Heide Park

[golgactic]

Though at times it reached 40 mins, it was a 20 min queue when I joined and for most of the afternoon. Dread to think what it would be on a weekend/public holiday.

The capacity is definitely not 380pph I think - because of the design of the station it’s difficult to fill cars and because of the video screens dispatches are not that frequent. For example, I was sent by myself due to being surrounded by groups of 3 or 4.

 

[IDB]

Kind of sums up my overall opinion yesterday, felt this place was the weakest major European theme park I’ve been to in terms of overall experience.

Though it wasn’t slammed, with 1 train ops/slow ops, 2 coasters deliberately opening late, the worst slc I have ever ridden and a general neglect about the place I left early, something I don’t usually do.

I visited last week and 10 months after this post, I can concur that I had a similar disappointing day. One train operations on the majority of the coasters led to long and slow moving queues and we left feeling we’d not seen half of the park and not too bothered about returning any time soon to see the rest.

 

[Rob]

I made my first ever visit to Heide Park last week and thought I'd share a few thoughts.

• It's a bit of a strange park. There are some lovely areas, nice views across the lake, decent landscaping and some good theming. The Rapids for example looks excellent as area the areas around Bobbahn. But then you also have areas that have clearly been left empty/derelict. As someone who has not been before, it leaves you wondering what was there. A whole area to the right of the entrance with some gorgeous buildings is closed off and overgrown. Empty and overgrown plots where Huss Land was (there are currently 3 flats operating here; Wave Swinger, Magic and Breakdance). Other places where flat rides clearly once stood.
• Colossos is really good, especially the first couple of hills. It dies a bit in the middle of the ride before picking up again at the end. Very smooth and nice airtime, although nowhere near the level of El Toro. The theming structure is also very cool!
• Flug der Dämonen is a good B&M Wing Coaster with a different and interesting layout, plus it feels like a long ride. I like how they have incorporated it into the park.
• Not much to say about the other coasters. Krake is fine, Bobbahn is fun and long, Toxic Garden is an SLC. Desert Race is smoother than Rita but I don't feel like it fits in with the park at all.
• Ops were mediocre. Everything other than Colossos and Bobbahn was on one train which was fine as the park was quiet.
• Food on park was fine, we had Bratwurst/Currywurst which you can't really go wrong with in Germany. Prices more reasonable than Merlin UK parks.
• We also stayed at the Heide Park hotel which although fairly basic was quite nice. Large comfortable rooms, nicely themed bathroom with a really good shower (these things matter!) and a breakfast buffet that is streets ahead of Alton Towers. The hotel bar however closed at 10.30pm. GET TO BED!

Overall it was an enjoyable time at Heide. I can imagine that back in the day, when they had a lot more rides, it could be more of a 2 day park. But with low guest numbers the 10am-5pm opening hours were fine and one day was enough. In places it did feel quite Merlin, in many other places you could see how it used to be a beautiful independent theme park. I don't think either Tussauds or Merlin have done the park too many favours, but I would imagine investment was needed at the time.

Will I return? They need a new major attraction for that. And with the state Merlin are in, that does not appear to be forthcoming.

 

[Enter Valhalla]

I’m no urban explorer but I a really really like spotting all of Heide Park’s abandoned areas where tides used to sit.

Did you see the trough of the former log flume? (Heide used to have two flumes) The trough is still partially in place and fairly easy to see near the wing coaster, as well as part of its lift hill and one of the themed building which is still in place?

You can also still see the guide rail of the old steamer boat ride in the lake, the first aid building used to have an observation tower on top of it and near the pirate ship we also found a former ride control box/cabin with the control panel and key still in place, just no ride. I find it all super interesting to see.

 

[Rob]

I’m no urban explorer but I a really really like spotting all of Heide Park’s abandoned areas where tides used to sit.

Did you see the trough of the former log flume? (Heide used to have two flumes) The trough is still partially in place and fairly easy to see near the wing coaster, as well as part of its lift hill and one of the themed building which is still in place?

You can also still see the guide rail of the old steamer boat ride in the lake, the first aid building used to have an observation tower on top of it and near the pirate ship we also found a former ride control box/cabin with the control panel and key still in place, just no ride. I find it all super interesting to see.

Last year they actually put a new dark ride in the station area of the former second log flume - Dämonen Gruft. It's quite a bizarre ride, and to be honest, felt like it could have been many years old and not brand new! Very low budget, but fine I suppose.

 

[Enter Valhalla]

I do need to get back to Heide Park to check that out.

Despite not being a Merlin fan, I do have quite a soft spot for Heide Park. Many of the pre-Tussauds areas are still beautiful and very well maintained. I like the layout, the ride selection is fine (but for me it’s not all about the rides so I don’t mind the fact that the coasters aren’t mind blowing) and most of the staff I came across were very pleasant.

In terms of Merlin parks generally, I’d say this one is my favourite and I feel it gets a lot of unfair criticism, which I think it wouldn’t receive if it wasn’t Merlin owned.

 

[Benzin]

It probably doesn't help that the baseline for quality in Germany is very high.

Any park that has a number of mothballed areas will receive criticism though. And fairly.