Crazy Bats is Phantasialand’s great shape-shifter: a Vekoma coaster that has spent its entire life indoors and worn three different identities since 1988. It opened on April 1 of that year as Space Center, became Temple of the Night Hawk in 2001, and re-emerged on June 25, 2019 as Crazy Bats — a virtual-reality coaster starring the creatures of the animated film Monster Family.
Whatever the theme, the hardware is remarkable: 1,174 meters of track packed inside a colossal dark building, making it among the longest fully enclosed roller coasters ever built.
Key Stats
| Height | 38.4 ft (11.7 m) |
| Speed | 28.9 mph (46.5 km/h) |
| Track length | 3,852 ft (1,174 m) |
| Lift hills | 3 |
| Duration | About 4 minutes |
| Riders per train | 28 (7 cars) |
| Capacity | 1,600 riders/hour |
| Type | Enclosed steel coaster (Vekoma custom MK-900) |
| Designer | Werner Stengel |
| Opened | April 1, 1988 |
Three Names, One Giant Dark Box
Built over 18 months for 15 million Deutsche Mark, the ride debuted in 1988 as Space Center, a space-themed coaster in the dark. The 2001 re-theme to Temple of the Night Hawk swapped rockets for a mystical temple, and the 2019 transformation to Crazy Bats added optional VR headsets — a 50,000-frame animated film produced by Ambient Entertainment and Mack Media that turns the pitch-black layout into a comedic bat flight.
An Engineering Oddity
The numbers tell an unusual story: just 11.7 meters tall and 46.5 km/h at top speed, yet nearly 1.2 kilometers long with a four-minute ride time. Three separate lift hills keep the train moving through the enormous hall — roughly 120,000 cubic meters of building resting on 180 concrete pillars. That marathon layout puts it in rare company; compare it with the longest roller coasters in the world and the longest ride times at theme parks.
Riding It Today
The VR headsets are optional — purists can still ride in near-total darkness the old-fashioned way, and at a family-friendly 46.5 km/h with no inversions, it’s an accessible thrill. With five trains built (four running, one spare) and 28 riders per train, Crazy Bats pushes through up to 1,600 guests per hour.
FAQ
Is Crazy Bats the same ride as Temple of the Night Hawk?
Yes. The coaster opened in 1988 as Space Center, was renamed Temple of the Night Hawk in 2001, and became Crazy Bats in 2019 when Phantasialand added the optional Monster Family VR experience.
How long is Crazy Bats?
The track runs 3,852 feet (1,174 m) — an enormous length for an indoor coaster — with three lift hills and a ride time of about four minutes.
Do you have to wear the VR headset?
No. The VR is optional; you can ride Crazy Bats as a classic coaster in the dark.
Photo: Coaster J via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)