by Wendy McCool Lewis
Holiday Park is an amusement park in Germany, located just south of Mannheim, only a 30-minute drive from Heidelberg and a 55-minute drive from Kaiserslautern.
World-class riding attractions and entertaining shows draw visitors again and again. Expedition GeForce, the award-winning megacoaster is one of two rollercoasters soaring over the sidewalks and resting areas of the park. Another ride opening this spring is “Lighthouse Tower”. This two million Euro project carries passengers 80 meters into the air daring riders to open their eyes. For the less brave of heart, many other thrilling rides fill the park. A special Children’s World offers play areas, special rides and a fascinating reptile show, “Crocodile Diana” to amuse younger children.
“There’s a lot of kids’ rides,” says Jennifer Irizarry, Jonath- an’s older sister, who explains why she likes to visit Holiday Park. She prefers the mermaid ride otherwise known as “Bounty Tower”. It carries both children and adults 36 meters into the air for a spin in two-seater gondolas.
The park is open from 10-6pm most weekends during the spring as well as many weekdays come summer. From October through early November, visitors celebrate Halloween with daily horror parades and parties.
Day passes for your first visit cost €27,.99 for adults, €23.99 for children 1 meter or taller and €9.99 for children under 1 meter. Second visit tickets are only €15, good for the rest of the season and can be purchased on the day you do your first visit. Ordering tickets online or with the USO before you go can also saves you a few dollars off admission.