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Park Profile
www.parkworld-online.com
One of Erwin
Many of the original fairytale scenes created by Adding the larger attractions he has so far has been
Müller’s original
Ermin Müller can be still be found inside Märchenpark, a bold move for the park’s owner. Götterblitz and the
fairytale sculptures
in amongst the woods. In fact, this area of the park Roman Tower, for example are part of the 20,000-
was extended in 2007 to give guests more room to square-metre Filippo's Abenteuerinsel area opened in
relax. Though not all the figures have weathered well 2004. Together with the Duck Parade, their
over the years, there are also a number of newer introduction was made possible with support from the
animated features, such as the interactive Dwarves’ European Union (EU), which first offered financial
Mine, to keep young guests entertained. The assistance in 1996/7.
aforementioned tractor ride is also great fun from start Located in the North East of Austria, Märchenpark
to finish, with talking scarecrows, squawking ducks and sits close to the border with new EU member states
singing frogs all adding to the excitement. But of Hungary and Slovakia, where there is increased
course it is the real farmyard animals at Märchenpark spending power and a thirst for leisure. It is guests
that remain a favourite with many kids, and they still from these countries that have contributed significantly
take up over a quarter of the park. to a 25% year-on-year attendance increase in recent
A number of interactive attractions from Heege can times, and this season the park broke the 300,000
now be found near the entrance, including the Filippo barrier for the first time.
Family
Tower (named after the park's cat mascot), Luna Loop, A standard admission is priced at Euro.03115, although this
Flic Flac (Butterfly) and Comet motorised swing. season a Euro.0311.50 discount was offered on as part of the
park
Elsewhere the selection is remarkably low-tech, park’s anniversary celebrations. Priced at just Euro.03142, the
including a water slide, pirate raft and numerous season ticket is also a popular choice, with one
playground features. Swamp Castle, meanwhile, is a particular guest visiting 50 times during 2007!
Märchenpark began life in
huge fantasy treehouse play structure from Jürgen Although there are five restaurants on site,
April 1966 as Märchenwald
Bergmann, completed in his trademark style. Märchenpark employs a relaxed attitude with food and
(Fairytale Forest), a collection
Buying land in this beautiful part of Burgenland, beverage: “Our restaurants are reasonably priced, but
of sculptures displayed in the
Austria’s seventh largest province, does not come to we don’t want to force people to buy our food,” says
woods at Schützen am cheap. Neusiedlersee is a popular tourist area park assistant Birgit Payer. “If they want to bring a
Gebirge. comprising hills, lakes, well kept villages and picnic that is okay with us.”
Painstakingly created by
vineyards, and it is the latter that makes most Management also refuses to charge for car parking. If
Mario Müller’s late father,
surrounding property so expensive. Nevertheless, all this sounds like the Müllers are missing a trick, then
Erwin Müller, numerous
Muller hopes to add a bigger water ride in future to maybe it’s also a clever move that brings in more money
sculptures were built depicting
characters from famous
come to take advantage of the good weather in the long term, including those season ticket sales. Besides,
children’s novels.
region, which is better than Germany and generally says Payer, there’s one thing guests can’t bring with them:
After two years, the lease at
the sunniest in Austria. “They still spend a lot on ice cream!” she smiles.
Schützen was not renewed, so
Märchenwald mark II was
created on the park’s present
site at St Margarethen. The
figure of St Georg, which
stands outside the entrance
today, was one of Erwin’s
original sculptures and took
1,000 hours to construct.
In 1970 an animal corner
was created and this together
with the park’s new
surroundings gave Erwin fresh
inspiration. After creating
figures for many years out of
stone, he began making
wooden sculptures of animals
instead.
The park was taken over by
Mario Müller in 1984 and
renamed Märchenpark and
Zoo a few years later. Mario
now runs the park together
with his wife Ulrike.
www.familypark.at
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Picnics
are encouraged, Roman Tower, Dwarves
Mine, the pirate water float by Air Joe,
Swamp Island by Jürgen Bergmann
30 OCTOBER 2008
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