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One year ago was unveiled the most ambitious theme park and resort project of central Europe in Poland with the announcement of Adventure World Warsaw for an investment today estimated at more than €620 million (approx $770 million) and an opening scheduled in 2015.
Supported by a consortium of private and institutional investors grouped in a company named Las Palm, the 230 hectares resort (approx 568 acres) will be located in Grodzisk Mazowiecki about 30 kilometers (approx 18.6 miles) from the capital Warsaw and will consist of the largest theme park and indoor waterpark of the region, an entertainment village with restaurants, shops and night-clubs as well as two hotels totaling 800 rooms.
Las Palm expects to welcome approximately 2.6 million visitors in 2015 and over 4.6 million in 2024 on the entire resort. An objective deemed feasible given the central position of the site in Poland with two major highways (nearly 20 million people live within 4 hours drive) and the proximity of railway network and the Warsaw International Airport.
International expertise
Las Palm turned to a hundred internationally renowned professionals (experts, architects, IP consultants, manufacturers, etc.) of the theme parks and attractions industry for the implementation of the development plan.
Polish company Imtech has been selected as general contractor of the entire project and will focus on energy efficiency with environmentally responsible solutions such as biomass heating, use of solar panels or the creation of a plant to treat waste generated by the activities of the resort. They work with the independent consultancy firm RCK, specialized in steel constructions, and the engineering consultant Tebodin.
The artistic design was entrusted to the Dutch company Jora Vision specializing in themed environment and which works for nearly two years with AGS Architect to create all the infrastructures. Two rides manufacturers are also part of the main actors of the future park development, beginning with Vekoma Rides Manufacturing, which will provide 3 roller coasters and Hafema who will build two water rides.
The other rides manufacturers confirmed by Las Palm are Mack Rides, Zamperla, Huss Park Attractions, Zierer and ProSlide Technology that will handle all the water slides and attractions of the indoor water park.
Adventure World Warsaw management team is also composed of prominent professionals in their field (sales and marketing, human resources, finance, operations, hotel management and F&B) as the British Edward Pawley who has been appointed General Manager after held this position at Drayton Manor, or the American Steven Shaiken who takes the post of Executive Managing Director after several years as VP for companies such as Royal Caribbean International, Universal Parks & Resorts or Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
Virtual tour
During a press conference, Las Palm unveiled a 1/16th scale model of the future resort, while giving a little more details on the future facilities.
The center of the resort will be a large circular square with on one side the entertainment village that will link up with the car parks and on the other side the first hotel (Grand Resort Hotel) under which visitors will have to pass to enter the theme park . This other will offer 400 rooms and a business center in an elegant setting inspired by luxury palaces.
The second hotel (named Aqua Hotel) will be slighty offset from the central square via a alley also giving access on a part of the entertainment village. It will offer 400 additional rooms around the theme of the French riviera and will be directly connected to the indoor waterpark, the Aqua Dome, which will feature a dozen of water slides and attractions under a large translucent dome.
As its name suggests, the main theme of the park will be adventure that creative designers have chosen to deal with topics such as fantasy, magic, fairy tales or legends. It will be divided into six themed areas: Adventure Harbour, Lagoon Creature, Land of Legends, Castle Island, Lost Kingdom and Old Poland, the two latter featuring only indoor facilities to allow the park to stay open the whole year.
Adventure Harbour will be located just after the turnstiles. This main alley will be inspired by a marketplace (bazaar) where visitors will find shops, snack bars, services and characters meet & greets.
Lost Kingdom will take visitors to a world made of volcanic rocks full of mythological creatures where they will enjoy of a stunt show, a dark ride and an interactive 5D theater, among other attractions.
Old Poland will represent a district with traditional Polish architecture where visitors will discover local folklore and characters of tales and legends. An indoor family roller coaster will be one of the attractions.
Creature Lagoon will be a colorful themed area dedicated to children filled with fantastical creatures such as the Griffin or the Loch Ness Monster. Visitors will find multiple family rides including a Junior Coaster (Vekoma Rides), a Twist'n'Splash (Mack Rides), a carousel, flying chairs, a mini drop tower, a monorail and a hedge maze.
Land of Legends will explore the theme of the great civilizations, from the ruins of Mayan temples to the pyramids of Egypt and from ancient Greece to Norse legends. Rides confirmed include a Junior Boomerang coaster (Vekoma Rides), a Log Flume (Hafema), a carousel and a Boat ride.
Finally, Castle Island will send visitors to the heart of a medieval world out to meet the magician Merlin and legendary King Arthur as well as knights, witches and dragons. One will find rides such as a Mine Train roller coaster of Vekoma Rides (Merlin's Rainbow Hunt), a River Rapids of Hafema (King Arthur's River Ride) and a Magic Bikes of Zamperla (Magic Broomsticks).
Groundbreaking ceremony
On July 21, members of the press and many guests have visited the future site of Adventure World Warsaw to attend a groundbreaking ceremony, a step that formalizes the start of construction. Among the special guests present at the time of the formal act were Roland Mack, the current IAAPA Chairman of the Board and the Mayor of Grodzisk Mazowiecki.
Las Palm had gone to great lengths to ensure that the evening be successful by installing several temporary pavilions representing the themed areas of the future theme park. Guests were able to see special entertainments and try culinary specialties like molecular cuisine or giant sweets before enjoying an improvised 4D cinema and a walkthrough. All the event was conceived and organized by Jora Entertainment, the new subdivision of Jora Vision.
“Today marks a very special day for not only me, but for the people of Poland and all of Central Eastern Europe” stated Peter Jan Mulder, CEO of Las Palm. “I have been dreaming and planning for this night for many years and I’m excited to be part of Poland’s future as we create a new family entertainment destination. Adventure World Warsaw will be a compelling new brand that will command the attention of families and young adults. It will immediately join the ranks of the world’s top theme parks and resorts when it opens its gates in 2015.”
“Adventure World Warsaw will be supplemented with elements of local culture and history, boosting the economy and the existing regional tourism as Central Eastern Europe’s first-of-its-kind destination,” said Steven Shaiken, Executive Managing Director for AWW. “The scale of AWW is without precedence in Eastern Europe and will be responsible for creating thousands of new jobs and impacting favorably on the travel trade and tourism industry throughout the country and all of Europe.”
Contacted by NewsParcs, Jan Maarten de Raad – CEO of Jora Vision – added “For me the groundbreaking ceremony was a great moment. Looking back on 2 years of hard work of the design and project management department of Jora Vision, the excellent event itself produced by Jora Entertainment and the road ahead of building the greatest theme-park in Central Europe with a wonderful client. This whole project has been very important in the further development of our company. Building it will be a historical step in European leisure industry comparable with Disney coming to Paris.”
The mayor of Grodzisk Mazowiecki also stated “We have been working closely with Mr. Mulder and his team for many years to make this happen – and tonight it becomes real. I am thrilled that we are bringing this exciting project to Poland and especially to the Grodzisk commune. This investment will secure the future growth of our region and support our economy with new jobs and business opportunities.”
The evening ended with a fireworks along what is now a cornfield... to become within 3 years a major tourist destination in Central Europe!
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NewsParcs will do a full coverage of the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2013 in Orlando to have a look at the latest trends and developments of the global theme park industry.
Polish company Imtech has been selected as general contractor of the entire project and will focus on energy efficiency with environmentally responsible solutions such as biomass heating, use of solar panels or the creation of a plant to treat waste generated by the activities of the resort. They work with the independent consultancy firm RCK, specialized in steel constructions, and the engineering consultant Tebodin.
