Bobbejaanland
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Image:Heartlineroll typhoon bobbejaanland belgium.jpg Bobbejaanland is an amusement park in Lichtaart, Belgium. It was founded by Bobbejaan Schoepen, a Flemish Singer and fantasist who enjoyed international popularity in the fifties and early sixties. In 1959 Schoepen got weary of touring and decided to build a venue where he could perform as often as he liked. In 1961, the Bobbejaanland amusement park was born. His personal manager Jacques Kluger invented the name.
Bobbejaanland contains about 50 attractions, such as the Indiana River (indoor waterslide, 1991), the Revolution (a dark Rollercoaster, 1989), the Speedy Bob (roller coaster), the Air Race (suspended roller coaster, 1987, now named Dreamcatcher), the longest junior roller coaster in the world, 'Okidoki' (='that's all right', 2003/04) and in the same year the world's second Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter roller coaster, "Typhoon", with a drop angle of over 97° (The first was Vild-Svinet at Bonbon-Land).
Bobbejaan Schoepen is a folk and country singer, so the park is partly themed as a western village (for example the El Rio White Water Rapids and the El Paso Dark Ride). In the Star Theater, Las Vegas style shows are performed. The giant Sledgehammer (a Giant Frisbee) is a massive construction of steel, dominating the park.
A part of the park's energy is generated by a giant windmill.
In 'Kinderland' (=Kids' Country, 1995) you'll find attractions for the smallest visitors.
Schoepen and his family owned and managed the park until April 2004, when it was sold to the Spanish Parque Reunidos group. The years before the selling Bobbejaanland became one of the most popular amusement parks in Europe, with an estimated 900,000 visitors every year.
