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Wonderland Eurasia

Coordinates: 39°56′42″N 32°47′19″E / 39.9449°N 32.7886°E / 39.9449; 32.7886
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Wonderland Eurasia
Previously known as Ankapark (2013–2019)
LocationAnkara, Turkey
Coordinates39°56′42″N 32°47′19″E / 39.9449°N 32.7886°E / 39.9449; 32.7886
StatusDefunct
Opened20 March 2019
ClosedFebruary 2020
Attractions
Roller coasters17

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

[edit]

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.[3][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

[edit]

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[27] Manufacturer[27]
Altin Madeni Coaster Gold Mine Coaster SBF Visa Group
Ejderha Uçuşu Dragon Flight Zierer
Seydi Reis No translation —
Girdap Sörfçüler Vortex Surfers Interpark
Mouse Coaster English name Levent Lunapark
Öksökö Öfkesi Anger of Öksökö Beijing Shibaolai Amusement Equipment
Uzaya Yolculuk Space Trip Beijing Shibaolai Amusement Equipment
Misket Coaster English name —
Lightspeed English name 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 English name Fabbri
Volare Hiz Kizagi — Zamperla

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Dev Tema Park'a İsim Aranıyor". Haberler (in Turkish). 29 September 2013. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  2. ^ "Temapark adını Twitter'da arıyor". Hürriyet (in Turkish). Demirören Group. 29 September 2013. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  3. ^ a b Wilks, Andrew (26 July 2022). "Abandoned Ankara theme park subject of lawsuits, political controversy". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Ankapark'a, Danıştay'dan durdurma kararı". Memurlar.net (in Turkish). MN Software Inc. 21 July 2014. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Ankapark'a bir durdurma daha". Hürriyet (in Turkish). Demirören Group. 4 January 2015. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  6. ^ "Ankapark'ta roller coaster ve dönme dolap kuyruğu". Milliyet (in Turkish). Demirören Group. 12 May 2015. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Ankapark'ta kapılar açıldı". Hürriyet (in Turkish). Demirören Group. 12 May 2015. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Ankapark'a Üst Geçit Köprüsü". Milliyet. Demirören Group. 26 September 2016. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  9. ^ Carter (21 August 2017). "Ankapark of Turkey Nears Completion". Coaster Hub. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  10. ^ "Ankapark'tan İstanbul Yoluna Yeni Bağlantı". Milliyet (in Turkish). Demirören Group. 17 October 2017. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  11. ^ Zeyrek, Deniz (25 November 2017). "The shocking cost of Melih Gökçek's AnkaPark". Hürriyet Daily News. Doğan Media Group. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  12. ^ Yavuz (20 September 2018). "Ankapark sonunda sahibini buldu". Sözcü (in Turkish). Estetik Publishing A.Ş. Archived from the original on 7 December 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  13. ^ "Ankapark ihalesi sonuçlandı" (in Turkish). CNN Türk. 21 September 2018. Archived from the original on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  14. ^ Mander, Michael (22 January 2019). "Ankapark theme park to open in Turkey in March". Blooloop. Archived from the original on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  15. ^ "World of adventures: Europe's biggest theme park to open in Turkish capital". Daily Sabah. Turkuvaz Media Group. 18 January 2019. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  16. ^ "Ankapark 25 Mart'ta açılacak" (in Turkish). CNN Türk. 19 January 2019. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  17. ^ "Ankapark'ın açılış tarihi belli oldu!". Cumhuriyet (in Turkish). Cumhuriyet Foundation. 19 January 2019. Archived from the original on 24 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  18. ^ "AnkaPark ücretleri ne kadar? Wonderland Euraisa ne zaman açılacak?" (in Turkish). CNN Türk. 18 March 2019. Archived from the original on 19 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  19. ^ "Erdoğan opens Europe's biggest theme park in Turkish capital". Yeni Şafak (in Turkish). Albayrak Holding. 20 March 2019. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  20. ^ "Turkish President Erdoğan targets CHP's Ankara mayor candidate". Hürriyet Daily News. Doğan Media Group. 20 March 2019. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  21. ^ "Turkey's Erdogan opens giant theme park in Ankara amid safety concerns". Reuters. 20 March 2019. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  22. ^ "750 milyon dolar harcanan Ankapark kapatıldı". Son dakika haberleri – Sözcü (in Turkish). 11 February 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  23. ^ "Municipality discloses cost of Ankapark: 801 million 288 thousand dollars". Bianet. BIA News Desk. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  24. ^ "ANKAPARK belediyeye devrediliyor". www.haberturk.com (in Turkish). 6 July 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  25. ^ "Ankapark, Ankara Büyükşehir Belediyesi'ne devredildi". CNN TÜRK (in Turkish). 6 July 2022. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  26. ^ a b "Ankapark için yapılan oylamada ilk sonuçlar: Yurttaşlar 'Yeşil alan' dedi". Cumhuriyet Haber Verir (in Turkish). 27 July 2022. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  27. ^ a b c Marden, Duane. "Wonderland Eurasia (Ankara, Ankara, Turkey)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  28. ^ Staff (16 September 2018). "Six Flags Magic Mountain to add racing coaster with side-by-side tracks". Ventura County Star. Gannett. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  29. ^ Marden, Duane. "Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio, USA)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  30. ^ Marden, Duane. "Canada's Wonderland (Vaughan, Ontario, Canada)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  31. ^ Marden, Duane. "Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, California, USA)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
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