Wonderland Eurasia Explained
Wonderland Eurasia |
Location: | Ankara, Turkey |
Coordinates: | 39.9449°N 32.7886°W |
Opening Date: | 20 March 2019 |
Closing Date: | February 2020 |
Previous Names: | Ankapark (20132019) |
Coasters: | 17 |
Status: | Closed |
Wonderland Eurasia, previously known as Ankapark, is an abandoned amusement park in Ankara, Turkey. Opened in 2019, the park had 17 roller coasters, the second-most worldwide. It was closed permanently in February 2020, though most of the permanent rides, and structures remain largely intact.
History
In 2013, the 27th mayor of Ankara, Melih Gökçek, requested name suggestions for a new amusement park that would be located on the Atatürk Forest Farm and Zoo's property, land originally bequeathed by Turkey's founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.[1] [2] [3] On 10 July 2014, work was halted initially by the 14th Chamber Council of State due to concerns of ‘tarnishing the legacy’ of the land.[4] In December 2014, work was halted yet again by the Administrative Court of Ankara over the land usage.[5] By May 2015, a roller coaster and ferris wheel were tested and opened to the public.[6] [7] An overpass to the park was under construction in September 2016.[8]
By August 2017, the park was nearly completed.[9] In October 2017, construction began on an underpass to allow easier access to the park's entrance.[10] In November 2017, the total project had incurred a cost of 2B TL (US$800m) according to the then-28th mayor of Ankara, Mustafa Tuna.[11] In September 2018, GBM Ticaret-Çelik acquired the lease to the park for 29 years.[12] [13] In January 2019, it was announced that the park would open on 25 March 2019, after all certifications were completed.[14] [15] [16] [17] The park was given the new name of Wonderland Eurasia ahead of its opening, along with an announcement by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stating that the park would open earlier than predicted.[18] On 20 March 2019, the park finally opened to the public.[19] [20] [21] It closed permanently in February 2020 following an initial year of low attendance, along with the ensuing COVID-19 pandemic.[22] The park had cost a total of more than US$800m, according to the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality.[23]
In July 2022, the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality acquired the park following a court ruling.[24] [25] Afterward, the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality surveyed Ankara residents on how the park's site should be used.[26] The survey showed that Ankara residents wanted the site to be redeveloped into a green area.[26]
List of attractions
As of January 2019, there were 17 roller coasters constructed for the park.[27] [28] It tied with Cedar Point and Canada's Wonderland for the third-most in the world behind Energylandia which has 18, and Six Flags Magic Mountain, which has 20.[29] [30] [31]
Name | Translation | Manufacturer |
---|
Altin Madeni Coaster | Gold Mine Coaster | SBF Visa Group |
Ejderha Uçuşu | Dragon Flight | Zierer |
Seydi Reis | | |
Girdap Sörfçüler | Vortex Surfers | Interpark |
Mouse Coaster | | Levent Lunapark |
Öksökö Öfkesi | Anger of Öksökö | Beijing Shibaolai Amusement Equipment |
Uzaya Yolculuk | Space Trip | Beijing Shibaolai Amusement Equipment |
Misket Coaster | | |
Lightspeed | | Intamin |
Köpekbalığı Girdabı | Shark Swirl | |
Çelik Kartal | Steel Eagle | Zamperla |
Miğfer | Helmet | SBF Visa Group |
Devin Kileri | Giant's Cellar | Zierer |
Canavar Dalga | Monster Wave | Intamin |
Lav Macerasi | Lava Adventure | I.E. Park |
Power Mouse Coaster | | Fabbri |
Volare Hiz Kizagi | | Zamperla | |
Notes and References
- Web site: Dev Tema Park'a İsim Aranıyor. 29 September 2013. Haberler. tr. 25 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190420182349/https://www.haberler.com/dev-tema-park-a-isim-araniyor-5120646-haberi/. 20 April 2019. live.
- Web site: Temapark adını Twitter'da arıyor. 29 September 2013. Hürriyet. Demirören Group. tr. 25 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20180916022720/http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/temapark-adini-twitter-da-ariyor-24813922. 16 September 2018. live.
- News: Wilks . Andrew . 26 July 2022 . Abandoned Ankara theme park subject of lawsuits, political controversy . Al-Monitor . 28 July 2022.
- Web site: Ankapark'a, Danıştay'dan durdurma kararı. 21 July 2014. Memurlar.net. MN Software Inc.. tr-tr. 25 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190126061133/https://www.memurlar.net/haber/477187/ankapark-a-danistay-dan-durdurma-karari.html. 26 January 2019. live.
- Web site: Ankapark'a bir durdurma daha. Hürriyet. 4 January 2015 . Demirören Group. tr. 25 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20180916055852/http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/ankapark-a-bir-durdurma-daha-27861746. 16 September 2018. live.
- Web site: Ankapark'ta roller coaster ve dönme dolap kuyruğu. 12 May 2015. Milliyet. Demirören Group. tr. 25 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190126060953/http://www.milliyet.com.tr/ankapark-ta-roller-coaster-ve-donme-ankara-yerelhaber-778691/. 26 January 2019. live.
- Web site: Ankapark'ta kapılar açıldı. 12 May 2015. Hürriyet. Demirören Group. tr. 25 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190126061159/http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/ankapark-ta-kapilar-acildi-28984436. 26 January 2019. live.
- Web site: Ankapark'a Üst Geçit Köprüsü. 26 September 2016. Milliyet. Demirören Group. 25 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190126061159/http://www.milliyet.com.tr/ankapark-a-ust-gecit-koprusu-ankara-yerelhaber-1567882/. 26 January 2019. live.
- Web site: Ankapark of Turkey Nears Completion. Carter. 21 August 2017. Coaster Hub. en-US. 25 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190126061123/http://coasterhub.com/archives/23338. 26 January 2019. live.
- Web site: Ankapark'tan İstanbul Yoluna Yeni Bağlantı. 17 October 2017. Milliyet. Demirören Group. tr. 25 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190126061221/http://www.milliyet.com.tr/ankapark-tan-istanbul-yoluna-yeni-baglanti-ankara-yerelhaber-2343060/. 26 January 2019. live.
- Web site: The shocking cost of Melih Gökçek's AnkaPark. Zeyrek. Deniz. 25 November 2017. Hürriyet Daily News. Doğan Media Group. en. 26 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190126061153/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/opinion/deniz-zeyrek/the-shocking-cost-of-melih-gokceks-ankapark-123041. 26 January 2019. live.
- Web site: Ankapark sonunda sahibini buldu. Yavuz. 20 September 2018. Sözcü. Estetik Publishing A.Ş.. tr. 25 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20181207070849/https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2018/ekonomi/ankapark-sonunda-sahibini-buldu-2637126/. 7 December 2018. live.
- Web site: Ankapark ihalesi sonuçlandı. 21 September 2018. CNN Türk. tr. 25 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20181005064750/https://www.cnnturk.com/video/ekonomi/turkiye/ankapark-ihalesi-sonuclandi. 5 October 2018. live.
- Web site: Ankapark theme park to open in Turkey in March. Mander. Michael. 22 January 2019. Blooloop. 25 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190123224341/https://blooloop.com/link/ankapark-turkey/. 23 January 2019. live.
- Web site: World of adventures: Europe's biggest theme park to open in Turkish capital. 18 January 2019. Daily Sabah. Turkuvaz Media Group. 25 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190126061002/https://www.dailysabah.com/life/2019/01/18/world-of-adventures-europes-biggest-theme-park-to-open-in-turkish-capital. 26 January 2019. live.
- Web site: Ankapark 25 Mart'ta açılacak. 19 January 2019. CNN Türk. tr. 25 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190126061050/https://www.cnnturk.com/turkiye/ankapark-25-martta-acilacak. 26 January 2019. live.
- Web site: Ankapark'ın açılış tarihi belli oldu!. 19 January 2019. Cumhuriyet. Cumhuriyet Foundation. tr. 25 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190124001231/http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/turkiye/1207728/Ankapark_in_acilis_tarihi_belli_oldu_.html. 24 January 2019. live.
- Web site: AnkaPark ücretleri ne kadar? Wonderland Euraisa ne zaman açılacak?. 18 March 2019. CNN Türk. tr. 19 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190319012831/https://www.cnnturk.com/turkiye/ankapark-ucretleri-ne-kadar-wonderland-euraisa-ne-zaman-acilacak. 19 March 2019. live.
- Web site: Erdoğan opens Europe's biggest theme park in Turkish capital. 20 March 2019. Yeni Şafak. Albayrak Holding. tr-TR. 21 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190321003320/https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/erdogan-opens-europes-biggest-theme-park-in-turkish-capital-3477050. 21 March 2019. live.
- Web site: Turkish President Erdoğan targets CHP's Ankara mayor candidate. 20 March 2019. Hürriyet Daily News. Doğan Media Group. en. 21 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190321003317/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-president-erdogan-targets-chps-ankara-mayor-candidate-142048. 21 March 2019. live.
- News: Turkey's Erdogan opens giant theme park in Ankara amid safety concerns. 20 March 2019. 21 March 2019. Reuters. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20190321003320/https://www.reuters.com/article/turkey-election-park-idUSL8N2162LK. 21 March 2019. live.
- Web site: 11 February 2020 . 750 milyon dolar harcanan Ankapark kapatıldı . 16 August 2022 . Son dakika haberleri – Sözcü . tr.
- News: Municipality discloses cost of Ankapark: 801 million 288 thousand dollars . 28 July 2022 . Bianet . BIA News Desk . 4 February 2022.
- Web site: 6 July 2022 . ANKAPARK belediyeye devrediliyor . 16 August 2022 . www.haberturk.com . tr.
- Web site: 6 July 2022 . Ankapark, Ankara Büyükşehir Belediyesi'ne devredildi . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220706103626/https://www.cnnturk.com/turkiye/ankapark-ankara-buyuksehir-belediyesine-devredildi . 6 July 2022 . 16 August 2022 . CNN TÜRK . tr.
- Web site: 27 July 2022 . Ankapark için yapılan oylamada ilk sonuçlar: Yurttaşlar 'Yeşil alan' dedi . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220727111526/https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/turkiye/video-ankapark-icin-yapilan-oylamada-ilk-sonuclar-yurttaslar-yesil-alan-dedi-1962539 . 27 July 2022 . 16 August 2022 . Cumhuriyet Haber Verir . tr.
- Web site: Wonderland Eurasia (Ankara, Ankara, Turkey). Marden. Duane. Roller Coaster DataBase. 19 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190126000939/https://rcdb.com/12017.htm. 26 January 2019. live.
- Web site: Six Flags Magic Mountain to add racing coaster with side-by-side tracks. Staff. 16 September 2018. Ventura County Star. Gannett. en. 25 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190126061140/https://www.vcstar.com/story/entertainment/2018/09/16/six-flags-magic-mountain-add-racing-coaster-side-side-tracks/1154013002/. 26 January 2019. live.
- Web site: Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio, USA). Marden. Duane. Roller Coaster DataBase. 26 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190321010503/https://rcdb.com/4529.htm. 21 March 2019. live.
- Web site: Canada's Wonderland (Vaughan, Ontario, Canada). Marden. Duane. Roller Coaster DataBase. 26 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20181216032127/https://rcdb.com/4539.htm. 16 December 2018. live.
- Web site: Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, California, USA). Marden. Duane. Roller Coaster DataBase. 26 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190329025143/https://rcdb.com/4532.htm. 29 March 2019. live.