Madrid's Theme Park

History of Madrid's Theme Park

The park was opened in 1969 by Carlos Arias Navarro. Initial attractions included a slide, bumper cars, a mirror maze, the prehistoric valley, the octopus and the 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, the sawmill, flying chairs and later the minimotos. The katapult ride 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). 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 StarFlyer. 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. A fifth zone called La Gran Avenida became part of the Quiet Zone in April 2012.

The Quiet Zone has the lightest attractions. Rides include The Jungle, Fantasy, Zeppelin and Star Flyer. There are also restaurants, a shooting gallery and trampolines. The Great Theatre and Kalimba Theatre put on various shows and concerts. The Great Avenue Zone includes a virtual cinema, restaurants and shops.

The Machinism Zone includes: the Abysm roller coaster, opened in spring 2006; The Tarantual, a 25m high, 700m long roller coaster opened in spring 2005; Tornado, opened in May 1999; The Cave of Tarantulas; the Sawmill; the Machine; Top Spin; Rotor and Typhoon.

The Nature Zone includes the two main water rides and most of the park's vegetation. Rides include: TNT The Mine Train, a 17.5m high roller coaster that reached 55 km/h; Vertigo; Rapids; The Fiords, The Pergola, Telesaurius and a 4-D cinema which projects film with holographic technology.

The Nickelodean Zone