Standing 174 feet above the Palatinate countryside, Expedition GeForce is the tallest and fastest ride at Plopsaland Deutschland — and one of the most decorated steel roller coasters ever built. Since opening in 2001, this Intamin mega coaster has paired an 82-degree first drop with seven distinct moments of airtime, sending riders past 74 mph in just over a minute of track.
Built by Swiss manufacturer Intamin and engineered by famed German designer Werner Stengel, Expedition GeForce turned the former Holiday Park into a pilgrimage site for coaster enthusiasts across Europe. Below is everything worth knowing before you ride: exact height and speed figures, the full stats sheet, its award history, and what to expect when you visit Plopsaland Deutschland.
Quick Answer
Expedition GeForce stands 174 feet (53 m) tall with a 168-foot (51 m) first drop, making it one of the tallest roller coasters on the European mainland. It’s located at Plopsaland Deutschland (formerly Holiday Park) in Haßloch, Germany, where this Intamin-built Mega Coaster reaches a top speed of 74.6 mph (120 km/h) across 4,003 feet (1,220 m) of track, with an 82-degree first drop and zero inversions.
Expedition GeForce Height, Speed & Full Stats
At 174 feet (53 m) tall, Expedition GeForce was the tallest roller coaster on the European mainland when it opened in 2001, a title it held until Europa-Park’s Silver Star arrived a few years later. The coaster climbs its lift hill on a cable-launch system — the same technology used on Cedar Point’s Millennium Force — before plunging riders down an 82-degree first drop toward the valley floor.
- Height: 174 ft (53 m)
- First drop: 168 ft (51 m) at 82°
- Top speed: 74.6 mph (120 km/h)
- Track length: 4,003 ft (1,220 m)
- Duration: approx. 1 minute 15 seconds
- Max G-force: 4.5 G
- Inversions: 0
- Trains: 2 trains, 28 riders each (7 cars, 2 across, 2 rows)
- Capacity: up to 1,300 riders per hour
- Height requirement: 55 in (140 cm)
- Opened: June 18, 2001
- Cost: approximately €10 million
- Manufacturer: Intamin (Mega Coaster model)
- Designer: Werner Stengel (Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH)
Where Is Expedition GeForce? Inside Plopsaland Deutschland
Expedition GeForce is the headline attraction at Plopsaland Deutschland, a theme park in Haßloch, in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of southwestern Germany, roughly midway between Frankfurt and Strasbourg. The park operated for decades as Holiday Park before Belgium’s Plopsa Group took over and rebranded it as Plopsaland Deutschland, adding characters like the Smurfs and Maya the Bee alongside the park’s existing thrill-ride lineup.
Expedition GeForce kept its name and layout through the rebrand — it now carries a sponsor tag as bigFM Expedition GeForce — and remains the park’s signature ride and the main reason many out-of-town coaster fans make the trip to Haßloch in the first place.
The Ride Experience
After the cable lift hoists riders 174 feet into the air, Expedition GeForce sends them down an 82-degree first drop before charging through a relentless sequence of camelback hills, sweeping turns, and a signature overbanked curve. The 4,003-foot layout packs in seven distinct moments of weightlessness, giving it a reputation among enthusiasts for airtime density that few coasters — even much longer ones — can match.
The ride runs two 28-seat trains and can move up to 1,300 riders per hour, though queues regularly build on busy summer days given the coaster’s popularity. At peak intensity the layout generates 4.5 Gs, and the full circuit lasts around 1 minute 15 seconds — a short but famously intense run.
Awards, Records & Legacy
Expedition GeForce has been a fixture of Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards since its debut, ranking as high as the third-best steel roller coaster in the world in 2003 and again from 2013 through 2015, and finishing fourth in 2004, 2016, and 2018. It has slipped down the list in recent years — landing 9th in 2024 and 10th in 2025 — as newer hyper and giga coasters have entered the field, but it remains a consistent global top-10-to-15 presence more than two decades after opening.
At launch, Expedition GeForce was the tallest roller coaster on the European mainland, a record it held until Europa-Park’s Silver Star opened. It continues to draw coaster enthusiasts from across the continent as one of Europe’s most decorated steel rides and a benchmark for Intamin’s Mega Coaster line.
Planning Your Visit to Plopsaland Deutschland
Plopsaland Deutschland typically operates on a seasonal schedule — generally open daily through spring, summer, and early autumn, with reduced days in the off-season plus special events like Halloween and holiday openings. Because dates and hours shift year to year, check the official Plopsaland Deutschland opening-hours calendar before you go.
Admission is sold as single-day tickets or annual passes, with online prices generally cheaper than at the gate; children, seniors, and shorter visitors have separate pricing tiers, and young infants are typically free. Onsite parking is available for a daily fee. For current prices and to buy tickets in advance, use the official Plopsaland Deutschland ticket page. Riders must be at least 55 inches (140 cm) tall to board Expedition GeForce, so plan accordingly if you’re visiting with kids.
Expedition GeForce FAQs
How tall is Expedition GeForce?
Expedition GeForce stands 174 feet (53 m) tall, with a first drop of 168 feet (51 m) at an 82-degree angle.
Where is Expedition GeForce located?
It’s located at Plopsaland Deutschland (formerly Holiday Park) in Haßloch, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
How fast does Expedition GeForce go?
It reaches a top speed of 74.6 mph (120 km/h) across its 4,003-foot (1,220 m) course.
Who designed and built Expedition GeForce?
It was manufactured by Swiss firm Intamin and designed by German engineer Werner Stengel, whose firm Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH has designed many of the world’s most celebrated roller coasters.
Does Expedition GeForce have any loops or inversions?
No — it has zero inversions. Its thrills come entirely from extreme airtime, an 82-degree first drop, and relentless hill-and-valley sequencing at speeds up to 74.6 mph.
How tall do you have to be to ride Expedition GeForce?
Riders must be at least 55 inches (140 cm) tall.
Is Expedition GeForce still ranked among the world’s best coasters?
Yes. It has placed in Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards top steel coasters list every year since it opened, including as high as #3 (2003, 2013–2015), and most recently 9th in 2024 and 10th in 2025.
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