Mack Rides is a family-owned German manufacturer of roller coasters, dark rides, flat rides, and log flumes, headquartered in Waldkirch, Baden-Württemberg. The company traces its roots back to 1780, when it began as a carriage and stagecoach maker before pivoting toward the entertainment industry in the 1880s, building show wagons and fairground equipment for traveling showmen.
The same Mack family that runs the ride-manufacturing business also owns Europa-Park, one of Europe’s most-visited theme parks, giving Mack Rides a rare in-house proving ground for its designs. Since building its first wooden roller coaster in 1921, the company has grown into a major global coaster builder, credited with well over 170 roller coasters installed on nearly every continent, alongside its signature European-engineered dark rides and water attractions.
Stats at a Glance
- Founded: 1780 (as a carriage maker); entered ride manufacturing in the 1880s
- Headquarters: Waldkirch, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- First roller coaster: 1921 (wooden coaster)
- Roller coasters built: More than 170 worldwide
- Product lines: Roller coasters, dark rides, flat rides, log flumes, tow boat rides
- Affiliated park: Europa-Park (owned by the Mack family)
- Notable models: Blue Fire, Voltron Nevera, Wodan Timburcoaster
From Carriages to Coasters
Mack’s shift from horse-drawn carriages to amusement rides in the late 19th century gave the company a manufacturing heritage that predates most of its coaster-industry rivals by over a century. That craftsmanship carried into its ride-building division, where Mack still handles design, track fabrication, and fiberglass vehicle bodywork in-house at its Waldkirch factory rather than outsourcing major components.
The company’s breakthrough into modern launch coasters came with Blue Fire at Europa-Park in 2009, its first launched coaster and the first Mack ride to feature inversions. The ride’s twisted horseshoe roll was also the first of its kind built anywhere in Europe, establishing Mack as a serious competitor in the high-thrill launched-coaster market.
A Global Portfolio Built at Home
Because the Mack family also operates Europa-Park, new Mack ride concepts are frequently tested and showcased there before wider release, most recently with Voltron Nevera, a multi-launch coaster with seven inversions that opened in 2024 and won a Golden Ticket Award for Best New Roller Coaster. Beyond Europa-Park, Mack rides operate at parks across Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America.
Alongside record-setting launch coasters, Mack remains one of the few manufacturers still producing large-scale dark rides and water attractions, reflecting the diversified fairground roots the company never fully left behind.
Explore more: Explore more roller coaster manufacturers.
Notable Mack Rides Coasters on ThrillZing
- Blue Fire Megacoaster — Europa-Park
- Icon — Blackpool Pleasure Beach
- Manta — SeaWorld San Diego
- Stardust Racers — Universal Epic Universe
- Time Traveler — Silver Dollar City (Branson
- Time Traveler — Silver Dollar City
Browse every ride profile in our roller coaster guides.
Mack Rides FAQs
Where is Mack Rides based?
Mack Rides is headquartered in Waldkirch, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, where the company designs and manufactures its rides.
What theme park does the Mack family own?
The Mack family also owns and operates Europa-Park, giving the manufacturer a home park to debut new ride designs like Blue Fire and Voltron Nevera.
How long has Mack been building rides?
The company dates back to 1780 as a carriage maker, moved into fairground equipment in the 1880s, and built its first roller coaster in 1921.
Get More from Mack Rides
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Mack Rides, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: Freddo / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
2 thoughts on “Mack Rides: The German Coaster Builder Behind Blue Fire and Voltron Nevera”
Comments are closed.