of nearly US$400 million, the Parque de la Costa was inaugurated on April 10, 1997. The park, connected to the light rail line at the latter's Delta station, originally included Tronador (a Pinfari Zyklon Loop rollercoaster), El Dragón water coaster, the La Vuelta al Mundo ferris wheel
, El Octógono stage, an amphitheatre
, a musical fountain
, and other attractions. The park's projections of 3 million visitors a year failed to materialize, however (traffic was about half that amount).
A series of investments in the late 1990s, including the installation of two, larger rollercoaters (Boomerang and El Vigia), the addition of more live performance
s, and its reorganization into a theme park, as well as cost-cutting measures, reduced the unit's losses. Debts at SCP of over US$750 million continued to jeopardize its operations, however, particularly following incidents in 1999, in which two rollercoaster passengers entered into a coma
, or lost their lives, allegedly due to the ride's excessive speed.
A two-thirds share in the park, which netted around US$30 million in annual sales, was transferred to SCP's creditors after the company entered into an bankruptcy
proceedings in 2000; a major project, the Rapidos del Delta water ride
, was cancelled as a result, though other rollercoasters, built by the Dutch firm Vekoma
, were opened in subsequent years. The park and Tren de la Costa (which remained in SCP ownership) helped revitalize the mainly upscale real estate
market in the northern suburbs of Buenos Aires.
The park also maintains Puerto de Comidas (a food court
), as well as a bar, Winners Pub, and two restaurant
s: Wunderbar and Come Prima; the adjacent, 22,000 m² (235,000 ft²) Trilenium Casino is another SCP development.
Tigre, Buenos Aires
Tigre is a town in the Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, situated in the north of Greater Buenos Aires, north of Buenos Aires city. Tigre lies on the Paraná Delta and is an important tourist and weekend attraction, easily reached by bus and train services, including the scenic Tren de la Costa...
, a northern suburb of Buenos Aires Province
Buenos Aires Province
The Province of Buenos Aires is the largest and most populous province of Argentina. It takes the name from the city of Buenos Aires, which used to be the provincial capital until it was federalized in 1880...
, Argentina.
Development
The park, located on a 14 hectare (35 acre) lot along the Paraná River DeltaParaná Delta
The Paraná Delta is the delta of the Paraná River in Argentina. The Paraná flows north–south and becomes an alluvial basin between the Argentine provinces of Entre Ríos and Santa Fe, then emptying into the Río de la Plata....
(on the Luján River
Luján River
The Luján River runs from its source near Espora about east of Buenos Aires, Argentina to its outflow into the Río de la Plata north of the city.-See also:* List of rivers of Argentina-External links:*...
), was developed by Santiago Soldati
Santiago Soldati
Santiago Soldati is a prominent Argentine businessman.-Career:Santiago Soldati was born to Francisco Soldati, a nephew of the founder of the Villa Lugano neighborhood of Buenos Aires, José Francisco Soldati, and the owner of the city's largest utility, the Italian-Argentine Electric Company...
, whose family holding company, SCP
Sociedad Comercial del Plata
Sociedad Comercial del Plata is a diversified Argentine holding company, with interests primarily in the energy, rail transport, real estate, and tourism sectors.-Overview:...
, had been bolstered by record earnings in its Compañía General de Combustibles (CGC) unit, an energy sector distributor, during the early and mid-1990s. Its development was preceded by the Tren de la Costa
Tren de la Costa
Tren de la Costa is a suburban , 11-station light rail line in Greater Buenos Aires, between Maipú Avenue station in the northern suburb of Olivos and Delta station in Tigre, on the Río de la Plata...
, a 16 km (10 mi) tourist light rail line inaugurated in 1995, and connecting Vicente López
Vicente López
Vicente López is a mainly residential neighbourhood in Vicente López Partido of Buenos Aires Province in Argentina, it forms part of the Greater Buenos Aires urban agglomeration...
(just north of Buenos Aires) with the northern suburbs.
Following an investment of nearly US$400 million, the Parque de la Costa was inaugurated on April 10, 1997. The park, connected to the light rail line at the latter's Delta station, originally included Tronador (a Pinfari Zyklon Loop rollercoaster), El Dragón water coaster, the La Vuelta al Mundo ferris wheel
Ferris wheel
A 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...
, El Octógono stage, an amphitheatre
Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
, a musical fountain
Musical fountain
A musical fountain is a type of animated fountain for entertainment purposes that creates an aesthetic design . This is achieved by employing the effects of timed sound waves and timed light against water particles...
, and other attractions. The park's projections of 3 million visitors a year failed to materialize, however (traffic was about half that amount).
A series of investments in the late 1990s, including the installation of two, larger rollercoaters (Boomerang and El Vigia), the addition of more live performance
Live performance
live performance may refer to:*A play or musical*A concert, a live performance before an audience*A dance performance, dance performed for an audience.*Live radio, radio broadcast without delay...
s, and its reorganization into a theme park, as well as cost-cutting measures, reduced the unit's losses. Debts at SCP of over US$750 million continued to jeopardize its operations, however, particularly following incidents in 1999, in which two rollercoaster passengers entered into a coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
, or lost their lives, allegedly due to the ride's excessive speed.
A two-thirds share in the park, which netted around US$30 million in annual sales, was transferred to SCP's creditors after the company entered into an bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
proceedings in 2000; a major project, the Rapidos del Delta water ride
Water ride
Water rides are amusement rides that are set over water. For instance, a log flume travels through a channel of water to move along its course...
, was cancelled as a result, though other rollercoasters, built by the Dutch firm 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...
, were opened in subsequent years. The park and Tren de la Costa (which remained in SCP ownership) helped revitalize the mainly upscale real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
market in the northern suburbs of Buenos Aires.
Overview
The Parque de la Costa has more than 30 attractions, some of them are:- Saltos del Delta, a flume ride.
- Boomerang (rollercoaster); reaches a height of 37.5 m (123 ft), and speeds of 75 km/h (47 mph).
- El Desafío; the "challenge," an Vekoma SLC Standard Model(rollercoaster)it reaches speeds of 80 km/h (50 mph).
- El Vigia, a family ride set in an artificial lake.
- Torbellino, a Spinning Wild mouse Coaster.
- Vertigo Xtremo, a skycoasterSkycoasterSkycoaster, most commonly also named Ripcord or Xtreme SkyFlyer , is an amusement park ride, produced and managed by Skycoaster, Inc....
. - Desorbitados, a top spinTop 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...
ride. - Colectivo Loco, the "crazy bus."
- Chiquitren, a miniature railway.
- Aconcagua, a climbing wallClimbing wallA climbing wall is an artificially constructed wall with grips for hands and feet, usually used for indoor climbing, but sometimes located outdoors as well. Some are brick or wooden constructions, but on most modern walls, the material most often used is a thick multiplex board with holes drilled...
and tunneled mountain structure. - Baile de las Tazas, a spinning teacupTeacupsTeacups is an amusement ride characterized by cup-style spinning vehicles atop a turntable-like floor.-Operation:Typically, each set of four teacup vehicles has a circular floor or a motor capable of turning 360 degrees. The circular floor or motor sits within a larger, turntable-like floor...
ride. - El Faro ("the lighthouse," the 35 m (117 ft) tower affords a panoramic view of the park and delta).
- Laberinto Encantado, a mazeMazeA maze is a tour puzzle in the form of a complex branching passage through which the solver must find a route. In everyday speech, both maze and labyrinth denote a complex and confusing series of pathways, but technically the maze is distinguished from the labyrinth, as the labyrinth has a single...
. - Tour de las Naciones, an educational attraction.
- El Infierno, a terror tunnel ride.
- Laser-Shots
- Fuente de Aguas Danzantes, a musical fountainMusical fountainA musical fountain is a type of animated fountain for entertainment purposes that creates an aesthetic design . This is achieved by employing the effects of timed sound waves and timed light against water particles...
. - Barco Pirata, pirate ship attraction.
- Comarca de los Sueños; games for smaller children
- "Show de aguas danzantes"
- Karting Monza
- Bumper carBumper carBumper car is the generic name for a type of flat ride consisting of several small electric cars which draw power from the floor and/or ceiling, and which are turned on and off remotely by an operator...
s - Paddleboat rides (Botes en el Nilo, Botes del Pantano)
- CatamaranCatamaranA catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
rides along the delta.
The park also maintains Puerto de Comidas (a food court
Food court
A food court is generally an indoor plaza or common area within a facility that is contiguous with the counters of multiple food vendors and provides a common area for self-serve dining. Food courts may be found in shopping malls and airports, and in various regions may be a standalone development...
), as well as a bar, Winners Pub, and two restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s: Wunderbar and Come Prima; the adjacent, 22,000 m² (235,000 ft²) Trilenium Casino is another SCP development.