The history of Europa-Park goes back to a workshop for carriages in the village of Waldkirch in 1780. Paul Mack was the first enterpreneur in the company's history and was making carriages of all kinds. This city in the Black Forest was famous for its stage-coaches and organs. An increase in mobility in society at that time created a strong demand for carriages. Showmanship was also a fast-growing business and the Mack Company served as a supplier for the mobile stages and circus performers. Camper carriages and luggage carriages accounted for a large share of the company's production. It only made sense for the Macks to go on to produce whatever their customers needed - from carousels and auto scooters to ghost trains and rollercoasters. 

This family-owned company has stood for innovation and dependability for more than 232 years. Today Mack Rides is one of the world's leading manufacturers of all kinds of rides.

During a trip to the USA in 1972, Franz Mack and his son Roland had the idea to open up an amusement park with entertainment for all age groups. This amusement park would also be used as exhibition space for the products manufactured in Waldkirch so that potential customers could see how the amusement rides run in a practical setting. The implementation of this project took only three years before Europa-Park opened its gates for the first time in 1975.

The European theme is consequently followed with much attention to detail, and soon Holland is created (1984), followed by England (1988), France (1990), Scandinavia (1992), Swiss (1993) Spain (1994), and German Avenue (1996). The concept proves to be visionary in light of the political re-orientation of Europe taking place at the same time. Signed in 1985, the Schengen Agreement opens up the borders between member states over the course of next 10 years.

The Mack brothers' high quality standards pay off. Whether food service, amusement rides, gardens, or shows, the highest level of attention is consistently given. As early as 1990 Europa-Park is the only German amusement park to receive rating of "very good" from the Stiftung Warentest (a German consumer foundation). Two million people visit the park in 1991.

The opinion of Stiftung Warentest in 1996 comes to a clear conclusion: "Europa-Park in Rust offers overall the widest range of high quality attractions at a reasonable price." Tourism expert Dr. Horst W. Opaschowski from Hamburg, Germany, goes a step farther when he immortalizes himself with the following entry in the Europa-Park guest book: "Experience your life - that is the prognosis for the future. The future has already started here in Rust."

A new era starts in 1995 with the opening of El Andaluz, the first hotel in a German amusement park. Longer stays at the park resulting from the ever greater number of park attractions serve to increase the demand for overnight accommodations. In the first year of operation, the hotel is 87% sold out. Construction on the Castillo Alcazar soon follows in 1999. The demand is enormous. The overall hotel capacity in 2000 is 97.7%. A new record is reached in the park with 3 million visitors.

In 2001/2002 Europa-Park is the first amusement park in Germany to open its gates for a winter season. 180,000 come during the six week season. With the increased importance of the park as a tourist attraction, its own autobahn (freeway) exit is opened in the spring 2002 following decades of wrestling with the issue.

The construction of a third four-star adventure hotel is just a matter of time. The Hotel Colosseo is opened in 2004 and is designed in an Italian-Roman style. With 1,450 beds, it is the largest single hotel in the German region of southern Baden. In 2007 the four-star adventure hotel Santa Isabel follows; it is designed in the style of a Portuguese cloister. In the summer of 2012 the fifth adventure hotel Bell Rock will open. The four-star superior hotel built in New England style rounds out the overnight accommodations offered at the Europa-Park Hotel Resort with an additional 1,000 beds. Together with the hotels El Andaluz, Castillo Alcazar, Colosseo, and Santa Isabel, it is the largest hotel resort in Germany. In its first year of business the Hotel Colosseo, open year round, has posted a fantastic occupancy rate of 95%. With the increased hotel capacity the number of two-day visitors has also increased, and the zone of influence has also expanded. As a result, numerous overnight stays in the Europa Park hotels are booked and many additional overnight stays in the tourist region of the Black Forest are booked as well.

Even the corporate business has grown with the wider range of event and meeting spaces. Over 1,300 events a year are currently handled with the Confertainment concept that was started in 1998.

At the same time the park has gained in importance as a media location and is today a popular production facility for German networks BR, Sat.1, SWR, ZDF, and ProSieben, with about 200 TV programs recorded in the park each year.

In 2009 the park was expanded by 37 acres, including the newly created Icelandic area with the new "blue fire mega coaster powered by GAZPROM" in an area covering four acres. Iceland expanded the European country theme and features the highest looping launch coaster in Europe. In 2012 the area will be expanded by an additional 12 acres with the construction of Europa-Park's first wooden roller coaster and the fifth adventure hotel, complete with modern fitness club.

Since the 2011 season, Europa-Park has guaranteed a fairy-tale adventure for the whole family. In the new Enchanted Forest, visitors can immerse themselves in the stories from their childhood, while the smallest family members can take in a special gondola ride at the children's' attraction, Piccolo Mondo. The family attraction Volo da Vinci, opening in the summer, promises interactive ride fun in Leonardo da Vinci's brilliant flying machines.

Guests experience a real novelty and a completely different kind of coaster fun in the world's first looping restaurant - in the "FoodLoop" restaurant, the food stands on its head in the truest sense of the word!

In addition, in November 2011 Roland Mack was named the first German president of the IAAPA, an international organization for the amusement industry. Together with his colleagues on the board, he will be involved primarily in the strategic development of the industry, the international exchange of experiences, and especially in the continued harmonization of safety standards.

Many magical novelties are awaiting the visitors of Europa-Park also in 2013!

The Mack family has taken on a lot for the coming year, too. In addition to optimizing the existing systems, this means above all a policy of continuous expansion with new attractions and themed areas. A cornerstone has been laid for the future with the renovation and expansion in 2012 of the traditional parent company in Waldkirch. The next generation of the Mack family has also risen to the challenge and already assumed responsibility. Since 2007 the sons of Roland Mack, Michael and Thomas, have helped run the company. Michael Mack, who has a degree in business administration, heads the sales and marketing departments for the manufacturing operations at Mack Rides in Waldkirch. At the same time, he has assumed responsibility for operations management since the summer of 2008 in the Mack Solutions department of the amusement park. His brother, Thomas, has a degree in hotel management and heads the hotel resort as well as all park and event catering and food service.

The amusement industry of tomorrow, conceived, developed and implemented today by Mack - a concept that ensures success in the 21st century as well. A satisfied guest is one of the most important factors for success. For Europa-Park, this means above all to consistently focus on quality and innovation. Event manager Roland Mack: "Our guests deserve only the best, and that's exactly what they get from us."

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