Linnanmäki

Linnanmäki

Location Helsinki, Finland
Coordinates 60°11′18″N 024°56′25″E / 60.18833°N 24.94028°E / 60.18833; 24.94028Coordinates: 60°11′18″N 024°56′25″E / 60.18833°N 24.94028°E / 60.18833; 24.94028
Owner Lasten Päivän Säätiö
Opened May 27, 1950
Operating season April to October
Area 75,000 square metres (810,000 sq ft)
Rides
Total 43
Roller coasters 6
Water rides 2
Website www.linnanmaki.fi

Linnanmäki (Swedish: Borgbacken, colloquially Lintsi, literal translation Castle Hill) is an amusement park in Helsinki, Finland. It was opened on May 27, 1950 and is owned by non-profit Lasten Päivän Säätiö (Children's Day Foundation). Linnanmäki has more than 40 different rides of different sizes.[1] It also has other attractions, such as arcades, games, kiosks, restaurants and an outdoor stage on which different performers appear in the summer. In 2006, the park welcomed its 50th million visitor.

In 2007 Linnanmäki had 1.2 million visitors.[2]

Vuoristorata is the most popular ride in Linnanmäki. Opened in 1951, it is the last side friction roller coaster to be built

The Park

This city park is located just north of the city center of Helsinki. The park is located on a hill (Linnanmäki in Finnish means Castle Hill) with nice views of the city. The park feels rather compact and has no discernible theming; the rides and attraction are in close proximity. In addition to the amusement park there is a Sea Life Aquarium located near the entrance (additional charge). The monorail offers a view of the park; the Panorama Tower has excellent views of the city scape and beyond. The clown Rolle-Clown is the park´s mascot.

The park is easily reached from the city by tram nr 3, 8, 9 and bus nr 23.

Rides and attractions

Linnanmäki currently has 44 rides, along with many other non-ride based attractions. Probably the most notable ride in the park is the wooden roller coaster Vuoristorata. This is the most recognisable symbol of the park, and was one of the first rides to be built at the park. The oldest ride in Linnanmäki is Karuselli (a carousel), built in 1896.

Linnanmäki has eight roller coasters. Major rides include three tower rides, a ferris wheel, a river rapids ride and spinning rides. The park also has a selection of family and kiddie rides.

Admission to the park is free, and most of the rides can only be ridden with the possession of a ride ticket, or the more popular wristband, which allows the wearer access to all of the park's rides for the entire day. As of 2013, the wristband costs the same for each customer, regardless of height.[3] The park also contains the "Peacock-teatteri", a theatre known for its musical productions. In addition to the park itself, guests can also visit a Sea Life Centre.

Roller coasters

Name Manufacturer / Model Type Opened Notes / Info
Kirnu Intamin / ZacSpin Steel roller coaster, 4th dimension 2007 First compact 4D roller coaster, first 4D roller coaster in Europe.
Linnunrata Zierer / Force Steel roller coaster, enclosed 2000 Custom layout, themed by APW Arts. Built inside a former water tower. For season 2016, virtual reality headsets were added to enhance the experience.
Pikajuna Mack Rides / Powered Coaster Powered roller coaster 1990 Custom layout, train engine theme.
Salama Maurer Söhne / Xtended SC 3000 Steel roller coaster, spinning cars 2008 Custom layout, built above existing rapids ride.
Tulireki Mack Rides / e-Motion Coaster Steel roller coaster 2004 First and only e-Motion Coaster.
Ukko Maurer Söhne / SkyLoop XT 150 Steel roller coaster 2011 Tallest and fastest roller coaster in Finland.
Vonkaputous Premier Rides / Liquid Coaster Water roller coaster 2001 Second and last water coaster built by Premier Rides.
Vuoristorata Linnanmäki & Svend Jarlström Wooden roller coaster, side friction 1951 Designed by Valdemar Lebech, one of seven existing roller coasters to feature brakemen. Received ACE's "Coaster Classic" award in 2001.

Major rides

Name Manufacturer / Model Opened Notes / Info
Autorata Gebrüder IHLE Bruschal / Autoskooter ES-GP 1964
(renewed 1981, 2007) 		Bumper cars, located beneath the ferris wheel, moved to current location in 2007. Current cars installed in 1981.
Hurjakuru Intamin / Rapids Ride 1998 Course is 370 meters long, features 50 meters long tunnel and two water falls.
Kahvikuppikaruselli Mack Rides / Tea Cups 2002 Tea cups carousel.
Kehrä Emiliana Luna Park / Enterprise 2009 First Enterprise made in Italy.
Kieppi HUSS Maschinenfabrik / Booster 2003 First park model.
Kieputin HUSS Maschinenfabrik / Top Spin 1994 Repainted for 2009 season.
Kingi Moser Rides / Mach Tower 2014 Freefall tower, tallest amusement attraction in Finland.
Maisemajuna Gebrüder IHLE Bruschal / Monorail 1979 Monorail train circulating the park.
Mustekala Schwarzkopf / Monster III 1985 Octopus ride, moved to current location in 2010.
Panoraama Intamin / Gyro Tower 1987 53 meters tall rotating observation tower.
Raketti S&S Power / Space Shot 1999 60 meters tall compressed air driven launch tower.
Rinkeli Technical Park / Ferris Wheel 2006 Ferris wheel 32 meters in diameter, replaced old ferris wheel from 1964.
Viikinkilaiva Zierer / Viking 1981 Swinging ship ride, moved to current location in 2002.

Family rides

Name Manufacturer / Model Opened Notes / Info
Hepparata Gebrüder IHLE Bruschal / Derby 1982 Galloping horse ride, moved to current location in 1998.
HipHop Moser Rides / Spring Ride 2000 Family tower ride, moved to current location in 2004.
Hypytin Zamperla / Sky Tower 2009 Family tower ride.
Karuselli 1954 Carousel built in Holland in 1896.
Ketjukaruselli 1977 Swing carousel, moved to current location in 1998.
Kyöpelinvuoren hotelli Gosetto / Dark Ride 1950
(renewed 1960, 1973, 1978, 1986, 2000, 2006, 2013) 		Ghost train, themed by Farmer Attractions Development. Current, completely overhauled version opened in 2013, replacing old Schwarzkopf version from 1973. Ghost train attraction has been present at the park since 1950.
Lohikäärme Zierer / Dragon 1998 Oriental themed carousel.
Poppis Gosetto / Party Dance 2016 Carousel with joysticks to rotate the gondolas.
Propelli Zamperla / Magic Bikes 2016 Carousel with gondolas that can be elevated by pedaling.
Taikasirkus WGH / Suspended Monorail 2005 Circus-themed dark ride. Themed by Rex Studios. Original cars and building from 1997.

Kiddie rides

Name Manufacturer / Model Opened Notes / Info
Helikopteri BN Performance Rides / Elitoys 2006 Helicopter themed tower ride.
KotKot Modern Products / Track Ride 1993
(renewed 2001, 2004) 		Originally named "Hokkus Pokkus", moved to current location in 2001, cars and theming renewed in 2004.
Kuuputin Manorplan Leisure / Stellar Swings 2003 Small carousel with lunar theme.
Merirosvolaiva Modern Products / Junior Pirate Ship 1988 Small swinging ship ride.
Miniautot Claudio Sartori 1978 Kiddie bumper cars, moved to current location in 2014.
Muksupuksu Zamperla / Rio Grande 1967
(renewed 1997, 2007) 		Kiddie train ride. Current train installed in 1997. Station renewed in 2007. Original track by Paul Scwingel from 1967.
Pienoiskaruselli Claudio Sartori 1966 Small carousel with automotive theme.
Pilotti Technical Park / Baby Aviator 2010 Kiddie airplane ride.
Rekkaralli Zamperla / Convoy 1995 Convoy truck ride.
Rumpukaruselli SBF Rides / Clown Cups 1991 Small carousel with music theme.
Vankkuripyörä Zamperla / Chuck Wagon 1996 Small ferris wheel with Western theme.

Attractions

Name Manufacturer Opened Notes / Info
Kammokuja Rex Studios 2003 Walkthrough horror attraction, features 3D elements.
Kino SimEx-Iwerks 2005 4D virtual reality cinema, current system installed in 2005. Original theatre building from 1996. The film changes in every two years.
Vekkula Linnanmäki 1961
(renewed 1991, 1995) 		Funhouse, original concept designed and built by Linnanmäki. Current facade designed and built by Rex Studios in 1995.

Removed rides

  • Apollo – carousel (1986–1997)
  • Around the World – dark ride (1997–2004)
  • Autorata – bumper cars (1950–1964)
  • Breakdance – Breakdance by HUSS Maschinenfabrik (1988–2001)
  • Calypso – Calypso ride by Schwarzkopf (1967–1974)
  • Cortina Jet – Bayern Curve by Schwarzkopf (1970–1987)
  • Enterprise – Enterprise by Schwarzkopf (1975–1998)
  • Formularata – racing car ride (1968–1995)
  • Helsinki-pyörä – ferris wheel (1964–2005)
  • Hully Gully – carousel (1984–1985)
  • Hurlumhei – funhouse (1952–1959)
  • Ipanarata – kiddie roller coaster (1971–1989)
  • Katapultti – steel roller coaster by Schwarzkopf (1992–1993)
  • Kieputin – Roll-O-Plane by Eyerly (1951–1977)
  • Lasten maailmanpyörä – kiddie ferris wheel by Sartori (1979–1995)
  • Lasten mustekala - kiddie carousel by Barbieri (1990–1996)
  • Loch Ness – kiddie carousel (1951–1953)
  • Meteoriitti – kiddie carousel by Modern Products (1990–1999)
  • Mustekala – Monster by Eyerly (1979–1984)
  • Naurutalo – house of mirrors (1967–2002)
  • Octopus – octopus ride by Eyerly (1951–1954)
  • Pallokaruselli – samba balloon carousel by Zamperla (1997–2015)
  • Peilikabinetti – house of mirrors (1950–1952)
  • Pilvenpyörä – paratrooper ride by Frank Hrubetz (1962–1983)
  • Rotor – spin ride (1952–19??)
  • Round Up – Round Up ride by Nijmeegs Lasbedrijf (1961–1975)
  • Safari – dark ride by Christian Hoffman (1983–1999)
  • Sateenkaari – Rainbow by HUSS Maschinenfabrik (1984–2009)
  • Sokkelo – glass maze walkthrough (2007–2013)
  • Suihkio – Roto-Jet carousel by Kaspar Klaus (1955–1978)
  • Troika – Troika by HUSS Maschinenfabrik (1974–1975)
  • Vauhtihirviö 1 – tilt-a-whirl ride (1950–1952)
  • Vauhtihirviö 2 – tilt-a-whirl ride (1950–1957)

Gallery of images

References

  1. ↑ "Linnanmäki – The Amusement Park: Rides". Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  2. ↑ "Matkailukohteiden kävijämäärät 2007". Finnish Tourist Board. 2008-08-12. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
  3. ↑ Linnanmäki prices, 2013.

External links

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