/ The Walibi Rhône-Alpes theme park is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year with a rollercoaster that is a first in Europe /

The story of the French theme park Walibi Rhône-Alpes is a long one. Not just because of its duration – it opened in the spring of 1979 – but also because of the significant changes this theme park in southeastern France (about 80km east of Lyon) has undergone over the decades: a change of identity (for the first 9 years it was called Avenir Land) and several ownership changes that have also influenced its themes, attractions, and strategies. 

One thing is certain, though: in its 45 years of operation, this park has completely transformed itself by constantly improving. A decisive turn came in 2006 with the acquisition by Compagnie des Alpes, its current owner, which has worked extensively on modernization and theming over the years. In 2015, a 10-year investment plan worth 50 million euros was launched, resulting in the park’s 3 current themed areas – Explorer Adventure in 2016, Festival City in 2018, and Exotic Land in 2022 – and more than 15 new “wow” rides & attractions, such as the wooden coaster “Timber” in 2016, the shuttle coaster “Mystic” with an initial vertical climb of 31m in 2019, the multi-movement ride “Airboat” in 2020, and the interactive water ride “Tiki Academy” in 2022. The result of such dedication has paid off in terms of attendance: in 2015, Walibi Rhône-Alpes welcomed 420,000 visitors; in 2022 and 2023, it averaged 600,000, an increase of nearly 45% in less than 10 years. 

How many guests will the park welcome in 2024? No one has a crystal ball to say, but undoubtedly this year’s major new attraction could act as a magnet for many old and new visitors, especially since it is a European first. 

We are talking about “Mahuka”, a single-rail roller coaster by Intamin that was inaugurated on June 15. “Mahuka”, meaning “escape” in Hawaiian, takes riders on an adrenaline-pumping journey through the heart of an abandoned temple built in honor of the God of Fire on a secluded island in the South Pacific, traveling along a 600-metre-long track at up to 67kmph and experiencing up to 13 airtime moments.

“Mahuka” is a “Hot Racer” model, which Intamin described as “designed to maximize thrills in a compact space.” Despite the limited footprint, this rollercoaster features thrilling elements throughout the layout like a corkscrew, an inverted Top Hat and a heartline roll as well as 2 launches. 

Featuring stunningly custom-themed trains, “Mahuka” allows riders to experience high comfort and freedom using Intamin’s successful LSM seat design, widely considered one of the most comfortable coaster seats on the market. Additionally, the seats were enhanced with new padding to accommodate riders as small as 120cm, unaccompanied. The in-line seating configuration, coupled with the absence of over-the-shoulder restraints, ensures quick boarding and disembarking, while offering a sense of openness and maximum comfort. 

“Mahuka” is the second “Hot Racer” model installed, the first being “The Big Dipper”, which has been operating at Luna Park Sydney in Australia since Dec. 2021. Compared to its predecessor, “Mahuka” incorporates significant enhancements. The chassis was refined to improve ride comfort and ensure an even better fit to the track. Additionally, the brand-new carbon fiber lap bars contribute to a lighter train and lower center of gravity, providing an even smoother ride.

Continue reading Games & Parks Industry June 2024, page 40

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