Walibi Belgium, formerly
Walibi Wavre and then
Six Flags Belgium, is a
BelgianThe Kingdom of Belgium is a country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters, as well as those of other major international organizations, including NATO...
theme park located in
WavreWavre is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant, of which it is the capital....
, close to
BrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the de facto capital city of the European Union and the largest urban area in Belgium...
. During the 1998 to 2004 period, it was owned by
Six Flags, IncSix Flags, Inc. is the world's largest amusement park corporation based on quantity of properties and the 4th most popular in terms of attendance. The company maintains 21 properties located throughout North America, including theme parks, thrill parks, water parks and family entertainment centers...
, an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
theme park operator. It was later sold to Palamon Capital Partners. As of 2006, the park is owned and operated, along with Paris's
Parc AstérixParc Astérix is a theme amusement park in France, based on the stories of Asterix . Situated approximately 35 km north of Paris and 32km from Disneyland Resort Paris, in Plailly in the département of Oise, it opened in 1989...
, by CDA Parks (a division of
Compagnie des AlpesCompagnie des Alpes operates many theme parks and ski resorts in Europe, including the Walibi parks and Bellewaerde. Walibi World, Walibi Belgium and Bellewaerde used to be owned and operated by Six Flags until all of their European parks were sold due to financial problems.-Parks:France* Walibi...
).
The
WalibiWalibi is the name of several theme parks in Belgium, France and the Netherlands. It used to be an independent company run by Belgian man Eddy Meeus. Nowadays it is owned by French leisure group CDA Parks ....
name comes from the mix of
WavreWavre is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant, of which it is the capital....
,
Limal and
Bièrges, three towns in the province of
Walloon BrabantWalloon Brabant is a province of Wallonia in Belgium. It borders on the province of Flemish Brabant and the provinces of Liège, Namur and Hainaut . Its capital is Wavre...
, in
WalloniaWallonia , formally the Walloon Region , is the predominantly French-speaking southern region of Belgium. It makes up about 33% of the population and 55% of the territory of Belgium. Walloon Region is also the name given to the regional government of Wallonia...
.
The park was founded in 1975 by Eddy Meeùs under the banner "Walibi Wavre".
Walibi Belgium, formerly
Walibi Wavre and then
Six Flags Belgium, is a
BelgianThe Kingdom of Belgium is a country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters, as well as those of other major international organizations, including NATO...
theme park located in
WavreWavre is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant, of which it is the capital....
, close to
BrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the de facto capital city of the European Union and the largest urban area in Belgium...
. During the 1998 to 2004 period, it was owned by
Six Flags, IncSix Flags, Inc. is the world's largest amusement park corporation based on quantity of properties and the 4th most popular in terms of attendance. The company maintains 21 properties located throughout North America, including theme parks, thrill parks, water parks and family entertainment centers...
, an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
theme park operator. It was later sold to Palamon Capital Partners. As of 2006, the park is owned and operated, along with Paris's
Parc AstérixParc Astérix is a theme amusement park in France, based on the stories of Asterix . Situated approximately 35 km north of Paris and 32km from Disneyland Resort Paris, in Plailly in the département of Oise, it opened in 1989...
, by CDA Parks (a division of
Compagnie des AlpesCompagnie des Alpes operates many theme parks and ski resorts in Europe, including the Walibi parks and Bellewaerde. Walibi World, Walibi Belgium and Bellewaerde used to be owned and operated by Six Flags until all of their European parks were sold due to financial problems.-Parks:France* Walibi...
).
The
WalibiWalibi is the name of several theme parks in Belgium, France and the Netherlands. It used to be an independent company run by Belgian man Eddy Meeus. Nowadays it is owned by French leisure group CDA Parks ....
name comes from the mix of
WavreWavre is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant, of which it is the capital....
,
Limal and
Bièrges, three towns in the province of
Walloon BrabantWalloon Brabant is a province of Wallonia in Belgium. It borders on the province of Flemish Brabant and the provinces of Liège, Namur and Hainaut . Its capital is Wavre...
, in
WalloniaWallonia , formally the Walloon Region , is the predominantly French-speaking southern region of Belgium. It makes up about 33% of the population and 55% of the territory of Belgium. Walloon Region is also the name given to the regional government of Wallonia...
.
History
The park was founded in 1975 by Eddy Meeùs under the banner "Walibi Wavre". In its early years, it was known as a water-skiing area. About a decade after, in 1987, a waterpark,
Aqualibi, opened next door.
In 1998, the park was bought by Six Flags and, three years later, Walibi Wavre changed its name to Six Flags Belgium.
In 2004, Six Flags sold its European division to Palamon Capital Partners, a London-based investment company.
On November 7, 2004, Six Flags Belgium officially became part of the past. The park reopened its gates on March 26, 2005, bearing the "Walibi Belgium" name.
In 2006, the park was taken over by CDA Parks, a French leisure group.
Roller Coasters
| Name |
Type |
Year Opened |
Year Closed |
Built By |
| Tornado |
Corkscrew roller coaster |
1979 |
2005 |
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...
|
| Vertigo |
Mountain Glider |
2007 |
2008 |
Doppelmayr The Doppelmayr Garaventa Group is a world leader in ropeway technology. The company manufactures chairlifts, tramways, gondolas, surface tows for ski and amusement parks as well as urban people movers and material handling systems. To date, Doppelmayr and Garaventa have produced over 13,700...
|
Present Rides
Roller Coasters
| Name |
Type |
Year Opened |
Built By |
| Turbine |
Launched roller coaster The launched roller coaster is a modern form of roller coaster which has risen to prominence within the last decade. In place of a traditional chain lift, the launched coaster initiates a ride with high amounts of acceleration via one or series of Linear Induction Motors , Linear Synchronous Motors...
|
1982 |
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.-Biography:...
|
| Calamity Mine |
Mine Train roller coasterA Mine Train roller coaster is a steel roller coaster whose trains depict a set of mine carts, apparently pulled by the reproduction of a steam locomotive, often designed in a cartoon style...
|
1992 |
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...
|
| Coccinelle |
Steel roller coasterA 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...
|
1998 |
Zierer Zierer is a German company located close to Deggendorf. Zierer manufactures Tivoli and Force line of roller coasters, as well as panoramic wheels, wave swingers, flying carpets, Hextentanz and Kontiki rides...
|
| Vampire |
Suspended Looping Coaster |
1999 |
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...
|
| Cobra |
BoomerangBoomerang is a model of roller coaster built by Vekoma, and named after the sporting implement based on the traditions of the Indigenous Australians. The first Boomerang began operation in 1984, and it has since become one of the most repeated roller coaster designs in the world, with 47 Boomerangs...
|
2001 |
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...
|
| Werewolf |
Wooden roller coaster A wooden roller coaster or woodie 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...
|
2001 |
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...
|
Water Rides
| Name |
Type |
Year Opened |
Built By |
| Radja River |
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...
|
1988 |
Intamin AG Intamin Worldwide is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The U.S. division of the company is located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and is headed by Gary Palmer, MD and Arnold Bernsteiner. The Intamin...
|
| FlashBack |
Log flumeLog 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...
|
1995 |
MACK Rides MACK Rides is a German company that designs and constructs roller coasters. The family that owns the company also owns Europa Park.-History:The creation of the Mack company goes back to 1780, by Paul Mack, when he started building carriages...
|
Thrill Rides
| Name |
Type |
Year Opened |
Built By |
| Dalton Terror |
Drop tower |
1998 |
Intamin AG Intamin Worldwide is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The U.S. division of the company is located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and is headed by Gary Palmer, MD and Arnold Bernsteiner. The Intamin...
|
| BuzZsaw |
Top Spin 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...
|
2001 |
Huss Rides HUSS Park Attractions is a company specialising in the development and manufacture of amusement rides, and is based in Bremen, Germany. HUSS have designed over 35 different types of amusement rides installed worldwide.-History :...
|
See also
- Bellewaerde
Bellewaerde is a theme park in the West-Flemish countryside near Ypres . Established in 1954 on grounds that were the location of the Battle of Bellewaerde during World War I, named after the old castle that to this day stands near the main entrance of the park. Bellewaerde is the oldest operating...
- Walibi World
Walibi World is a theme park in Biddinghuizen near Dronten in the Netherlands, owned by European leisure attraction group CDA Parks .-History:...
- Walibi Rhône-Alpes
- Walibi Lorraine
- Walibi Aquitaine
External links