Walibi Rhône-Alpes
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| Previously known as Avenir Land (1979–1988) | |
 | |
| Location | Les Avenières, Rhône-Alpes, France |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 45°37′17″N 5°34′13″E / 45.62139°N 5.57028°E |
| Opened | 1979 |
| Owner | Compagnie des Alpes |
| Operating season | April–October |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 27 |
| Roller coasters | 4 |
| Website | [1] |
Walibi Rhône-Alpes is a French theme park located in the commune of Les Avenières, in the Isère department. It is the largest theme park in the Rhône-Alpes region, containing more than 33 rides and covering an area of 35 hectares. It is a sister park to Walibi Belgium, which was created in 1975 by Eddy Meeùs, a Belgian businessman. The name "Walibi" comes from the three municipalities in which the Walibi Belgium park is located: Wavre, Limal and Bierges.
The park had an income of 8.8 million euros in 2005, and it greets over 400,000 visitors yearly.
Walibi Rhône-Alpes also contains a 13,000-m2 water park called L'Île aux Pirates (previously Aqualibi).
As of 2006, the park is owned and operated by Compagnie des Alpes, which also owns many theme parks and ski resorts across Europe.
History
[edit]The park opened in 1979 under the name Avenir Land. The Walibi group acquired the park in 1989 and renamed it Walibi Rhône-Alpes.
In 1986, Walibi introduced water rides with the creation of a water park called Aqualibi. It would be given a makeover in 2006, becoming L'Île aux Pirates (French for Pirates' Island), and featuring a Caribbean theme.
Sale to Six Flags
[edit]In 1998, the park changed hands once again when it was bought by Six Flags as part of the American company's international expansion.
Sale to Star Parks
[edit]However, six years later, in 2004, Six Flags sold most of its European parks (including Walibi Rhône-Alpes) to Star Parks. The exception was Warner Bros. Movie World Madrid, which was sold back to Time Warner and renamed Warner Bros. Park and later Parque Warner Madrid in 2006. The Walibi parks were be transferred to Compagnie des Alpes the following year and have belonged to the French company ever since.
Like its sister parks in Belgium and Holland, the park began to go down a more themed route in the 2010s. Despite being a smaller park, the park still received regular investments, including two roller coasters, Timber (anchoring a farm-themed area) and Mystic (anchoring a horror retheme of the front right of the park). The water park closed with the park after the 2019 season and will be replaced by Exotic Land for the 2022 season.[1]
Rides and attractions
[edit]Coasters
[edit]- Timber – The Gravity Group – Wooden roller coaster – 2016
- Generator – Vekoma Boomerang roller coaster. (formerly Boomerang and later EqWalizer)
- Woodstock Express – Zamperla Zig Zag roller coaster (formerly Zig Zag and later Scratch)
- La Coccinelle – Zierer junior steel roller coaster
- Mystic – Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster – 2019
- Mahuka – Intamin Hot Racer single-rail roller coaster – 2024
Thrill rides
[edit]- Le Galion – Swinging pirate ship
- Skunx Tower – Drop tower
- Stock Car – Bumper cars
- Tomahawk – Chance Rides Inverter
- Airboat – Zamperla NebulaZ ride
Family rides
[edit]- Surf Music – Family water slide
- Bamba – Calypso ride with 16 two-passenger gondolas
- Le Grand Soleil – Ferris wheel
- Carrousel – Merry-go-round
- Melody Road – Car ride
- Mini Ferme – Small area where guests can interact with different farm animals
- Radja River – River rapids ride
- Tam Tam Tour – Relaxing tow boat ride in a jungle decor
- Wab Tour – Miniature railway ride
Children's rides
[edit]- La Chevauchée
- On Air
- Be Bop
- Qwads
- Wab Band Tour