Heide Park Resort opened on August 19, 1978, near the town of Soltau in Lower Saxony, Germany, on land once occupied by the Heidenhof wildlife park. Over the decades it grew into the largest amusement park in Northern Germany and one of the largest in the country, spread across roughly 850,000 square meters (about 210 acres) of the Lüneburg Heath countryside.
The park has passed through several owners since its founding by showman Hans-Jürgen Tiemann, including the Tussauds Group, which acquired it in 2002. Since Tussauds’ 2007 merger with Merlin Entertainments, Heide Park has operated under Merlin’s global portfolio of attractions, drawing around 1.68 million visitors in 2023 with a lineup of roughly 41 rides, including nine roller coasters.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Soltau, Lower Saxony, Germany
- Operator: Merlin Entertainments
- Opened: August 19, 1978
- Size: About 850,000 m² (210 acres)
- Annual visitors: About 1.68 million (2023)
- Signature attraction: Colossos wooden coaster (Intamin, 52m tall)
- Total coasters: 9 roller coasters
The Ride Experience
Heide Park’s coaster lineup is built around a handful of standout rides. Colossos, an Intamin-designed wooden coaster, stands about 52 meters tall and reaches speeds around 110 km/h, and was among Europe’s tallest wooden coasters when it debuted in the early 2000s. Krake, a Bolliger & Mabillard Dive Coaster that opened in 2011, was the first ride of its kind built in Germany, sending riders over a near-vertical 87-degree drop from a height of 41 meters. Other coasters include the Vekoma-built Big Loop and the SLC-style Toxic Garden, rounding out a park that mixes steel thrill rides with family attractions and shows.
A Park Shaped by Changing Owners
Unlike parks built and run by a single company for their entire history, Heide Park’s identity has shifted with its ownership. Founder Hans-Jürgen Tiemann opened it as a regional attraction on former wildlife park grounds, and it expanded steadily before the Tussauds Group took over in 2002, a transition that coincided with a dip in annual attendance. Since becoming part of Merlin Entertainments’ network, the park has continued investing in new coasters and attractions while its land ownership has separately passed to real estate group LondonMetric Property, with Merlin retaining day-to-day operational control.
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Heide Park Resort FAQs
Where is Heide Park Resort located?
Heide Park Resort is located in Soltau, in the Lower Saxony region of Germany, roughly midway between Hamburg and Hanover.
What is Heide Park’s tallest roller coaster?
Colossos, an Intamin wooden coaster standing about 52 meters tall with speeds around 110 km/h, is the park’s tallest and most prominent coaster.
Who operates Heide Park Resort today?
Heide Park is operated by Merlin Entertainments, which took over the park following its 2007 merger with the Tussauds Group.
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Photo: YanCoasterman / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.