Mack Rides
German amusement ride manufacturer
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Mack Rides GmbH & Co KG, generally known as Mack Rides, is a German amusement-ride manufacturer headquartered in Waldkirch, Baden-Württemberg. The company designs and constructs attractions for theme parks, amusement parks, traveling showmen, and other leisure venues. Its product range includes roller coasters, flat rides, dark rides, log flumes, tow-boat rides, and related ride systems. The business is also closely connected with Europa-Park, the German theme park founded by the Mack family and used in part as a showcase for the company’s technology and attraction concepts. The company traces its origins to 1780, when Paul Mack began producing carriages and stagecoaches. Its involvement with the amusement industry developed in the late nineteenth century, when the Mack company began building organ wagons and caravans for traveling showmen in 1880. This early work gave the business experience in mobile structures, vehicles, mechanical systems, and entertainment equipment. Mack later expanded into fixed and mobile amusement attractions, producing its first wooden roller coaster in 1921, its first car ride in 1936, and its first wooden bobsled ride in 1951. Beginning in 1952, the company increased exports to the United States, establishing an international dimension to its business. Franz Mack took over the family firm with his brothers in 1958. In 1972, Franz Mack and his son Roland Mack visited the United States and were influenced by the scale and integrated presentation of American theme parks. They subsequently pursued the idea of creating a German theme park that could also serve as a demonstration and exhibition environment for the family company’s attractions. Europa-Park opened in Rust in 1975. Although Europa-Park is a separate theme-park operation, the common family ownership has made it an important development, testing, and showcase environment for Mack Rides products. Mack Rides has become one of the longest-established suppliers in the global amusement industry. Its work spans complete attractions and specialized ride technologies, with installations delivered to customers in multiple international markets. Roller coasters remain a particularly visible part of its portfolio, but the company also supplies family rides, thrill rides, water attractions, dark rides, and other systems intended for different visitor profiles and park formats. As of September 2024, the company was credited with having built 174 roller coasters worldwide. Recent recognition has highlighted the company’s continued activity in advanced launch-coaster development. Voltron Nevera at Europa-Park received a 2024 Golden Ticket Award for Best New Roller Coaster. Stardust Racers, a dual-launched steel coaster developed for Universal Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida, received the corresponding award in 2025. These projects illustrate Mack Rides’ role as an international supplier capable of delivering both family-oriented attractions and technically ambitious large-scale roller coasters.
History
Mack Rides traces its origins to 1780, when Paul Mack began manufacturing carriages and stagecoaches. For much of its early history, the family business was associated with transport equipment and vehicle construction. In 1880, it expanded into the entertainment sector by producing organ wagons and caravans used by traveling showmen. This work established an early connection with the amusement industry and gave the company experience in building mobile structures and mechanical equipment for public entertainment. The company moved progressively into amusement rides during the twentieth century. It built its first wooden roller coaster in 1921, followed by its first car ride in 1936 and its first wooden bobsled ride in 1951. In 1952, Mack began increasing exports to the United States, helping establish the company as an international ride supplier rather than solely a German or regional manufacturer. Franz Mack took over the family firm with his brothers in 1958. A major strategic development followed in 1972, when Franz Mack and his son Roland visited the United States. Their exposure to large-scale American theme parks influenced the family’s decision to create a German theme park that could also provide a setting in which the company’s attractions could be presented and experienced. Europa-Park opened in Rust in 1975. The theme park became an important part of the Mack family’s wider business interests and a prominent showcase for Mack Rides’ products, although the ride manufacturer and the park are distinct operations. Over subsequent decades, Mack Rides broadened its portfolio beyond traditional mobile attractions and roller coasters. The company developed and supplied flat rides, dark rides, log flumes, tow-boat rides, family attractions, thrill rides, and other custom systems for amusement and theme parks. Its activities have included both complete ride installations and the engineering of specialized attraction concepts. The company’s international customer base has made its rides visible in parks across Europe, North America, and other markets. Roller coasters remain a central part of the company’s identity. By September 2024, Mack Rides had built 174 roller coasters around the world. Recent projects have included technically advanced launch coasters. Voltron Nevera at Europa-Park was recognized with the 2024 Golden Ticket Award for Best New Roller Coaster. Stardust Racers, a dual-launched steel coaster supplied for Universal Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida, received the same award in 2025. These recognitions underline the company’s continuing role in the design and construction of major contemporary amusement attractions.
- 2025
Stardust Racers wins a Golden Ticket Award
[1]Stardust Racers at Universal Epic Universe receives the Golden Ticket Award for Best New Roller Coaster.
- 2024
Voltron Nevera wins a Golden Ticket Award
[1]Voltron Nevera at Europa-Park receives the Golden Ticket Award for Best New Roller Coaster.
- 1975
Europa-Park opens
[1]Europa-Park opens in Rust, Germany, becoming a major associated Mack family enterprise and an important showcase for Mack Rides attractions.
- 1972
Theme-park concept developed after U.S. visit
[1]Franz Mack and Roland Mack visit the United States and are inspired to establish a German theme park that can also showcase the company’s attractions.
- 1958
Franz Mack and his brothers take over the family firm
[1]Franz Mack assumes control of the family business together with his brothers.
- 1952
Expansion of exports to the United States
[1]Mack Rides increases exports of attractions to the U.S. market.
- 1951
First wooden bobsled ride
[1]Mack develops its first wooden bobsled ride.
- 1936
First car ride
[1]The company produces its first car ride attraction.
- 1921
First wooden roller coaster
[1]Mack builds its first wooden roller coaster.
- 1880
Entry into the traveling-entertainment sector
[1]The Mack company begins building organ wagons and caravans for traveling showmen, marking its early involvement in the amusement industry.
Products and positioning
A long-established, family-owned German engineering and attraction supplier serving theme parks, amusement parks, and traveling-show operators worldwide. Mack Rides combines custom ride development with a broad portfolio spanning roller coasters, water attractions, dark rides, flat rides, and family attractions.
Thrill attractions · 1921
Roller coasters
Mack Rides designs and constructs roller coasters in several formats, including wooden and steel systems, launch coasters, family coasters, and large-scale thrill attractions. The company has built 174 roller coasters worldwide as of September 2024. Recent examples include the multi-launch Voltron Nevera at Europa-Park and the dual-launched Stardust Racers at Universal Epic Universe.
Amusement rides
Flat rides
The company’s flat-ride portfolio covers attractions that operate without a roller-coaster track, serving family, thrill, and general amusement-park applications. Individual ride formats and installations are designed for the requirements of particular parks and operating environments.
Themed attractions
Dark rides
Mack Rides builds dark rides that combine guided vehicle systems with enclosed environments, scenery, storytelling, and special effects. These attractions are intended for themed and family-oriented areas of amusement and theme parks.
Water rides
Log flumes
Log flumes are water-based attractions in which riders travel through a flume in boat-like vehicles, generally combining scenic sections with drops and splash effects. Mack Rides lists this type among the attraction systems it designs and constructs.
Water rides
Tow-boat rides
Tow-boat rides use mechanically propelled boats to move guests through themed or scenic water environments. Mack Rides includes these attractions within its broader range of water and park ride systems.
Family attractions · 1936
Car rides
Mack’s history includes car rides, with the company recording its first car ride in 1936. The category covers guided or track-based vehicle attractions designed for family and general amusement-park use.
Amusement rides · 1951
Wooden bobsled rides
The company built its first wooden bobsled ride in 1951. This attraction type uses a bobsled-style vehicle and a shaped course to create a sliding, coaster-like ride experience.
Brand decisions
1972
Develop a German theme park as a product showcaseStrategyBackground
After Franz Mack and Roland Mack visited the United States, the family became interested in the large-scale theme-park model and in creating a venue where the company’s attractions could be demonstrated.
Action taken
The Mack family pursued the creation of Europa-Park, which opened in Rust in 1975.
Aftermath
Europa-Park became a major associated family enterprise and an important showcase and development environment for Mack Rides attractions.
Recent events
- 2025
Stardust Racers receives Golden Ticket Award for Best New Roller Coaster[1]
Other
Stardust Racers, a steel dual-launched roller coaster supplied for Universal Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida, received the Golden Ticket Award for Best New Roller Coaster.
- 2024
Voltron Nevera receives Golden Ticket Award for Best New Roller Coaster[1]
Other
Mack Rides’ multi-launch roller coaster Voltron Nevera at Europa-Park in Rust, Germany, received the Golden Ticket Award for Best New Roller Coaster.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/mack-rides · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled