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Nigloland is an
amusement park An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, and events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central theme, often fea ...
in Dolancourt in the French county
Aube Aube ( ) is a French departments of France, department in the Grand Est region of northeastern France. As with sixty departments in France, this department is named after a river: the Aube (river), Aube. With 310,242 inhabitants (2019),
. It is one of the most visited parks in France after
Disneyland Paris Disneyland Paris is an entertainment resort in Marne-la-Vallée, France, located about east of Paris. It encompasses two theme parks, seven Disney-owned hotels, two convention centers, a golf course, an arena, and a shopping, dining and entert ...
and Parc Astérix. Nigloland was created by two brothers, Patrice and Philippe Gélis. The park opened June 1, 1987. The name "Nigloland" comes from its mascot, "Niglo", meaning
hedgehog A hedgehog is a spiny mammal of the subfamily Erinaceinae, in the eulipotyphlan family Erinaceidae. There are 17 species of hedgehog in five genera found throughout parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in New Zealand by introduction. The ...
in Romani. The park is divided into four areas: "The Canadian village", "The rock'n'roll village," "The magical village" and "The Swiss village".


History


Beginnings

Nigloland opened on June 13, 1987, thanks to the initiative of the Gélis brothers Patrice and Philippe, who were inspired by their trip to the United States where they discovered amusement parks with a single entrance ticket The Gélis brothers visited the Walt Disney World Resort in the early 1980s. See from the mark The two brothers invested seven million francs to install a park in the family property of eighteen hectares in Dolancourt. Cf. from Initially, the park was composed of a small creperie, a restaurant, and seven attractions and installations: "Train western", "Tacots 1900", "Aventure land", "Ciné show 180°", "Niglogolf", "Carrousel 1900", and "Château hanté". The number of visits was per season, with the breakeven point being annual visitors. In 1988 Nigloland opened its first roller coaster, "Bayern Express" also known as the "Lost City of Gold," as well as the pirate ship ride, "Galion pirate." The following year, the "Rivière canadienne" made its appearance, followed in 1990 by the "Circuit de Nigloland," an attraction that allows visitors to drive guided race cars on rails and the "Caravelles de Jacques Cartier." The park celebrated its one-millionth visitor on its fifth anniversary and inaugurated the "Niglo Show," a show of animatronics inspired by "Country Bear Jamboree" at some Disney parks.


1990s

In 1991 Nigloland welcomed 350,000 visitors. The park offered its customers a Mine Train ride for the inauguration of the Canadian village in 1992. That year, the park's attendance increased to 350,000 entries. In 1993, the Toison d'Or Par went bankrupt and was taken over by the city of
Dijon Dijon (, ; ; in Burgundian language (Oïl), Burgundian: ''Digion'') is a city in and the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Côte-d'Or Departments of France, department and of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Regions of France, region in eas ...
. The management of Nigloland bought the equipment from Toison d'Or Park at scrap prices from a subsidiary of Lyonnaise des Eaux. This acquisition and the relocation of some of the attractions cost nearly twenty million
francs The franc is any of various units of currency. One franc is typically divided into 100 centimes. The name is said to derive from the Latin inscription ''francorum rex'' ( King of the Franks) used on early French coins and until the 18th centur ...
, or approximately three million euros. Thus a new village, the ''village merveilleux'', opened with new attractions including the ''Rivière enchantée'' (Enchanted River) and the ''Petit Poucet'' (Tom Thumb). After spending six years at the park, '' Bayern Express'' left Nigloland in 1994 for Sunway Lagoon, a park in
Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
, due to noise pollution problems and maintenance costs. To replace this attraction, the ''Haunted Manor'' arrived at the park. The roller coaster ''Train de la mine'' from the Toison d'Or park, now belonging to the Gélis brothers, was also transferred to a Malaysian park, Genting Theme Park, under the name ''Rolling Thunder Mine Train''.The outdoor section of Genting Theme Park where the attraction is located closed on August 31, 2013. It is planned to reopen in the second quarter of 2021 under the name
Genting SkyWorlds Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park is an 11 hectare (26 acre) themed amusement park at Resorts World Genting, Genting Highlands, Malaysia. Initially, the park was to debut as 20th Century Fox World Malaysia, until The Walt Disney Company's Acquisitio ...
with a
20th Century Studios 20th Century Studios, Inc., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film studio, film production and Film distributor, distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the ...
license; it was initially planned to reopen in 2016 under the name 20th Century Fox World before the studio was acquired by
The Walt Disney Company The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was founded on October 16 ...
.
In 1995: ''La Course de bobsleigh'', roller coasters straight from German fairs, made their appearance after a brief stay in Sweden. That same year, attendance reached 470000 visitors.. The opening of the ''Flying Dragons'' in 1996 allowed the 450000 visitors to enjoy a panoramic view of the park. In 1997, the ''Chenille'' and the ''Hérissons dans la forêt magique'' were two novelties intended for the youngest visitors. 480000 visitors were accumulated this season. In 1998, 450,000 visitors passed through the park gates and Nigloland inaugurated the ''Spatiale Experience'' in the spring, an indoor roller coaster immersed in a huge futuristic building, themed around a space journey, inspired by the '' Space Mountain'' attraction. With a length of eight hundred meters, it has a very dense course with descents and turns. The construction took almost a year.


2000s

With the creation of the new rock 'n' roll zone, the park opened ''National 66'' in 1999, ''Juke box'' in 2000 and Hollywood Boulevard in 2001. For 2002, Nigloland opened '' Bat Coaster'', France's first
inverted roller coaster An inverted roller coaster is a type of steel roller coaster in which the train runs under the track with the seats directly attached to the wheel carriage. Riders are seated in open cars, letting their feet swing freely. The inverted coaster wa ...
built by Pinfari.. 480,000 people walked the park's alleys in 2002. In 2003 the park now offered around thirty attractions. The new attraction ''Dinosaurs Adventure'' enabled the park to attract 515,000 visitors. In 2004, Nigloland inaugurated ''King of Mississippi'' and received 496,547 customers. In 2005, the park opened the ''Pirates' Hotel'', the park's first hotel, themed around
piracy Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and valuable goods, or taking hostages. Those who conduct acts of piracy are call ...
. This season ended with 430,408 visitors. An accident occurred on April 9, 2005 on the ''Bat Coaster'' ride, injuring five people, one of them seriously due to a mechanical accident involving a lifting device. This attraction was sold in 2007 to Antibes Land. The novelties accumulate from 2006 with the ''Grizzli'', a Disk'O Coaster fifteen meters high on a nine-meter diameter disc, followed in 2007 by a ''Schlitt' Express'' Wild Mouse, the ''Ronde des canards'', a ride for children and the ''Deudeuche Show'', a new show. The years 2006, 2007 and 2008 saw 445,000, 467,000 and 473,000 visitors in the park. In 2008, the park opened a new attraction for children: the ''ferme d'Antonin''. This ride allows the opening of the Swiss village, delimited by new chalets. Since 2009 a
ferris wheel A Ferris wheel (also called a big wheel, giant wheel or an observation wheel) is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating upright wheel with multiple passenger-carrying components (commonly referred to as passenger cars, cabins, tubs, gondola ...
by Gerstlauer of fifty meters high has been installed in the Swiss village. The 2009 season was the last for the cinema named ''Planète 180°''. That same year, the leaders expressed their intention to develop its hotel complex by adding "cottages" on the theme of the
Caribbean The Caribbean ( , ; ; ; ) is a region in the middle of the Americas centered around the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, mostly overlapping with the West Indies. Bordered by North America to the north, Central America ...
.. This project will not materialize.


2010s

In 2010 the novelties are the flying chair ride ''Apple Flight'', a new show ''La Parade des caniches'' and a restaurant in the Swiss village, ''Lara Clette''. In 2011, a new magic show named ''Las Vegas Show'' is installed in the park. In September 2011 the park served as a shooting location for scenes from the film '' Comme des frères'', renamed "Fifouland" for the occasion on the big screen. Two attractions appeared in 2012. ''Air Meeting'' by Gerstlauer is a ride in which airplanes turn around an axis. The specificity of ''Air Meeting'' is that passengers control the movements of their plane on another axis, which allows for looping. ''Route de l'essence'' is a children's carousel. This ride temporarily left the park after the 2013 season. One of the oldest attractions, ''Adventure Jungle'', was renovated in 2013 and renamed ''Africa Cruise'' for the occasion. The track and station were modified and many animatronics were added to the ride. Additionally, the park invested in the construction of a Champagne-style house at the park entrance. Nigloland opened the roller coaster circuit '' Alpina Blitz'' in 2014 and reached 560,000 visitors by the end of the season. In 2016 the leisure site offered two drop towers. The first one is called ''Le Donjon de l'extrême''. With a height of 100 meters, this rotating freefall tower from the manufacturer Funtime is announced by park management as the tallest in France. ''La Tour des petits fantômes'' is aimed at young children. This family tower of the Spring Ride type from Zierer is 11 meters high. The 2017 season was the last for '' La Course de bobsleigh'' which moved to Parc de la Vallée, in Poitou-Charentes, in 2018. In the same year, Nigloland opened ''Les Zabeilles'', an airplane ride. The park reached an annual attendance of 655,000 visitors in 2018. The novelty of 2019 is the 'Eden Palais', which recorded 635,000 entries.


2020s

In 2020 the ''Chenille'' also leaves Nigloland to join the Parc de la Vallée. The junior roller coaster ''Noisette Express'' is added to the attractions. That same season, the ''Grande roue'' moves within the park. The start of the season is postponed to July 11, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With a budget of 12 million euros, '' Krampus Expédition'' is inaugurated in 2021. The park is increasingly aiming for attractiveness by becoming a themed park that tends to become a resort. In 2022, for the park's 35th anniversary, Nigloland renovated 3 mythical attractions: *''Les montgolfières'' becoming ''Le voyage en Montgolfières'' (The Balloons becoming The Balloon Voyage) *''Le Niglo Show'' *''Les hérissons de la forêt magique'' (The hedgehogs of the magical forest) That year, the park reached a record attendance of 763,000 visitors, surpassing the symbolic threshold of 700,000 entries. In 2023, Nigloland continues its renovations by revamping the "Rivière Enchantée" (Enchanted River) into the "Rivière des Fées" (River of Fairies).


Rides

The park is home to 39 rides, including: * Le Donjon de l'Extrême, a 100 m (328 feet) drop tower, the highest in France (2016) * Alpina Blitz, the first Megalite type Mega-coaster from Mack Rides (2014) * Air Meeting, the first Gerstlauer sky-fly ride (2012) * La Grande Roue, a 50 m high Ferris wheel (2009) * Le Grizzli, the first European Disk'O Coaster (2006) * Dinosaures Adventure, an original walk-through ride in a dinosaur park (2003) * Spatiale Experience, an indoor steel roller coaster, a bit smaller than Eurosat in Europa-Park (1998)


Coasters


Current

Alpina Blitz-face.jpg, ''Alpina Blitz'' Schlitt Express.JPG, ''Descente en Schlitt Gold Mine Train Nigloland.JPG, ''Gold Mine Train'' Spatiale Expérience Nigloland.JPG, ''Spatiale Expérience''


Old

Chenille Nigloland.JPG, ''Chenille'' Bobsleigh Nigloland.JPG, ''La course de Bobsleigh''


Water rides


Thrill rides

Air Meeting.jpg, ''Air Meeting'' Grizzly Nigloland.JPG, ''Grizzli'' Nigloland - Le Juke Box.JPG, ''Juke Box''


Other attractions

*''Bumper's Cars'': bumper cars (2001) *''Caravelles de Jacques Cartier'': a Music Express-type ride built by Mack Rides (1990) *''Chevauchée fantastique'': galloping horse ride by Soquet (1987) *''Circuit de Nigloland'': go-kart circuit themed as a Formula 1 track (1990) *''Dinosaures Aventure'': dinosaur-themed ride (2003) *''Dragons volants'': dragon-shaped monorail by Severn Lamb (1996) *''Eden Palais'': a carousel-salon offering museum, tea room, and cinema space (2019). It includes two attractions: ''La Route de l'essence'' (2012) and ''Le Carrousel'' (1987) *''Ferme d'Antonin'': tractor ride (2008) *''Grande roue'': Ferris wheel by Gerstlauer (2009) *''Hérissons de la forêt magique'': scenic ride for children (1997) *''Manoir hanté'': dark ride, the ride system was built by Mack Rides and the facade by the Belgian company Giant (1994) *''Le voyage en montgolfières'': balloon-themed ride by
Zamperla Antonio Zamperla S.p.A. is an Italian design and manufacturing company founded in 1966. It is best known for creating family rides, thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The company also makes smaller coin-operated rides commonly found in ...
(1994). The attraction was bought after the closure of the Toison d'or park. (Renovated in 2022) *''Oil Company'' and ''Hollywood Boulevard'': games *''P'tit Poucet'': tea cup ride (1994). The attraction was bought after the closure of the Toison d'or park. *''Ronde des canards'': children's ride by Metallbau Emmeln (2007) *''Route 66'': American truck ride for children, Zamperla (1999) *''Tacots 1900'': antique car ride by Mack Rides (1987) *''Tour des petits fantômes'': junior drop tower by Zierer (2016) *''Train'': train ride by Soquet (1987) *''Zabeilles'': bee-themed airplane ride by Zierer (2018)


Defunct attractions

*''Planète 180°'': planetarium cinema (19872009). *''Le Château hanté'': walkthrough attraction in the dark punctuated by scenes with mannequins and automatons (19872013). The attraction, built since the park's opening in the "wonderful village" near the old entrance and made obsolete by the arrival of the *''Manoir hanté'' in 1994, nevertheless remained in operation for a few years (under the name ''Le Château médiéval''), before seeing its windows redesigned for Halloween and becoming the lair of
Jack-o'-lantern A jack-o'-lantern (or jack o'lantern) is a carved lantern, most commonly made from a pumpkin, or formerly a root vegetable such as a mangelwurzel, rutabaga or turnip. Jack-o'-lanterns are associated with the Halloween holiday. Its name comes ...
. *''Niglogolf: golf'' (19872019)


Accommodations


The Pirates' Hotel

In 2005, Nigloland opened an accommodation, ''Hôtel des Pirates''. Set in an exotic decor, it consists of thirty family rooms that can accommodate up to five adults, a buffet restaurant, a bar, and a performance hall. During the summer, magic shows and face painting stands for children are added as evening entertainment at the hotel. In 2013, the hotel was awarded its fourth star.


Shows

Nigloland offers a show for children, the animatronic show ''Niglo Show'' (renovated in 2022). During the summer, additional animations are added. For Halloween, there are also shows in the park. In 2022, Nigloland unveiled a new show called '' Imageen'', a sound and light show with fireworks, featuring the voice of Benoît Allemane, and also the ''Scary Circus''. In 2023, '' Le printemps de Niglo'' celebrates Spring and the Easter holiday with its new show ''Surprise!''.


Discontinued shows

''Niglo Circus,'' a show featuring seals and poodles, took place where ''Air Meeting'' now stands. ''L'ours'' and ''le loup,'' were educational and playful shows. ''Las Vegas Show'' (20112014), a magic show took place in the rock 'n' roll village, hosted by the Kamyléons troupe (awarded with a Mandrake d'or and a Mandrake de cristal).


Events


Easter ''Le printemps de Niglo''

At the beginning of the season and during the month of April, Nigloland is decorated with Easter-themed decorations such as rabbits and large chocolate eggs. In 2023, Nigloland unveils its new event, '' Le printemps de Niglo'' celebrating Spring and Easter, featuring an Easter egg hunt for children.


Halloween ''Nigloween''

The park celebrates
Halloween Halloween, or Hallowe'en (less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve), is a celebration geography of Halloween, observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christianity, Western Christian f ...
every year with ''Nigloween'' on weekends in October and every day during the
All Saints' Day All Saints' Day, also known as All Hallows' Day, the Feast of All Saints, the Feast of All Hallows, the Solemnity of All Saints, and Hallowmas, is a Christian solemnity celebrated in honour of all the saints of the Church, whether they are know ...
holiday with a magic show, the ''Metamorphosis of the Werewolf'' animation, and the ''Jack-o'-Lantern's Lair'' course (formerly known as the ''Haunted Castle''), which disappeared in 2013. The park is decorated with thousands of pumpkins, straw boots, flowers, and skeletons.. In 2022, Nigloland unveils a new show '' Imageen'', a sound and light show with fireworks featuring the voice of Benoît Allemane.


Logos

File:Logo-nigloland-283-107.png, Current logo of the park.


Notes


Alpha


References


External links

* {{Authority control Amusement parks in France Aube Amusement parks opened in 1987 1987 establishments in France