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Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week #12 Bolliger Mabillard, MAURER Rides, ETF Ride Systems, Lo-...
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Record anniversary edition for Euro Attractions Show More than 8,500 attendees on a record exhibit floor
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Justice ordered the takeover of Walygator by

a group of French investors

Update : 10:19 Published by François Mayné the 12 March 2013, Corporate.
Justice has decided. After several months of proceedings, the Commercial Court of Metz (eastern France) ordered the takeover of the amusement park Walygator by a group of French investors to the detriment of the former owners, the two brothers Le Douarin who had been in charge since 2006.
Justice ordered the takeover of Walygator by a group of French investors

Placed in receivership following the complaint of a creditor in November last year, Walygator was in serious financial trouble after accumulating several million euros of debts, especially after the acquisition of a used Bolliger & Mabillard rollercoaster in Japan.

Despite regular investments to expand the offer of rides and entertainments, the park's aging facilities have suffered from a lack of maintenance and the visitors have not always been there, which resulted in poor operating results. This situation was made public during the summer after several employees turned to the Labour Court to claim unpaid wages.

The group of investors - consisting of a business woman (Jacqueline Lejeune), an insurer (Eric Lucas), a former manager of Walygator's F&B department (Franck Deglin) and a former executive of another amusement park 'Bagatelle' (Jérôme-François Parent) - made itself known while the judges were seeking a long-lasting solution for the future of the company and thus avoid the judicial liquidation and closure of the park. From their side, the brothers Le Douarin had made a proposal to continue the activity with a third partner, an option ultimately rejected by the Court.

The new owners will pay about €4 million for business recovery. Their project aims to breathe new life to the park giving it a new brand image - including a new name and a new mascot - and injecting fresh money to renovate existing facilities and build new attractions. The amount reported is however limited to the extent that some of the existing rides and attractions will drop out of the site because of not being part of the capital assets of the company.

This amusement park's history is tormented. Born of political will to revitalize the economy of Lorraine Region, it has actually had five changes of ownership and almost as many different names in just 24 years.

Opened in 1989 under the name of Big Bang Schtroumpf (through a licensing agreement for the use of the IP 'Smurfs'), the park does not meet the popular success expected by its promoters and quickly faces with financial troubles. Saved by the Belgian businessman Eddy Meeùs, it becomes Walibi Schtroumpf in 1991 and then joins the group Walibi expanding.

The park evolves with the famous orange kangaroo before entering the fold of the North American operator Six Flags in 1999 that decides to stop the Smurf licence agreement in 2002. Renamed Walibi Lorraine, it changes hands once again in early 2004 after the cession by Six Flags of its European division to the private fund investment Palacom which creates the Star Parks group before selling the majority of its leisure parks to Compagnie des Alpes in 2006. Walibi Lorraine however, is not part of the transaction. The park is sold to the brothers Le Douarin who decide to rename it Walygator in 2007.

In order to best prepare for the 2013 season, the four new owners have decided to delay the opening until May or mid-June. They will keep the permanent staff (some forty employees) and the tickets sold on the internet during the offseason will be accepted at the gates.

The liquidation of Walygator will be pronounced on March 13. Meanwhile, the brothers have appealed the ruling.
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Written by François Mayné François Mayné Publishing Director » Contact Us
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Walygator Parc (Amusement park)
France
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Site : www.walygatorparc.com
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Europa-Park
(10 articles found)

Europa-Park chooses popular French IP to create an indoor themed area including MACK Rides coaster read more

This is a first in the history of Europa-Park. The German theme park, owned by the Mack family since 1975, has chosen to work with an intellectual...

NEW | Europa-Park - Published on June 11, 2013
Europa-Park: A family success story that's all about passion! read more

“Managing a theme park means writing a story, respecting a tradition and constantly questioning oneself, looking for new ideas and ways to i...

FEATURE | Europa-Park - Published on March 15, 2013
Themed Entertainment Association to hold its 10th TEA Summit and Thea Awards Gala April 4-6 read more

The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), an international organization that represents the interests of more than 7,500 members working in...

EVENT | Europa-Park - Published on March 6, 2013
New attendance record for Europa-Park in 2012 read more

The German theme park Europa-Park has surpassed in 2012 the 4.5 million visitors for the first time, confirming its position as the first seasonal park in the world. This outcome is therefore highly satisfactory for the Mack...

CORPORATE | Europa-Park - Published on January 9, 2013
Europa-Park purchases a hundred-year old carousel read more

The German theme park Europa-Park has just purchased a carousel-lounge of 1909 from Ecomusée d'Alsace, a museum located in Ungersheim in North-East of France. The latter had declared its intention to separate from this carousel-lounge ...

NEW | Europa-Park - Published on April 29, 2012
WODAN Timburcoaster - Interview with Clair Hain Jr. President of Great Coasters International read more

During our coverage of the WODAN Timburcoaster media event at Europa-Park (Rust, Germany), we had the opportunity to meet Clair Hain Jr, President...

FEATURE | Europa-Park - Published on April 19, 2012
Europa-Park opens WODAN Timburcoaster - Interview with Roland Mack read more

Nearly 400 members of the press and special guests - including the racing driver Ralf Schumacher and Miss Germany 2012 - were invited last Wednesday...

NEW | Europa-Park - Published on April 2, 2012
Europa Park welcomed more than 4 million visitors in 2011 and prepares 2012 read more

Europa-Park stated that its 37th season has been once again a great success with an attendance exceeding well over four million visitors in...

NEW | Europa-Park - Published on January 11, 2012
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