Europa-Park is a 95-hectare theme park in Rust, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, founded by Franz Mack and his son Roland and opened to its first visitors on July 12, 1975. Built as a showcase for the family’s ride-manufacturing business, Mack Rides, it grew from a modest site with a handful of rides into one of the largest theme park resorts in the world, still owned and run by the Mack family today.
The park is organized into 21 themed areas, most representing different European countries and regions, giving visitors the feel of touring the continent within a single site. With around 100 attractions including 14 roller coasters and a dozen or so water rides, plus themed hotels and the adjoining Rulantica water park, Europa-Park draws millions of visitors annually and has repeatedly been voted one of the best theme parks in the world.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Rust, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Opened: July 12, 1975
- Owner: Mack family (Europa-Park GmbH & Co Mack KG)
- Size: About 95 hectares
- Themed areas: 21 zones, mostly European countries/regions
- Attractions: About 100, including 14 roller coasters
- Annual visitors: Several million
The Ride Experience
Europa-Park’s coaster lineup draws on several of the world’s top manufacturers rather than a single builder. Silver Star, a Bolliger & Mabillard hypercoaster reaching about 73 meters tall, has anchored the park’s France-themed area since 2002, while Blue Fire Megacoaster, built by the park-owning Mack Rides, launches riders from a standstill to high speed in a matter of seconds. The wooden Wodan Timbur Coaster, built by American manufacturer Great Coasters International and opened in 2012, adds a classic-style ride themed to Norse mythology among the park’s more modern steel structures.
The newest addition, Voltron Nevera powered by Rimac, opened in 2024 in a new Croatian-themed area. According to RCDB, the Mack Rides-built multi-launch coaster uses several separate launches, climbs to a height of over 30 meters, and includes multiple inversions, including a launch into a beyond-vertical top-hat element billed as one of the steepest launches of any coaster in the world.
A Family-Run European Icon
Unlike many major theme parks owned by large corporations, Europa-Park has remained under Mack family ownership since it opened, with Franz Mack’s descendants still directing operations. The park has been recognized for years running as one of the world’s top-rated theme parks by industry awards such as the Golden Ticket Awards, and it was among the first theme parks in Germany to operate year-round.
Beyond rides, the resort includes several themed hotels, from the Roman-inspired Colosseo to the Spanish-styled El Andaluz, plus the Rulantica indoor water park, making Europa-Park as much a multi-day resort destination as a single-day theme park.
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Europa-Park FAQs
When did Europa-Park open?
Europa-Park opened on July 12, 1975, founded by Franz Mack and his son Roland as a showcase for their family’s ride-manufacturing business, Mack Rides.
Where is Europa-Park located?
It is located in Rust, in the Baden-Württemberg region of southwestern Germany, near the border with France.
Are all of Europa-Park’s roller coasters built by Mack Rides?
No. While the park is owned by the Mack family and several coasters like Blue Fire Megacoaster and Voltron Nevera are Mack Rides builds, Silver Star was built by Bolliger & Mabillard and the wooden Wodan Timbur Coaster was built by Great Coasters International.
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Photo: Gabriel Rinaldi / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.