Bellewaerde

Bellewaerde is a family park located at Ypres in Belgium guaranteeing a single combination: an animalist park and an amusement park.

34 exotic attractions and some 300 animals are dispersed in the 6 zones of this park with topics extending on a few 54 hectares (either 2 hectares less than the park Disneyland Paris).

the jungle
the Mexico
the Far West
the India
the Canada
Kidspark

The park carried out a turnover of almost 16 million euros in 2005 and accommodates 800.000 visitors each year. In all, they are 69 permanent employees and 150 seasonal workers who ensure the operation of this park. Bellewaerde is also a park having two entries, which is rather rare.

History

The animalist park and of leisures

In 1954, Albert Florizoone founds the Touristisch Centrum Bellewaerde (Tourist Center of Bellewaerde). It is at the same time an ornithological park where the adults can contemplate various species of exotic birds and a recreation park for the children of which Kabouterland (country of the Dwarves) with mechanical headstocks.

In 1967, Albert Florizoone dies, and in 1969 its sons decide to transform the park into a true safari where the visitor can cross the animals in freedom.

In 1972, the safari is increased with the enclosure of the lions crossed by small trains transporting the visitors.

In 1974, the animalist park continues its enrichment with initially Bengal tigers then giraffes, zebras, antelopes, pink flamingos, exotic gnous and other animals.

In 1978, a new zone appears following important work, the Jungle . Many cascades and rocks cohabit with more than 200 exotic plants in order to recreating a tropical forest.

The amusement park thematized

In 1980, the To rivet Splash, first true attraction watery is inaugurated. It is traditional goes down in rapid.

In 1981, a new topic appears with the opening of Frontier City (renamed later on Far West ). This part of the park recreates a village of cow-boy with his saloon, its general blind and some attractions of which the Vieux Jalopies and the Ladybird, a Russian mountain.

In 1982, a zone of the park is dedicated to the two heroes of cartoon Flemish, Bob and Bobette. She is located along the river crossing the Jungle and makes it possible to discover a adpatation of the album the egg bourdonnant (43e).

In 1983, the park opens a Monorail which makes it possible to discover the zones of Far West and the Jungle since the airs.

In 1984, the park opens again a new topic, the Mexico . Same manner as for the part of Far West, a Mexican village, its shops restaurants and its flora make it possible to recreate the atmosphere of the country of the sombreros. The park opens also a Russian mountain, the Boomerang, first world built by Vekoma. Moreover the park starts the presentation of a spectacle of plungers, the Acapulco Show .

In 1985, a new zone is open for smallest, Pepinoland (famous later KidsPark )

In 1986, the park increases thanks to the purchase of 27 hectares. It is especially the part on Mexico which benefits from it.

In 1988, the section of India gains an attraction of the fast type river, the Bengal Rapid River .

In 1989, two new attractions Peter Pan and Big Falls .

A park of the Walibi group

In 1990, the park is repurchased by the Groupe Walibi. The zone Pepinoland is renovated and gains a horse-gear of the coffee cups type (inspired of the Mad Tea Party of Disney).

In 1991, a new attraction inspired of Disney appears, Los Piratas copying the Pirates of the Caribbean.

In 1994, the park celebrates its 40e birthday with many events of which the castle of flowers furnished with part of the 200.000 flowers decorating the park.

In 1995, the park opens attraction the Niagara , an attraction of the type Shot-tea-falls, a fall in boat creating an immense wave.

In 1997, the park sees its first great closing with the disappearance of the spectacle of Bob and Bobette with the profit of the Voodoo River . Attraction Octopus is renovated and a colony of monkeys established on the island of the monkeys .

In 1998, the Walibi Group is repurchased by First Parks, renamed Six Flags in 2000.

In 1999, the park accommodates three nouelles attractions: Screaming Eagle , the Magic House of Houdini and the Flying Carousel .

In October 2001, the park proposes for the first time a thematisation on Halloween, pushing back a time its date of closing.

In 2002, the Pepinoland zone is completely renovated and becomes KidsPark . 7 attractions will be added: the Frog , the Express train , the Butterflies , the Tuff Tuff , the Insane Carosse , the Mini-wheel and the Dancing Balloons .

After its 50 years, a very active park always

In 2004 the park celebrates its 50 years and joins again with the origins of the recreation parks by accommodating April at August the circus " It Florilegio". During this time the European division of Six flags is resold at funds of investment based in London, Palamon Partners which re-elects the company Star parks.

In 2005, the park once more accommodates first world with attraction El Volador replacing the open horse-gear Dancing Queen resold with a Dutch park. Moreover the park opens for one wintry time but is not yet open all the year. Thus in 2006 the park is closed from November 5th, 2006 to December 25th, on December 31st, on January 1st, 2007 and of January 8th until March 30th, 2007.

Attractions

The Jungle

Voodoo To rivet , a turn in the small guided boat
the animalist park.
monorail

Mexico

the Boomerang , a Russian mountain become traditional a
Los Pirated : one strolls in boat through scenes of pirates.
the Cinema 4D is a cinema in 4D (3D+effets special). Various films, according to the period of the year.
El Volador is a Topple Tower
El Toro is an attraction of the " type; Breakdance " opened in 2006

Far West

To rivet Splash , a flume-wrinkle, 3 people per log, falls principal of 12 meters
the Ladybird a Russian mountain

India

Bengal Rapid River is a descent of river in rafting.

bengal express train is a circuit with a steam train. During the circuit one can see lions and tigers

Peter side is small horse-gear of circular form with ten small boats of 2 people which turns at any speed

Canada

Screaming eagle , a tower of 50 m high freefall of the type Shot' NR Drop of the manufacturer Huss_Rides. The nacelle takes off in 2 seconds to 70 km/h and 3,5 G before going down again and going up once again for a second fall.
the Niagara is a fall in boat top of a cascade of approximately 20 meters creating an immense wave, comparable with the large Splash of the Parc Astérix
Big falls , an original concept of fall out of buoy top of a tower of 10 m
Octopus , a horse-gear of the type octopus.
the boat pirates , a Bateau with rocker

Kidspark

the Coffee cups
the Magic House of Houdini a Mad House
the Flying Carousel , flying Chairs altitude max 7 m
the Frog ,
the Express train
the Butterflies
the Tuff Tuff (or old jalopies )
the Insane Carosse
the Mini-wheel
the Dancing Balloons .
the bath of balls .
the village on pile .
the toboggan .
the carousel .

External bonds

Official site of Bellewaerde
not-official Site of Bellewaerde
nonofficial Site of Historical Bellewaerde
and plans of the park

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