Walibi Rhône-Alpes
Previously known as Avenir Land (1979–1988)
LocationLes Avenières, Rhône-Alpes, France
Coordinates45°37′17″N 5°34′13″E / 45.62139°N 5.57028°E / 45.62139; 5.57028
Opened1979 (1979)
OwnerCompagnie des Alpes
Operating seasonApril - October
Attractions
Total27
Roller coasters4
Website

Walibi Rhône-Alpes is a French theme park located in the commune of Les Avenières, in the Isère department. It is the largest theme park of the Rhône-Alpes region. The park contains more than 33 rides and it covers an area of 35 hectares. It is a sister park to Walibi Belgium, which was created in 1975 by Eddy Meeùs, a Belgian businessman. The name "Walibi" comes from the three municipalities in which the Walibi Belgium park is located: Wavre, Limal and Bierges.

The park had an income of 8.8 million euros in 2005, and it greets over 400,000 visitors yearly.

Walibi Rhône-Alpes also contains a 13,000 m2 waterpark called L'Île aux Pirates (previously Aqualibi).

As of 2006, the park is owned and operated by Compagnie des Alpes, which also owns many theme parks and ski resorts across Europe.

History

The park opened in 1979 under the name Avenir Land. The Walibi group would acquire the park in 1989, renaming it Walibi Rhône-Alpes.

In 1986, Walibi introduced water rides with the creation of a waterpark called Aqualibi. It would be given a makeover in 2006, becoming L'Île aux Pirates (French for Pirates' Island), and featuring a Caribbean theme.

Sale to Six Flags

In 1998, the park would change hands once again and it became part of the Six Flags chain, as part of the American company's international expansion.

Sale to Star Parks

However, six years later, in 2004, Six Flags sold most of its European parks (including Walibi Rhône-Alpes) to Star Parks. The exception was Warner Bros. Movie World Madrid, which was sold back to Time Warner and renamed Warner Bros. Park and later Parque Warner Madrid in 2006. The Walibi parks would be transferred to Compagnie des Alpes the following year, and they've belonged to the French company ever since.

Like its sister parks in Belgium and Holland, it began to go down a more themed route in the 2010's. Despite being a smaller park, the park still received regular investments including 2 roller coasters, Timber (anchoring a farm-themed area) and Mystic (anchoring a horror retheme of the front right of the park). The water park closed with the park after the 2019 season and will be replaced by Exotic Land for the 2022 season.[1]

Rides and attractions

Coasters

Thrill rides

Family rides

Children's rides

  • La Chevauchée
  • On Air
  • Be Bop
  • Qwads
  • Wab Band Tour

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Aqualibi is closed | la Compagnie des Alpes".
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