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New attractions: This is what the theme parks have in store

Lengenfeld 25. March 2026 06:03 Uhr 8 Min
New attractions: This is what the theme parks have in store
Jan Völkel on the new Multi Launch Water Coaster at Plohn Theme Park. The family business is investing more than twelve million euros in the water coaster to mark the park's 30th anniversary. / Photo: Bodo Schackow/dpa
From: DieSachsen News
Water roller coaster with catapult launch, dinosaur giants and skywalk: fans of theme parks can look forward to some new features. You can also save on admission with a trick.

The lake is still dry, but the blue tracks of the new water roller coaster and a new Viking-style building give an idea of what visitors to the Plohn amusement park can soon expect. According to the family business, it is investing more than 12 million euros in the "Multi Launch Water Coaster". Junior boss Jan Völkel calls it a world first: "Visitors will be catapulted out of the water and into the track."

Preparations for the summer season are in full swing at local amusement parks. Belantis near Leipzig plans to open on Saturday (March 28), when Sonnenlandpark on the A4 near Chemnitz will also start its main season. Just in time for Easter, the Plohn Park in Vogtland will also open its gates for families - the official start there is April 2.

The 35-hectare park is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. In the 1990s, his parents ran a fish farm and restaurant here, says Völkel. "After dinner, many guests went for a walk in the forest next door." His father then started putting up fairytale houses there. Since then, new attractions have been added - from the raft ride and the caterpillar track to the high-speed rollercoaster "Dynamite" with loops and twists.

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Every year, the park now attracts 300,000 to 350,000 visitors from neighboring German states and the Czech Republic, says the 44-year-old. The Travelcircus portal lists Plohn in 11th place in its ranking of the best German theme parks. Only Karl's Adventure Village in Elstal, Brandenburg (9th place) is ranked higher in Eastern Germany. The nationwide leader is Europa-Park Rust in Baden-Württemberg, ahead of Phantasialand near Cologne.

Belantis focuses on French comic heroes

As in Plohn, other parks in the region are also focusing on innovations. Belantis promises an increase in interactive shows, an app to make it easier to navigate the park and a new theme world "Idefix' Adventureland". It is set to open "in late spring" and will offer a foretaste of the park's new focus on the comic heroes Asterix and Obelix. Investments of around 100 million euros are planned over the next few years.

The Sonnenlandpark is also celebrating its 20th anniversary. A lot of money is also being invested in this. A 60-metre-high adventure pyramid with a viewing platform and slide was opened in autumn. This year, it will be supplemented by a "Skywalk", which leads to the slide tower at a height of 35 meters. "The foundations have been laid and construction will begin after the Easter vacations," said spokeswoman Anita Müller in response to a dpa inquiry. The opening is planned for mid-May around Ascension weekend. A total of around 3 million euros will be invested in these two projects.

Elbauenpark and Western town

The Elbauenpark in Magdeburg, which welcomed a good 468,000 guests last year, is focusing on prehistoric giants in 2026. A special exhibition with 30 life-size dinosaur models in and around the Millennium Tower will begin there on April 1. In addition to the dinosaur exhibition, the park offers many green areas for strolling, playing and picnicking. There is a butterfly house, a summer toboggan run, a zipline and playgrounds.

Not far from the Brocken, visitors to Saxony-Anhalt can also immerse themselves in the world of the Wild West. The 20-hectare western town reportedly had around 250,000 guests last year. There is now a new entrance portal at the main entrance, according to a spokesperson for the operator Pullman City Harz. "Directly on Main Street, the Trapper Lodge has been extensively rebuilt and redesigned - it is now even more inviting for entertainment, enjoyment and a cozy atmosphere." The Old West Museum on the history of the Wild West has also been partially redesigned.

Midsummer nights at the theme park - admission price increases

The new water roller coaster in Plohn will not be ready to go until the season opens at the beginning of April. However, park operator Völkel hopes that visitors will be able to embark on the action-packed ride in the Viking ship by Whitsun at the latest. Some of them might even get wet. "The ride keeps touching the water and we've also built in two real splashes. You can get a few splashes."

It is important to him that the whole family gets their money's worth in the park. In addition to action, this also includes offers for small children. "There has to be something for everyone from 3 to 99." During the summer vacations, there are several midsummer nights when the park is open until 10 pm. "You can ride rollercoasters in the dark and there's an additional show program." However, it will be a little more expensive for visitors to Plohn this year: the regular price for a day ticket will rise by 2 euros to 43.00 euros for adults and 37.50 euros for children aged 4 to 12.

If you book online in advance, you can save on admission

If you book online early and decide on a day, you can sometimes save a little on admission. For a visit to Plohn, tickets are 3 euros cheaper until midnight the day before. If you book at least 7 days in advance for a fixed date, guests at the Belantis theme park pay 29 euros. The regular price at the box office is 42 euros, reduced 37 euros.

Copyright 2026, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved

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Projekt Saxony Today : Mehrsprachigkeit von regionalen Nachrichten für in Sachsen lebende Menschen ohne deutsche Muttersprache. Projekt wird gefördert durch die Sächsische Landesanstalt für privaten Rundfunk und neue Medien. Diese Maßnahme wird mitfinanziert durch Steuermittel auf Grundlage des vom Sächsischen Landtag beschlossenen Haushaltes.
Projekt Saxony Today : Mehrsprachigkeit von regionalen Nachrichten für in Sachsen lebende Menschen ohne deutsche Muttersprache. Projekt wird gefördert durch die Sächsische Landesanstalt für privaten Rundfunk und neue Medien. Diese Maßnahme wird mitfinanziert durch Steuermittel auf Grundlage des vom Sächsischen Landtag beschlossenen Haushaltes.