How "Europe's Largest Theme Park" Became a Ghost Town in One Year

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ก.ย. 2024
  • This is the bizarre tale of Ankapark, aka Wonderland Eurasia, Europe's largest theme park which was left to rot less than a year after its grand opening.
    Join the Discord: / discord
    Wonderland Eurasia: / @wonderlandeurasia
    Google Earth: www.google.com...
    Music in this video, found in the TH-cam Audio Library:
    Intro music: Imperial Forces
    Background music: Stranger Danger

ความคิดเห็น • 554

  • @thecoasterflood
    @thecoasterflood 3 ปีที่แล้ว +287

    For a Park this Big, it's surprisingly cheap. That like if Disneyland, combined with the ride lineup of Six Flags Magic Mountain or Cedar Point, only cost $30.00. That is too cheap for the parks own good.

    • @ThatCoasterEnthusiast
      @ThatCoasterEnthusiast 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      Energylandias park tickets cost like £20, and they don't have financial issues

    • @sitebproductions
      @sitebproductions 3 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      The average income in Turkey is only about 4k

    • @Aaron25thinfantry
      @Aaron25thinfantry 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Compared to US parks it's 1/4 the price or less even at Disney and Universal. Crazy cheap

    • @alaeriia01
      @alaeriia01 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      @@ThatCoasterEnthusiast yeah, but Energylandia is being bankrolled by the EU.

    • @sarahpodwys2827
      @sarahpodwys2827 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@alaeriia01 and the rollercoaster companies

  • @MisterMonday
    @MisterMonday 3 ปีที่แล้ว +451

    I would say the foundational issue here is that most tourists in Western Europe wouldn’t go anywhere near Turkey right now. The place is essentially a dictatorship.

    • @bobbyc1120
      @bobbyc1120 3 ปีที่แล้ว +46

      I wouldn't feel safe going there at all. I don't even want to go to Poland.

    • @MrPatrickbuit
      @MrPatrickbuit 3 ปีที่แล้ว +27

      @@bobbyc1120 Poland is alright lol, but definitely don’t go outside alone at night

    • @bobbyc1120
      @bobbyc1120 3 ปีที่แล้ว +67

      @@MrPatrickbuit They mistreat gay people there. They don't have to tell me twice not to visit their LGBT free zones.

    • @MrPatrickbuit
      @MrPatrickbuit 3 ปีที่แล้ว +23

      @@bobbyc1120 Yeah LGBTQ acceptance has a long way to go in eastern Europe, and Poland is a great example.

    • @wildearth3992
      @wildearth3992 3 ปีที่แล้ว +35

      @@MrPatrickbuit I don’t know what you talking about Poland is safe. Actually it’s way more dangerous to go out at night in Paris or New York than Poland

  • @e-cho3688
    @e-cho3688 3 ปีที่แล้ว +42

    As someone who is from Ankara, I watched them build the park. I remember taking the road next to the construction every single morning to go to school. I went there once a year after it opened, and it was dead even when it was supposedly still active. More than half the rides were turned off and there was no one around. I can’t believe the people in charge did something this stupid and wasted so much money smh

  • @CoasterRoaster
    @CoasterRoaster 3 ปีที่แล้ว +280

    Idk why, but the name "Wonderland Eurasia" sounds so satisfying

    • @AirtimeThrills
      @AirtimeThrills  3 ปีที่แล้ว +30

      Compound word on compound word

    • @WolfgangXP65-67
      @WolfgangXP65-67 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I agree. If cedar point was called "Erie Camerica" would be historical, but Cedar point will always be best name.

    • @w.urlitzer1869
      @w.urlitzer1869 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      that's because Turkey still wonders whether it is Europe or Asia. and it's neither.

    • @myra0224
      @myra0224 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@w.urlitzer1869 It honesly can't be neither. Russia for example is both located in Europe and in Asia, it's just that the most important cities are in the European part

  • @StunnedByWrestling
    @StunnedByWrestling 3 ปีที่แล้ว +81

    I love how all these powerful people just want an epic theme park. Just goes to show if given the chance we all just want to play Mr Millionaire in RCT2 in real life.

  • @edvaira6891
    @edvaira6891 3 ปีที่แล้ว +65

    This sounds like some of those ridiculous odd parks that were announced but never built in the UAE

  • @jaredlucas4815162342
    @jaredlucas4815162342 3 ปีที่แล้ว +103

    Mayor played Roller Coaster Tycoon with no budget constraints. Then suddenly he had a great idea!

    • @johnfoltz8183
      @johnfoltz8183 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      When you run out of money in Roller Coaster Tycoon...

    • @jdoe8162
      @jdoe8162 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@johnfoltz8183 You can never run out of money if you're with the AKP. As you can just compensate the financial loss from the money you take from people.

  • @toptiercomments840
    @toptiercomments840 3 ปีที่แล้ว +144

    Lots of folks here are pointing out the fact that Ankara is in Asia, not Europe. For anyone unfamiliar, Turkey has been [unsuccessfully] attempting to join the European Union for quite a while, so there may be some political undertones in the "Europe's largest theme park" tagline.
    I also did a quick web search, and the park management apparently envisioned attracting tourists from other parts of Asia, so calling it a European park may have been a marketing ploy to make it seem more "exotic" to Asian tourists.

    • @toptiercomments840
      @toptiercomments840 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      I also found a really interesting (Interesting to me, that is. Probably not too interesting to most people) article that somewhat supports my speculation called "Wonderland Eurasia: Theme Parks and Neo-Ottoman Identity Politics in Ankara, Turkey."
      I can't link to it, but a Google search should bring it up.

    • @AirtimeThrills
      @AirtimeThrills  3 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      I also feel like the claim that it was Europes largest theme park was based in Turkey's identification as a European country for the reasons you mentioned

    • @seventh-hydra
      @seventh-hydra 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      @@AirtimeThrills Turkey is more West Asian than it is European, in both geography and culture. The European label mostly comes as a result of a lot of complex history and politics.

    • @drdewott9154
      @drdewott9154 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      I mean Turkey is in the minds of most a middle eastern country which can also be seen on its geography as only the tiny bit of the country west of Istanbul and the Bosphorus straight is technically European soil. Plus the political and cultural differences are simply too big. Its a border country with the European continent but it most certainly ain't european.
      Either way Wonderland Eurasia would still be the largest theme park in the middle east by far and still amongst the largest anywhere in the world!

    • @Wig4
      @Wig4 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@AirtimeThrills Their INVASION project, where they feel they stand strong, thanks to the military aggreements with the USA, YOUR COUNTRY, mr Airtime Thills, SUPPORTING DICTATORS ALL OVER THE WORLD !

  • @AttractionSpot
    @AttractionSpot 3 ปีที่แล้ว +104

    It sounds like it was too big from the start like you said but they could of done more advertising. I bet it was a Disney park which it's pretty themed as a Disney park it would of done better cause everyone has to visit the latest Disney Park and are coming for the name lol.

  • @jaya1000
    @jaya1000 3 ปีที่แล้ว +137

    "The president of Turkey, lets just call him the president"
    😂

    • @trimlesscoasters
      @trimlesscoasters 3 ปีที่แล้ว +36

      You mean the non freedom dictator

    • @AirtimeThrills
      @AirtimeThrills  3 ปีที่แล้ว +27

      I wasnt about to attempt names

    • @JDBlack-gf9ok
      @JDBlack-gf9ok 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      It's pronounced Air-do-Juan lol

    • @Wig4
      @Wig4 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      I call him the dictator. "Just" the dictator.

  • @suzannecowan8543
    @suzannecowan8543 3 ปีที่แล้ว +59

    Didn’t even know this park ever existed😂

    • @largol33t1
      @largol33t1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I guess that's because it was such a massive failure that the newspapers wouldn't dare peep a word about it! Looks awesome and for the price, the president's long term thinking wasn't ridiculous. The country is very close to the Ukraine so they would flock over for vacation at those prices. It had a ton of roller coasters and a zoo with indoor rides to avoid the scorching sun. Sign me up! I'd hand over the money and dance through the gate!

  • @coasterhockygamingboy9549
    @coasterhockygamingboy9549 3 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    Energylandia: I have the most kiddie coasters
    Wonderland Eurasia: hold my liras

  • @viditk.3688
    @viditk.3688 3 ปีที่แล้ว +174

    "Went too big, too fast"
    Geauga Lake:
    *laughs nervously*

    • @andysee6996
      @andysee6996 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      This disaster makes Geauga Lake look like it stood for a pretty long time after its expansion.

    • @oofintic5734
      @oofintic5734 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @ Energylandia atleast was a success

    •  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@oofintic5734 true that

    • @snoboard91503
      @snoboard91503 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@oofintic5734 so far. Plus Poland is a place I’d actually want to visit and I’m sure most Europeans would rather visit Poland than Turkey any day.

    • @snoboard91503
      @snoboard91503 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Funny how the “build it, ruin it-Geauga Lake” video was suggested after I watched this. 😅😭😭😭

  • @ScrewyLoops
    @ScrewyLoops 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Awesome video! 🙂 This park has always fascinated me. I went to Land of Legends in Turkey and was pleasantly surprised by that park! The Mack Hyper is insane!

    • @DavesAdventures
      @DavesAdventures 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Hello Chris (Airtime Thrills) & Chris (Screwy Loops) im actually really surprised that RCDB haven't classed Wonderland Eurasia as a defunct theme park, i only found out about it earlier this morning but to find all 17 coasters SBNO still it's a major shame really, i have noticed another theme park in Tuzla, Istanbul with the highlight coaster Red Fire i did watch a pov video from another content creator

  • @al0742
    @al0742 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Yes! Airtime Thrills documentaries are back!

  • @ZontarDow
    @ZontarDow 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    It was a vanity project that just didn't have any economic basis in its foundation, when you start with that you can only expect things to go as wrong as they did.

  • @Larry
    @Larry 3 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    Whats the situation with the park today?

    • @earl3204
      @earl3204 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      its empty and nature took over

  • @aprilrongo9606
    @aprilrongo9606 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Dang tho if this was actually a park in the us, I would so go. Keep up the good work and have a good day

  • @AirtimeProductions
    @AirtimeProductions 3 ปีที่แล้ว +75

    Europe’s largest theme park
    Energylandia: Am I a joke to you?

    • @owenstockwood5040
      @owenstockwood5040 3 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      And it isn't even in Europe. Ankara, and thus this park, is in Asia.

    • @extravielketchup1700
      @extravielketchup1700 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      If we overlook the fact it’s not a European theme park, than it actually is bigger than Energylandia.

    • @trollekont1710
      @trollekont1710 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Energylandia is not the largest themeparks in Europe. Not even close. What is this comment ? Just badly informed? Or a huge energylandia fanboy?

    • @oofintic5734
      @oofintic5734 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Yeah places like Europa Park, Disney,Efteling or Alton Towrrs would be bigger in terms of guests coming and such

    • @trollekont1710
      @trollekont1710 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@oofintic5734 Also in size

  • @alaeriia01
    @alaeriia01 3 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    "went too big, too fast"
    Energylandia: *laughs in Polish*

    • @WolfgangXP65-67
      @WolfgangXP65-67 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      But At least it's extremely successful.

    • @TheWolfXCIX
      @TheWolfXCIX 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      TBF Energylandia have at least added stuff over a 7 year period, it's not like they built Zadra, Hyperion, Abyssus and 400 wacky worms before gates even opened

    • @WolfgangXP65-67
      @WolfgangXP65-67 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@TheWolfXCIX PERIOD!

    • @drdewott9154
      @drdewott9154 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@WolfgangXP65-67 really? I wonder where their income comes from then. I assume a lot of the income then comes from other Eastern European tourists.

    • @WolfgangXP65-67
      @WolfgangXP65-67 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@drdewott9154 I would think so too. It's in Poland, got alot of great rides, and uses the European name to it's advantage.

  • @alexv3375
    @alexv3375 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The sad thing is, it _still_ would have been a good-sized park if they'd started out at a third (or a *quarter,* even) of the size, and if the people behind it had known how to go about approaching and expanding it, it could've been a huge success. They'd have been much better off starting with a considerably smaller park with less but higher-quality attractions (quality over quantity), better travel links and infrastructure, keeping all the extra land aside for future expansion, and slowly making use of said land over time when they could profitably sustain themselves. You try to start with something ungodly huge (purely because you can) and blow all your money immediately, then how are you supposed to pay for everything (and everyone) that you need to keep it running?

  • @thequackenscoasterchannel2927
    @thequackenscoasterchannel2927 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Nice research! Not very many videos exist about this park at all, so it's cool to see a story talking about it!

  • @jdoe8162
    @jdoe8162 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The thing that makes disneyland stand out from other theme parks is the attractions and their themes, they own the majority of the most popular IPs. So they could just make a ride themed with the most popular IPs and people would gladly wait in hour long queues just to enjoy their favorite cartoon or movie in a thrilling way. But ankapark just lacks the copyrights for any eye-catching themes.

  • @micahhagen4773
    @micahhagen4773 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I’ve always wondered about this park and this told me everything😂. Thanks you and great video

  • @RealBlueony
    @RealBlueony 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    YES, I've been waiting for you to cover this for at least 6 months, basically since RCDB never listed, like, half of the coasters as EVER opening. That being said, I kinda wanna know more on this dumpster fire lol. Like, I know some, but not enough, y'know? I would advocate for someone to make a documentary on it, and maybe one day there will be, but honestly, it's probably still a WAY too controversial topic to cover and keep PG (Heck, you didn't even call "The Mayor" or "The President" by their names, though you did show an article showing "The Presidents'" name). Either way, good vid, and if more info comes out, I hope for a Part 2 in, like, a year or something.

  • @AirtimeThrills
    @AirtimeThrills  3 ปีที่แล้ว +130

    For everyone saying Ankara is in Asia, yes it is, but just google Ankapark Europe's Largest Theme Park and see how it was covered. I put quotes around it to clarify.

    • @extravielketchup1700
      @extravielketchup1700 3 ปีที่แล้ว +27

      We Europeans just don’t want to get involved with that weird project😂

    • @HiCaballo
      @HiCaballo 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Feels like having to defend the LA in LA Angels again. It’s all Marketing!

    • @AirtimeThrills
      @AirtimeThrills  3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@HiCaballo truth

    • @jamesfreeman8652
      @jamesfreeman8652 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      The UK just up and decided we didn't want to be in Europe any more one day so I wouldn't stress about it

    • @jacov127
      @jacov127 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      the Turkish would like to be in Europe, but they are not a part of it ! that is a fact

  • @spamtongspamton7878
    @spamtongspamton7878 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Lesson learned: Building a theme park in real life isn’t RCT3 Sandbox Mode

  • @SiebayPlays
    @SiebayPlays 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Two things. 1: I didn't know this park was that new. 2: I didn't know it had its named changed. I always called it Ankapark.

    • @AirtimeThrills
      @AirtimeThrills  3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      When I did my quiz last month I also didn't realize it wasn't called Ankapark anymore.

  • @eliotguerin192
    @eliotguerin192 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    This is one of your best videos Chris! Would love to get more documentary style videos if you have the time

  • @WorldinRooView
    @WorldinRooView 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The Rollar Coaster Tycoon hard mode scenerio. Here's a huge park on year 1, but you have to pay back the debt in 4 years. Go!

  • @yolemawe6395
    @yolemawe6395 3 ปีที่แล้ว +35

    I kinda hope Lightspeed gets relocated to another park.

    • @howtoplayeverything5802
      @howtoplayeverything5802 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      id gladly take it, SFA take notes

    • @nickdambrosio7416
      @nickdambrosio7416 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      I’d gladly take the 10 inversion coaster at my home park six flags great adventure take note

    • @fatmazza
      @fatmazza 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      It’s now at Flamingo Land in the UK

    • @mrrayner8457
      @mrrayner8457 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@fatmazza I thought that was one that had come from Brazil and was never installed

    • @AdamSmith-gs2dv
      @AdamSmith-gs2dv 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      A US park should buy it, very marketable since it would break Steel Curtains North American inversion record

  • @soilaborrero
    @soilaborrero 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    If Wonderland Eurasia permanently removed all their rides, where do you think they would be relocated to?

    • @gb9727
      @gb9727 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Maybe Vialand or land of legends would get light speed, and maybe a few of the small rides could be relocated with them.

  • @sloviscelery2135
    @sloviscelery2135 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Love this video! My favourite on the channel right now. Would love to see one of these on the abandoned hotgo dreamworld in China.

    • @AirtimeThrills
      @AirtimeThrills  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I thought about that also, I would be curious to see how much I can find on that park

  • @Splater765
    @Splater765 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Ankapark wanted to do what Energylandia had done successfully

  • @CoasterRoaster
    @CoasterRoaster 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    HOLY they tried to make a pay per ride park as big as Cedar point. You good bro?

    • @AirtimeThrills
      @AirtimeThrills  3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      The unlimited ticket was still pretty cheap, but yeah you could do pay per ride if you wanted.

  • @emilybreneman2140
    @emilybreneman2140 3 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    I wonder if any of the coasters could be relocated in the near-ish future, since there were 17 of them at this hot mess of a park.

    • @AirtimeThrills
      @AirtimeThrills  3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Not much that would be worth it other than Lightspeed

    • @oofintic5734
      @oofintic5734 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      And the Intamin Family launch coaster and other than that yeah

    • @alaeriia01
      @alaeriia01 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      There's also the Zierer ECS 535, and maybe the knockoff SkyLoop? EDIT: Also the weird indoor looping coaster. But not the Wild Wind or the Cool & Fresh.

  • @gpcoasters7824
    @gpcoasters7824 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    What a bizarre cautionary tale of what not to do when it comes to getting a new park up and running. Energylandia seems to be the exception to this rule, but I'm sure the bottomless source of funds has a lot to do with it. Great research and presentation!

    • @spamtongspamton7878
      @spamtongspamton7878 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Even so Energylandia’s biggest coaster at it’s opening was a Vekoma SLC. They only got serious once they got formula

  • @adakalyoncu1913
    @adakalyoncu1913 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Also one more think is, even the ride ops are GP there.. The ride ops literally call ambulance when a ride e stops on the lift hill. (I asked one of the ops when I had to wait because a train was filled when I passed the queue and came to the station on esc coaster and yeah they let me wait there on the side theres op panel rather than the side riders should be loading.. Also the operator asked me to tell the riders that she will take them back to the station after she comes back (yeah she literally left the ride with me and went somewhere) when the train gets stacked on the break run.. sounds fake but operators are THAT GP..)

    • @spamtongspamton7878
      @spamtongspamton7878 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yeah, It's obvious that the park was just a poor excuse to flex Turkey's might to the world, rather than an actual place that is dedicated to fun

    • @adakalyoncu1913
      @adakalyoncu1913 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      the actual problem is, almost everyone is GP there(so are the ride ops) that there is no one that enjoyed the rides. I saw people screaming "Oh I can't breathe due to the pressure on my chest, this is disqusting and not worth experiencing" (probably meant G force) on a FAMILY coaster (zierer esc). The majority of the public does not seem to enjoy thrill rides and just hate them and be scared after the first ride. It could be much better if roller coasters were more common and popular in the country.

    • @spamtongspamton7878
      @spamtongspamton7878 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@adakalyoncu1913 lol that's even more gp than a regular gp.

  • @VioletCoronet50
    @VioletCoronet50 3 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    Hard Rock Park became a Ghost Town after around 2 years

    • @RealBlueony
      @RealBlueony 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      At least that wasn't due to corruption, or even being managed all that bad at first, it just had the absolute WORST timing. The only way to time things worse would've been to open a classic park in like, 1927 or 28.

    • @dunken92
      @dunken92 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@RealBlueony debatable...while not government corruption, it may have been a little bit of greed. I worked there in 2008 and 2009 as a performer. Absolutely loved Hard Rock Park. Wish it still existed.

  • @philrob1978
    @philrob1978 3 ปีที่แล้ว +86

    Never open a park with political undertones. Won't ever end well. Let that be known.
    Bit late for them, obvs, but in real terms - don't be a dick and just open a park that people want to go to and not be afraid of dying or being shot by the current establishment. Just my opinion. *shrugs*

  • @RollerCoasterFrolicking
    @RollerCoasterFrolicking 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Oh, another six flags worlds of adventure...great

  • @Joypyf
    @Joypyf 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This is great!!! Please do more like this! 😊

  • @roxynano
    @roxynano 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Six Flags Quiddia (probably misspelled) has to be cautious on not repeating history again.

  • @TurboM
    @TurboM 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    Calling Ankara part of Europe is like calling Cuba part of the United States!

    • @Xarriable
      @Xarriable 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      If Cyprus is considered Europe then so can Ankara.

    • @thearabianknight18
      @thearabianknight18 ปีที่แล้ว

      Butthurt Turks cant accept the fact that they're Middle Easterns and not part of Europe 🤣

  • @coasterhockygamingboy9549
    @coasterhockygamingboy9549 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Woahhh I really learned something new today
    I knew Wonderland Eurasia existed and the 17 coasters were SBNO on RCDB but I didn’t have a SINGLE CLUE that ALL OF THIS CRAZY STUFF HAPPENED 😱

  • @Mattia_Genuardi
    @Mattia_Genuardi 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Imagine wanting to build Europe's biggest amusement park and deciding to have an Intamin 10 Inversions clone as your major coaster...
    That's the real reason behind the project's failure.

    • @Codraroll
      @Codraroll 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Personally, I blame the Zamperla Volare. That's not the sort of contraption that belongs in a place meant to entertain people. It's like being bolted into a sunbed inside a cement truck rolling down a cliff.

    • @spamtongspamton7878
      @spamtongspamton7878 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Imagine buying 2 Wacky Worms just to fit in the number of Cedar Point's roller coasters

    • @hsc894
      @hsc894 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@spamtongspamton7878 Looking at you, Energylandia. lol

  • @Porsmond
    @Porsmond 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    I’m sure I heard that the location of the park was a problem as well, located a fair bit out of the local city, and shockingly no easy travel links which meant the only way to get there was by car and if you didn’t have a car, it was virtually impossible based on its location to even walk there apparently, so there’s a huge fail right there.
    It definitely started off too big as well, as you mentioned in your video, they should have started with literally half or even a quarter of what they announced from the start, with a promise there would be a major ride built every year, this would have kept it fresh every year while maintaining the operation of the parks from a financial point of view

    • @alexv3375
      @alexv3375 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Definitely. When you're building a park, you've definitely got to take local infrastructure (major roads/car parking, railways, airports, pedestrian access, etc.) and accommodation (hotels, etc.) into account as well, make sure people can both easily get to and stay close by the park so you can easily keep them coming back. With these huge mega park attempts in particular (Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure, this, etc.), those always seem to be major factors in their failure despite not often being brought up.

  • @tiffytattoo2450
    @tiffytattoo2450 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The comparison with Disney doesn't work.
    Disney has the big advantage of some decades of history. And emotional impact on generations of childhoods. This is such a powerful marketing point.
    Disney equals magic for so many of us. And I highly doubt even the most advanced themepark can compete with the emotional bonding Disney created so successfully.
    Disney could open several very small themeparks and attract a consistent flow of visitors. Just because they already have the "magic factor".

  • @nickthepetrock403
    @nickthepetrock403 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    chris: europes biggest park
    energylandia: are you sure about that

    • @AlexHalman
      @AlexHalman 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Energylandia is the first in Europe only for number of coasters, the largest is Europa Park (if you note consider as one the two Disneyland parks in Paris)

  • @mitchellries256
    @mitchellries256 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    You should make more videos on abandoned parks such as Six Flags New Orleans, Six Flags Astroworld, Freestyle Music Park and the Myrtle Beach Pavilion.

    • @icaruskarin
      @icaruskarin 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Honestly those have already been covered by Extinct Expedition.

    • @mitchellries256
      @mitchellries256 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@icaruskarin Your point?

  • @mattyt1961
    @mattyt1961 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Maybe part of it is the distance from Istanbul?
    It is a 5 hour drive
    no public transport (according to Google)
    A short flight (1.5 hours) but that only gets you to Ankara, not the park.
    As an international tourist & you are coming to Turkey you are most likely going to Istanbul, and not a lot further than that.
    If you could day trip to the park then it might have helped.

  • @Ameute
    @Ameute 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I've watched many of these park videos where people are against building of amusement parks. Why? Here, they where going to claim crime charges against them before they did anything. I get if it's not going to make money back or, being this big would destroy land from being use again.
    But when I hear "new jobs" and "fun", it seems like a great idea.

  • @oliverjasinski1829
    @oliverjasinski1829 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    You should do the same thing with Energylandia. Like, the "rise" of Energylandia.

    • @coasterhockygamingboy9549
      @coasterhockygamingboy9549 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yeah and within less than 8 years
      That’s shorter than the last time Thorpe Park got a coaster

  • @XscreamThrills
    @XscreamThrills 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Even Six Flags wouldn't stoop that low to build all those LB coasters in one park LOL

  • @butterpecanbrielle
    @butterpecanbrielle 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    This was so recent, I’m shocked I’d never heard of this before. Great video!

  • @kingsid4182
    @kingsid4182 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Ohhh this is the park that opened 17 coasters when it first opened.

  • @AdamSmith-gs2dv
    @AdamSmith-gs2dv 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    If that 10 Inversion coaster ever comes up for sale a US park needs to jump on it. Very cheap addition to take the most inversions in North America record from Kennywood

  • @bbbbbb111
    @bbbbbb111 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    The park had great potential in the beginning. At the time of his planning, Turkey was a very popular holiday destination and such an attraction would have made Ankara and Turkey even more popular. But the political situation has deteriorated a lot since then, which discourages many potential holidaymakers. Then there is of course the mismanagement. Such a project requires good marketing and skilled technicians. Both were hardly available because it was primarily a political project. Basically it is similar to the park at the Nürburgring with the completely wrongly executed RingRacer. This project was also wanted by politicians and carried out by windy profiteers. Politicians want to create something big without understanding anything of the matter or knowing all the details that are important for something like that. Sensible people then point out the weaknesses in the project. But since that is not wanted, these people are overwhelmed and the tasks are given to windy business people who promise everything as long as a profit is possible for them.

    • @Codraroll
      @Codraroll 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I know Turkey has a great tourism sector, but I thought that was mainly for the Mediterranean beaches and the city of Istanbul. Was Ankara really the right place to build such a huge park?
      I would also guess the main contractor of the park received quite a hefty profit from its construction. There were some rumours about the park being little more than a means to funnel public money to the companies that built it, but I haven't seen them substantiated.

  • @badgerstatecoasters7725
    @badgerstatecoasters7725 3 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    Video title: How Europe's Largest Theme Park Became a Ghost Town in One Year
    Wonderland Eurasia: is in Asia

    • @badgerstatecoasters7725
      @badgerstatecoasters7725 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @Zacheroni It's very clearly in Asia if you look at a map. You might be thinking about Istanbul, but it's located in Ankara, which is quite far east of the Bosporus Strait which separates Europe from Asia

    • @xcoasterenthusiast
      @xcoasterenthusiast 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      It's in Eurasia

    • @AirtimeThrills
      @AirtimeThrills  3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Ankara is in Asia, Turkey is part of both continents, and they chose to market it as a European park. Not sure if they do this with other things in Turkey also

    • @coasterhockygamingboy9549
      @coasterhockygamingboy9549 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@badgerstatecoasters7725 yeah but its named that just because Turkey is transcontinental

    • @oofintic5734
      @oofintic5734 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@badgerstatecoasters7725 turkey is in Europe and Asia, so just call them a Eurasian country, not a European or Asian country

  • @michaelbivins5996
    @michaelbivins5996 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    awesome video! I cant believe ive never heard about this place before. What a freaking mess from the start, from the farm land issue to only charging $20 per person for unlimited rides. I do find it mildly amusing that 183 million was considered a crazy figure for the construction of europes largest theme park, meanwhile universal orlando just spent 300 million on a single ride lmao

    • @earl3204
      @earl3204 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      when it was build the cost was around 600 million $, todays number comes from turkish currency crash in last 2 years. Also turkey has pretty strong construction companies which are paid by the turkish currency so they got all the stuff tons cheaper than it would cost in countries like the US.

    • @jdoe8162
      @jdoe8162 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Turkish construction companies are shadier than literal mobs and cartels. Backroom deals with the government tenders which they force one of their man to rule your company if you don't back out. Turkish construction companies are just cartels on steroids.

  • @AesopHearts
    @AesopHearts 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I think they were just trying too hard to beat out other theme parks. If they made it smaller and had less rides (like stated in one point of the video) it most likely would have suceeded and maybe compete against other European themeparks (maybe even the big league's).

    • @Codraroll
      @Codraroll 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      I don't think competition with other big theme parks in Europe would have been a worthwhile target. Even the biggest parks out there, such as Disney's parks in Orlando, get the overwhelming majority of their revenue from local visitors. A park must be popular with the locals to get anywhere, because the number of people who'd travel across the continent to visit an amusement park is very small no matter how you spin it.

  • @DjM1k4
    @DjM1k4 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I drove by the park dozens of times. It looked really weird. As I searched for details, it appeared even more weird to me. It was advertised to have 17 rollercoasters, but you were only able to see one of them (the Intamin). This means most of them have to be so small to fit in this (not so big) tents ore hide behind them. If you look on some of the theming, they used a lot of Disney and other IPs unlicensed. The whole park is just a scam.

    • @gossipboynyc2434
      @gossipboynyc2434 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It's up to the Turkey people and locals to support it, spiritually and physically, q lot of tourists come from Ukraine, and possibly around Egypt and surroundings etc, its none of Europe and US's business

  • @adakalyoncu1913
    @adakalyoncu1913 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Damn.. the 10 inversion coaster there was really awesome.. it was running really fast and had whippier transistions compared to colossus..

  • @swiftbinn5680
    @swiftbinn5680 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Cool video man great work as always !

  • @WangBaiTe
    @WangBaiTe 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    When high ranking politicians are involved in projects like this, they are bound to fail due to the enormous corruption that will inevitably be involved. It looks like this park was also a victim to this corruption.
    Also, I noticed one of the logo's flashing by very briefly, but if the park would have remained open, I am sure Disney would have also started procedures in court because the "Wonderland Eurasia"logo I noticed in this video looked a lot like the Disneyland logo....

  • @seadog1988
    @seadog1988 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    that's a lot of rides and coasters that now need to be relocated if they don't open it backup after the china plague now the made in china coasters need to be scraped.

    • @drdewott9154
      @drdewott9154 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Really? Are they in that bad a condition? I mean I know the Chinese built rides are likely lower quality but even I would assume something like that little chinese coaster would be usable for at least a few more years.

    • @seadog1988
      @seadog1988 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@drdewott9154 i'd be questioning the safety the whole time on a made in china ride especially when they're sbno for almost 3 years but more than likely they will end up as fair rides or relocated too small amusement parks looking for cheap coasters to make up for 2020 being a disaster

    • @drdewott9154
      @drdewott9154 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@seadog1988 The idea of them sold to tiny parks or back to china could be something though fair rides is a very likely no. Fair rides are built to be moved around easily so they'll have a big skeletal foundation on the bottom of it to spread and support its weight. All the chinese coasters at the park though have their supports directly planted in concrete.

  • @jessicablount7092
    @jessicablount7092 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Laugh out moment at (6:32) "...and whatever you call this." LMAO

  • @philwoolfson4451
    @philwoolfson4451 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The prices were way too cheap. People will not return endlessly to a theme park, you have to charge enough to cover the expenses of running the place, and to make the visitors feel that the place is very special. I've seen places close rapidly for the exact opposite reason, pricing properly is critical, especially in a volume business.

  • @triple7marc
    @triple7marc 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I remember looking into this on rcdb before it had even started construction (it was Ankapark back then) and they had like 10 Intamins planned, an SBF Visa Tower coaster and a bunch of kiddie coasters. I was like, that’ll never happen. The next time I checked in it was under construction. Then it became irrelevant.

  • @johnnagelschmidt7058
    @johnnagelschmidt7058 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Fascinating. Great stuff - this must have been difficult to research.

  • @esteriumx
    @esteriumx 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    interesting fact: half of the rides and coasters never opened :^

  • @jiru331
    @jiru331 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    thank you for talking about this!!

  • @d3th2m3rikkka
    @d3th2m3rikkka 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Could you do a video ranking the mine trains you've ridden?

  • @rafaewald
    @rafaewald 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video, congrats!

  • @hokyman
    @hokyman 3 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    "Consequences for mayors who refuse to resign." Gotta love modern day European dictators! Sorry, I really do appreciate your attempt to keep politics out of your videos. I just have thing for despising those who have no regard for human life or freedoms. I get this way every time I hear about Six Flags' stupid Qiddiya project too. I suppose you could say I'm "triggered". :P

    • @tobiashusum7675
      @tobiashusum7675 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      We don't have dictators in Europe, Turkey is located in west-Asia and has nothing to do with Europe or the EU at all, they have been trying to join the European Union but have been denied for decades because of the reasons you mentioned. They want to be a part of it so bad, they advertise themselves as a part of the EU.

    • @wildearth3992
      @wildearth3992 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@tobiashusum7675 You can found a country in Western Europe which is slowly become the same.

    • @spamtongspamton7878
      @spamtongspamton7878 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@tobiashusum7675 I agree with you on Turkey being Asia. Their culture is way more akin to the middle east rather than European.
      Also, you are right when you said the EU had no dictators (Although some countries in eastern europe had some questionable leaders), However europe as a whole has Russia's Putin, which only allows parties that are even more crazier than him, and Belarus, where the president has been in power since independence and rules seems more akin to a Central Asian country rather than an european one

    • @spamtongspamton7878
      @spamtongspamton7878 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Also, I wonder why Six Flags decided to start their largest project yet in a country that anyone that isn't an Arab Sunni Muslim wouldn't enjoy. People only go to Saudi Arabia for oil or pilgrimage.

    • @spamtongspamton7878
      @spamtongspamton7878 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@wildearth3992 Who? Boris Johnson might be a foolish minister who made Brexit a reality, but he's nowhere near Trump's level of craziness , let alone Turkey

  • @imimmunetorickrollsandmore8076
    @imimmunetorickrollsandmore8076 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    If I was to make a theme park, what would the main roller coaster be? For me it would be an intamin giga

    • @alaeriia01
      @alaeriia01 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      T-Rex

    • @spamtongspamton7878
      @spamtongspamton7878 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Intamin Blitz, Hydraulic Launched, or Hyper/Giga coaster. Basically everything Intamin
      Or maybe a Gerstlauer Infinity coaster

  • @bridgediscovery1011
    @bridgediscovery1011 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Moral of the story
    DON'T open a theme park with 17 roller coasters

    • @Tacoaloto
      @Tacoaloto 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Start with 4 and add 2 every year then since 2014?

    • @jaya1000
      @jaya1000 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      What about my dream of opening a park with the 20 cheapest used coasters I can install and call it the roller coaster capitol of the world. You fucking nerds would fork over 50 bucks for the credits. Don't lie.

    • @MondoCoasters
      @MondoCoasters 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@jaya1000 Never have I felt so offended at something that I 100% agree with.

    • @jaya1000
      @jaya1000 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@MondoCoasters 10 kiddie coasters, a boomerang, slc, Larsen looper. And I'll make sure there's obscure height minimums and maximums so its impossible to get all 20 credits. And the food will give you diarrhea immediately.

    • @Codraroll
      @Codraroll 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@jaya1000 Big spender. If I were going for the record, I'd just see how many Big Apple coasters I could get my hands on and plonk them in a field. Just for fun I'd give one of them some really good themeing.

  • @sonnysinnott8397
    @sonnysinnott8397 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    This park is like someone dodgy saw Energylandia and wanted there own version

    • @drdewott9154
      @drdewott9154 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Lol, even then its actually this place that came first. Ankapark was supposed to open fully in 2014 after all. The very same year Energylandia started out and back then their biggest coaster was a low budget spinning wild mouse which they've now had put up for sale for several years.

  • @terriseaton3049
    @terriseaton3049 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    “Employees’ noticed they were not getting paid.” Lovely way to put it.

  • @Brandon-qd2lb
    @Brandon-qd2lb 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Yep heard of this before. Had a lot of crappy coasters though. Why is the major paying for the park rides and not the owner?? The park is just abandoned now?

  • @gb9727
    @gb9727 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    What will happen to the rides and rollercoasters?

  • @adakalyoncu1913
    @adakalyoncu1913 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    8:06 then there is probably something hidden going on because the park has massive solar panels on the parking lot that utilises the whole energy the park should need with all the rides operating. Also the park doesn't even run 90% of the rides.. Alnost all flat rides and all coasters other than; light speed, zierer esc, zamperla volare didn't even open up for the public when I visited there.. Emplooyees said that most rides would be down other than special days/occasions. So theres no way electricity costs can be a problem..
    (Yeah the park looks massive but they don't probably run more than 7-8 major rides on a regular day)

  • @TheCoasterCraze
    @TheCoasterCraze 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I can’t believe the park had 17 total coasters and maybe 3 of them were of quality lol

    • @drdewott9154
      @drdewott9154 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      quantity over quality my dude. quantity over quality. But either way if any small startups wanna build their own little local theme park then they might have a bargain if they can get their hands on some of the rides here!

  • @Gabes1321
    @Gabes1321 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Welp I guess that’s why you don’t build a theme park in Turkey 😅

  • @waltermanson999
    @waltermanson999 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Amazing piece of documentary making !

  • @RY30DM
    @RY30DM 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video and very informative.

  • @izharry1266
    @izharry1266 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Im literally playing planet coaster while im watching this lol

    • @Thesmokercoaster
      @Thesmokercoaster 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Ahhhh same.

    • @tismejaytee
      @tismejaytee 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I used to play PlanCo while watching Airtime Thrills all the time

  • @gb9727
    @gb9727 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Although it's unlikely, it would be interesting to see this reopen

  • @RedPandaStan
    @RedPandaStan 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    the problem is that it's in turkey. The west hates them for being a near dictatorship, and china, the middle east, and russia all have their own reasons for hating them too. The only people coming were people who were from turkey, and similar situations are why every large scale middle eastern themepark will fail.

  • @dennisalsmeijer3698
    @dennisalsmeijer3698 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Weird I never heard of this park before, so marketing wise it was not on Europe

  • @ThrillRidez
    @ThrillRidez 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Sounds like a poor plan! If they would of just started small and expanded from there it would of worked!

  • @AmusementInsider
    @AmusementInsider 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Crazy!

  • @Tylerhopkins3106
    @Tylerhopkins3106 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Awesome video, I think in order to be successful in this business you have to start small and then add rides and attractions along the way which is what this park failed to do great video once again!!!

  • @zkj82972
    @zkj82972 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    If anybody was wondering what the mayors name is it is Melih Gökçek

  • @Kuromi_2838
    @Kuromi_2838 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Im turkis and i have been going this place whit my family but when i Saw on the news that it is closing i crided so hard i hope it opens again 😭😣

  • @Benny-hd7tz
    @Benny-hd7tz 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I live for these documentaries

  • @micycles1200
    @micycles1200 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I'm sorry, did you say two- THOUSAND? What - were they counting each individual toilet as an attraction? I don't even think some of the other biggest park in the world even have two HUNDRED attractions, let alone two thousand. The hell were these people thinking?!

    • @blacklisted351
      @blacklisted351 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Didnt he say there was 179 kiddie rides or something ridiculous?

  • @xcoasterenthusiast
    @xcoasterenthusiast 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Everyone is saying Ankara is in Asia and not in Europe but for region, it's Asia but for continent, it's Eurasia as Europe and Asia are mostly same tectonic plate and aren't separated by a body of water. It's like calling California it's own continent because a part of it is in the Pacific Plate but California is a lot less of a continent.

  • @axarplayz1082
    @axarplayz1082 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    A ticket for the bloody thing is 15 TL which comes out to around 30p. It’s a disgrace. Very poor planning and really upsets me everytime I drive past. Seeing all the rides rotting. Corruption.

  • @Guhonter
    @Guhonter 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    My sister in law is a travel agent, they go for water park holidays in Turkey every year, this is the first time I ever heard of this.