23 Apr 2014
US$371m Sochi theme park nearing completion
BY Jason Holland
A new theme park in Sochi adjacent to the site of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games has been given an official opening date of early June 2014 – but will let its first visitors through the gates in May in what will be a soft launch.
The US$371m (€269m, £221m) multi-phase park takes Russian folklore as its main theme, and forms part of the city’s Games legacy.
In its initial phase, the 200,000sq m (2,152,782sq ft) Sochi Park consists of five themed areas, exploring Russia’s cultural and historical heritage. It features more than a dozen rides, including three rollercoasters.
The park will also include shows inspired by fairy tales and sagas, shops, cafés and restaurants, while a medieval-style four-star hotel complex is located next to the park.
Germany’s Mack Rides is installing three attractions at the park, including a new Dragon launch coaster similar to the Blue Fire Megacoaster at its subsidiary theme park Europa-Park. Featuring four inversions, the ride will reach speeds of more than 100km per hour (62mph).
Dutch company Vekoma Rides has manufactured Quantum Leap, a Giant Inverted Boomerang steel shuttle coaster, for the park. German-based Theming & Animatronic Industries is carrying out much of the theming on site.
Jack Rouse Associates (JRA), which provided overall master planning, concept design and schematic design, had originally hoped to finish the park in time for the Olympics, but this ultimately proved an impossible feat. But Sochi Park did operate in a “test mode” during the games, with only six rides open.
A 530,000sq m (5,704,873sq ft) concept for the park was originally developed by JRA, and Sochi Park will continue to be a work-in-progress until all future phases are completed.
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