Last weekend marked the penultimate theme park visit of the year. The drive to northern Germany went as expected on the Autobahn—traffic jams, construction, and more traffic. After a short night at the hotel and a delicious breakfast with fresh German rolls, we waited in the Heide Park Adventure Hotel lobby around 10:00 a.m. for our badges, group photo, and welcome speech. Then, the visit officially began.
SubTerra#
The first part of the day included a behind-the-scenes tour of two of Heide Park’s three haunted houses. Through one of the park’s staff entrances, we walked through the almost empty park to the first haunted house: SubTerra. SubTerra, the second haunted house built in Heide Park, tells the story of an abandoned underground metro station, originally intended to easily transport guests to the park. However, the construction was halted due to various issues and was eventually forgotten. Partygoers have since discovered it as the perfect hidden location for an underground rave. With this background, visitors are invited to dance through the maze of tunnels. Once on the dance floor, though, it quickly becomes clear that the other guests are heavily drugged—on tainted pills, no less—which has turned them into murderous zombies. Visitors must find their way out of the underground maze as quickly as possible… before it’s too late.
“Drugs are bad!” indeed. During the tour, we viewed the haunted house thoroughly, with work lights on, revealing the intricate design of each room and hallway. Despite the walls being constructed from wood, the visible finish is superb, with real tiling and plasterwork. We also saw how the scare actors navigate the house using hidden openings and passageways. When the house is active, at least 15 actors are deployed to frighten guests. Interestingly, the haunted house is located in the basement of Heide Park’s former office building. The floor above is still used as office space, where staff can hear both the haunted house sounds and the screams of guests, much to their amusement.
Grand Hotel Morton#
We continued the tour and, after a short walk, arrived at the park’s first haunted house, Grand Hotel Morton. This time, we were invited to the grand reopening of this once-famous hotel, now under new ownership after falling into disrepair. It’s 1920, and as new guests with a reservation for Room 13, we wonder if it’s mere coincidence. But after checking in and reaching our room, it quickly becomes clear that not every guest leaves the hotel alive…
According to our guide, this is the haunted house they’re most proud of in terms of construction—and deservedly so, as we observed during the tour. Even with the work lights on, the detailed design exudes the authentic atmosphere of an early 20th-century hotel. They’re particularly proud of the theater technology used in the elevator scene, but no spoilers—you’ll need to visit to experience it yourself! The house consists of interconnected hallways and rooms, from bathrooms and kitchens to a basement with a heating boiler, all meticulously crafted. Once again, hidden passageways allow actors to move stealthily, such as through concealed doors in wardrobes, to surprise guests throughout the haunt.
Coastertime#
And with that, the morning was nearly over. As a cherry on top, we were taken to see the lift hill and first drop of what is likely the park’s pride: Colossos - Battle of the Giants. After one last group photo, it was finally time to start riding some roller coasters.
We started with the Big Loop, built in 1983 by Dutch manufacturer Vekoma. This coaster closely resembles the Python at Efteling, though with two oddly placed straight sections. Still, it’s always fun to ride a classic. Next up was Bobbahn, built 11 years later. Although the ride was somewhat rough, it was surprisingly enjoyable with its long track and a thrilling dark helix. Then we headed to Germany’s first Wing Coaster, Flug der Dämonen. My third of this type after Mandrill Mayhem at Chessington World of Adventure and Swarm at Thorpe Park. Its compact layout and airtime moments made it a standout experience.
After a short lunch, we continued the coaster tour, with Krake next. This Dive Coaster delivers a thrilling drop, especially from the back row, but it’s over within seconds. From there, we went to the park’s Wild West area for the “intense” Indy-Blitz. The kiddie coaster of the park that, amusingly, we adults couldn’t resist riding for the laughs.
The final coaster on the agenda before our reserved haunted house times was Desert Race, an exact copy of Rita at Alton Towers. With its exhilarating launch from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.4 seconds, it was an adrenaline rush no one wanted to miss. After a quick, smooth ride, it was time to get ready for some haunted thrills!
Be afraid!#
At the start of this trip report, I already mentioned quite a bit about the haunted houses. Experiencing them in action, with actors, sound, and smoke-filled rooms, brought a whole new dimension. All in all, the haunted houses at Heide Park are incredibly fun experiences. But… I’m probably a bit too level-headed for it. Despite everyone’s best efforts, I often had more tears in my eyes from laughing than anything else. They’ve definitely nailed the fun factor! But when a maniac with a bloody axe chases you down a hallway, yelling in his best creepy German, “I’m coming to get you!”… well, just pick me up off the floor! Maybe the morning tour removed some of the surprise of what to expect inside, which probably played a role. Still, all three haunted houses were great entertainment.
Between the haunted houses, we had an hour of free time, which we filled with a ride that I think everyone was a bit apprehensive about. But, as I mentioned before, it’s all for the credits. So, a few of us found ourselves in line for the park’s other Vekoma coaster, the SLC Toxic Garden. And when you see that this ride still has the old shoulder restraints before boarding, you can be sure of one thing: it’s going to be a rough ride. The experience was as I expected—while not as rough as the prototype El Condor at Walibi Holland, it was far from smooth. The funny thing is, when we walked past this ride during the morning tour, our park host even made jokes about it, clearly aware that SLCs are not a favorite among coaster enthusiasts.
And with that, the day was almost over. For today, the park had provided us with Express Tickets, allowing us to skip the lines for most of the roller coasters. We had agreed to save the ticket for the park’s pride until last. With darkness well set in, it was time to redeem our final ticket. We took a night ride on Colossos - Kampf der Giganten, which stands 53 meters high and stretches 1,344 meters long. This was my first wooden prefab coaster, and also the first of its kind ever built. Later this year, I still plan to check off the successor of this type: Balder at the Swedish amusement park Liseberg.
So, what makes this ride so special? Normally, the wood is cut on-site during construction. But with a prefab coaster, the track segments are pre-cut to size and then assembled on location. Besides being a cheaper construction method, it also ensures a smoother ride experience. And that was evident during the first drop. You just glide down to reach the 110 km/h, and what follows is one delightful airtime hill after another. Finally, just before hitting the brakes, you are engulfed by fire and smoke from the Colossos. What a way to end a wonderful day!
Until next time!#
Once again thanks to every staffmember of ACE Europe for another amazing trip. And offcourse to Heide Park for their hospitality.