Parque de Atracciones de Madrid is a amusement park located in the Casa de Campo in Madrid, Spain. Opened in 1969, it is the third-oldest operating amusement park in Spain behind Parc d'Atraccions Tibidabo and Parque de Atracciones Monte Igueldo. It is the flagship park of Parques Reunidos, who operates the park under Madrid municipal government concession till year 2039.
History
The park was opened in 1969 by Carlos Arias Navarro. Initial attractions included El Tobogán, Los Coches de Choque, El Laberinto de Espejos, El Valle de la Prehistoria, El Pulpo and Jet Star. Since then it has undergone a number of remodels, with some attractions closing or being replaced and news ones opening. In 1990 the northwest zone opened with the attractions Condor, T.I.R, Aserradero, Sillas Voladoras and later Minimotos. Katapult roller coaster was also introduced that year. In 1998 a major remodelling of the park was carried out at a cost of 8,000 million pesetas. The work included dividing the park into 5 zones and adapting the appearance and name of each attraction to match their respective zone. The park was also decorated, more souvenir shops added and the number of shows increased. Originally, the park had a mascot called Napy, who appeared on the park tickets. He was a bear characterized and dressed in a jacket and beret with a white handkerchief around his neck. After the remodelling in 1998, Napy was replaced by Trasto, an orange alien similar to a bear with a T inside a circle on its stomach. Trasto was used in promotions and appeared on a TV program called CyberClub, but was phased out by 2007 and not replaced. In March 2010, the Tree-cafe which forms part of the logo was dismantled and replaced with an attraction called Star Flyer. The park logo was also changed as a result. Access to the park was originally by one of two tickets; one that permitted access to the park and use of the attractions and another that permitted access to the park and unlimited use of most of the attractions for one day. Since 2012, the entrance ticket included the use of most of the attractions. Since 2008 the park has more than 350 employees, approximately 2.2 million visitors per year and 39 attractions.
Zones
The park has four different zones. A fifth zone called Gran Avenida became part of the Zona Tranquilidad in April 2012. Zona Tranquilidad has the lightest attractions. Rides include La Jungla, Zeppelin, Simulador Virtual and Star Flyer. There are also restaurants, a shooting gallery and trampolines. Gran Teatro and Teatro Kalimba put on various shows and concerts. This zone includes a virtual cinema, restaurants and shops. Zona del Maquinismo includes: Abismo roller coaster, opened in spring 2006; Tarántula, a 25 m high, 700 m long roller coaster opened in spring 2005; Tornado, opened in May 1999; Cueva de las Tarántulas, Aserradero, La Lanzadera, Sillas Voladoras, La Máquina, Top Spin, Rotor and Tifón. Zona de la Naturaleza includes the two main water rides and most of the park's vegetation. Rides include: TNT Tren de la Mina, a 17.5 m high roller coaster that reaches 55 km/h; Vértigo, Los Rápidos, Los Fiordos, Tiovivo and a Cine 4D, which projects films with holographic technology. The newest zone is Nickelodeonland. This area is dedicated to kids, where they can meet their favourite TV characters from the Nickelodeon series and movies. This include: SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, The Fairly OddParents, Rugrats and PAW Patrol. All rides are themed according to this topic, and we can find: Cazamedudas de Patricio, Juegos de Agua, Licencia para Conducir de las Tortugas Ninja, La Aventura de Dora, Al Bosque con Diego, Magneto de Jimmy Neutrón, Padrinos Voladores, Los Globos Locos, Coches de Choque de Rugrats, Nickelodeon Express, Patrulla Canina, Hero Spin and Splash Bash. You can also find in this area a restaurant and a shop.
