Poseidon is the water coaster that anchors the Greece-themed area of Europa-Park in Rust, Germany. Built by hometown manufacturer Mack Rides and opened on July 12, 2000, it blends a genuine roller coaster layout with boat-ride sections, sending eight-passenger boats over lift hills, down coaster drops and through two big splashdowns beneath the gaze of Greek gods and temple ruins.
It was a landmark ride for its builder: Poseidon was the first water roller coaster to open in Europe and only the second one Mack Rides had ever built. A quarter of a century later it remains one of Europa-Park’s signature family thrills.
Key Stats
| Type | Water coaster (Mack Rides) |
| Opened | July 12, 2000 |
| Height | 75 ft (23 m) |
| Speed | 43 mph (70 km/h) |
| Length | 2,743 ft (836 m) |
| Max vertical angle | 50° |
| Ride duration | 5 minutes 50 seconds |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Hourly capacity | 1,690 riders |
| Boats | 20 boats, 8 riders each (2 across × 4 rows) |
| Minimum height | 120 cm (3 ft 11 in) |
| Park | Europa-Park — Rust, Baden-Württemberg, Germany |
A Milestone for Mack Rides
Europa-Park is owned by the Mack family, and the park has long served as the showcase for Mack Rides’ newest hardware. When Poseidon opened in 2000 it introduced the water coaster concept to Europe, combining tracked coaster segments with free-floating channel sections. The layout alternates between the two: boats climb a lift, run through curving coaster track, splash down, then drift through slower scenic stretches before the next climb. In total the ride features two tracked sections and three floating sections along its 836 meters.
The ride has been refined over the years. Poseidon originally ran 22 boats, later trimmed to 20, and its early bench-style single lap bars were replaced with individual lap bars for each rider.
The Ride Experience
Poseidon leans hard into its mythology. The queue and station sit among oversized columns, statues and Greek theming, and the first splashdown passes a replica Trojan Horse. The coaster sections deliver a maximum vertical angle of 50 degrees and a top speed of around 43 mph — genuinely brisk for a ride that welcomes anyone over 120 cm tall — while the float sections give everyone a chance to catch their breath and take in the Greece area’s scenery.
At 5 minutes and 50 seconds gate to gate, Poseidon is also an unusually long ride. That puts it in rare company among the longest ride times at theme parks, where most major coasters clock in well under three minutes.
How Poseidon Compares
Poseidon is one of two water-and-coaster hybrids at Europa-Park and remains one of the largest water coasters in Europe at 75 feet tall. With 1,690 riders per hour it moves lines efficiently, and its zero-inversion, moderate-thrill profile makes it a bridge ride: exciting enough for coaster fans on a hot day, approachable enough for families stepping up from the park’s junior rides.
FAQ
How wet do you get on Poseidon?
Poseidon features multiple splashdowns, including a large drop finale, so riders should expect a real soaking on warm days — it is a water coaster first and foremost. Seats toward the front of the boat typically catch the most spray.
How tall and fast is Poseidon?
Poseidon stands 75 ft (23 m) tall and reaches 43 mph (70 km/h) across 2,743 ft (836 m) of track and water channels, with a maximum vertical angle of 50 degrees and no inversions.
Was Poseidon the first water coaster in Europe?
Yes. When it opened at Europa-Park on July 12, 2000, Poseidon became the first water roller coaster in Europe, and it was only the second water coaster ever built by Mack Rides.
Photo: Stefan Scheer via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)