Walygator Grand-Est

Walygator Grand-Est
	Interactive map of Walygator Grand-Est
Location	Maizières-les-Metz, France
Coordinates	49°13′31″N 6°09′22″E / 49.2253°N 6.15611°E
Status	Operating
Opened	1989
Owner	Aspro Parks
Operating season	April–October
Area	42 ha
Attractions
Total	39
Roller coasters	4
Water rides	5
Website	www.walygatorparc.com

Walygator Grand-Est is an amusement park located in Maizières-les-Metz, Lorraine, France. Since its opening in 1989, the park has had a succession of different names: Big Bang Schtroumpf (Smurf), Walibi Schtroumpf, Walibi Lorraine and now Walygator Parc.

History

First designed within the extant halls of Sacilor's Laminoir by the Leisure division HHCP Architects in Maitland, Florida, the theme park was named The New World of the Smurfs, or Le Nouveau Monde des Schtroumpfs. After a decision was made to abandon the mill, the park was re-designed by Grady Larkins and eventually opened up on May 9, 1989, as Big Bang Schtroumpf. Built on the site of the former steel mills of Sacilor, the park was then managed by Sorépark, a company headed by Pierre Jullien. Construction costs topped €110 million.

In 1991, the park, on the verge of bankruptcy, is taken over by Walibi Group. Walibi's orange kangaroo mascot is brought alongside Peyo's little blue men: Walibi Schtroumpf was born.
In 1998, parent Walibi Group is bought out by Premier Parks. At this point, the land on which Walibi Schtroumpf sits, totals 162 hectares (400 acres) of which only 42 hectares (100 acres) are in use.
In 2003, Walibi Schtroumpf becomes Walibi Lorraine and the Smurfs characters are removed from the park.
In 2004 Six Flags (Premier Parks' successor), which had ownership of the park since 1998, divests itself of its European operations (apart from Warner Bros. Movie World Madrid, which was sold back to Time Warner and renamed Parque Warner Madrid in 2006). The park changes hands to Star Parks, of London-based Palamon Partners.
In 2006 Star Parks, in turn, sells the park to brothers Claude and Didier Le Douarin. Around the same time, the Walibi brand is sold to French leisure giant Compagnie des Alpes. The new management team is left with no option but to adopt a new name.
In 2007, the park opens its doors under a new name: Walygator Parc.
In 2010, the park opens a new roller coaster, "The Monster", an inverted roller coaster by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard. The ride had previously anchored Expoland in Japan, and is a clone of Raptor at Cedar Point.
In 2013, the park, once again on the verge of bankruptcy, is sold to a group of investors made of Jacqueline Lejeune, Franck Déglin and Francois-Jérôme Parent.
In 2016, Jacqueline Lejeune and Franck Déglin sell Walygator Parc to Aspro Parks.
In 2020, the park was renamed Walygator Grand-Est following the purchase of Walibi Sud-Ouest and renaming as Walygator Sud-Ouest.

Attractions

Present attractions

Roller coasters

Name	Opened	Type	Manufacturer	Restrictions	Maximum height	Length	Maximum speed	Duration
Anaconda	1989	Wooden roller coaster	Bill Cobb	> 120 cm	36 m	1200 m	90 km/h	2:30
Comet	1989	Hurricane	Vekoma	> 120 cm.	590 m		65 km/h	1:25
Family Coaster	2007	Kids' roller coaster	Pinfari	> 85 cm when accompanied by an adult	4 m	132 m	15 km/h	1:30
The Monster	2010	Inverted roller coaster	Bolliger & Mabillard	> 140 cm.	40 m	1200 m	90 km/h	2:28

Water attractions

Name	Opened	Type	Manufacturer
Dino-Raft	1989	River rapids ride	Alsthom and Soquet
Splash Kids	1989	Junior Log Flume	Zamperla
Waly Boat Tour & Co	1989	Tow boat ride	Mack Rides
Grizzly Falls	1991	Water slides	Van Egdom
Rivière Sauvage	1992	Log flume	Soquet

Thrill attractions

Name	Opened	Type	Manufacturer	Notes
Caribbean Boat	1992	Pirate ship	HUSS Rides
G-Lock	2014	Air Race	Zamperla
Mistral	1992	Wave Swinger	Zierer
Space Shoot	1998	Space Shot	S&S Worldwide	Closed from 2010 to 2012.
Terror House	2007	Haunted house	Walygator Grand Est	Closed from 2013 to 2016 due to a lack of fire protection and emergency exits.^[1]

Family rides

Name	Opened	Type	Manufacturer
Canyon City Express	1989	Train ride	Zamperla
Carrousel	2013	Merry-go-round	Concept 1900
Dino Bike	2015	Magic Bikes	Zamperla
Far West Tour	1989	Monorail	Mack Rides
Pavillon Dansant	2011	Wipeout	Gerstlauer
Peter Pan	2007	Carousel	Mack Rides
Sherif Shooter	2004	Mini drop tower	Zamperla
Sheriff Academy	2009	Desperados	Alterface
Tea Cup	1992	Teacups	Mack Rides
Waly Express	2012	Train ride	SBF Visa Group
Walynosaure	1989	Red Baron	Zamperla

Children's rides

Name	Opened	Type	Manufacturer
The Golden Nugget	1989	Red Baron	Zamperla
Le Canoë	2007	Junior Pirate Ship	SBF Visa Group
Les Petits Pirates	2007	Red Baron	SBF Visa Group
Rocky Rangers	1991	Truck ride	Sartori Rides
Steam Machine	2004	Crazy Bus	Zamperla
Thunder Horses	2008	Electric horse riding track	Soquet
USA Balloons	2004	Samba Balloon	Zamperla
Waly Mille Pattes	2009	Train ride	SBF Visa Group

Former attractions

Name	Opened	Closed	Type	Manufacturer	Notes
Abracadabra	1989	2006	Playground	Unknown	Destroyed by a fire.
Accro-Game	2013	2017	Climbing parcours	Unknown
Air One Maxxx	2015	2015	Afterburner	KMG	Rented by the park from June to October 2015, the attraction belongs to Dominique Lerendu, a fairground operator.
Baby Parc	2014	2021	Indoor playground	I Depot Play
Crash Cars	1991	2011	Bumper cars	Unknown
Gonflables	2008 / 2012	2013	Inflatable castles	Unknown	Replaced by Silver Express.
Grande Roue	2008	2013	Ferris wheel	Nauta Bussink	Fair ride that was rented by the park.
Maestro	1989	2018	Merry-go-round	Zamperla
Mini-Golf Indoor	2013	2020	Miniature golf	Unknown	Removed after being closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Polyp	2008	2012	Octopus	Schwarzkopf	Fair ride that was rented by the park.
Reaktor	1989	1997	Enterprise	HUSS Rides	Relocated to Walibi Holland.
Silver Express	2014	2016	Train ride	Kid Steam	Replaced by Waly Express.
Sismic Panic	1989	2003	Simulator ride	Huismann
Spooky Mansion	2015	2015	Inflatable castle	Unknown
Südseewellen	2011	2019	Orbiter	Schwarzkopf	Relocated to Pirat Parc in Gruissan.
Tam Tam	2007	2016	Kiddie rides	SBF Visa Group
Tang'Or	2005	2010	Topple Tower	HUSS Rides	Relocated to Dragon Park Ha Long.
Waly-Twister	2008	2012	Paratrooper	Heintz Fahtze
Zig-Zag	2003	2003	Wild Mouse	Mack Rides	Fair ride that was rented by the park.