Skyline Park

Skyline Park, also known as Allgäu Skyline Park, is a 35-hectare amusement park in Bad Wörishofen, Bavaria, Germany. It combines roller coasters, major thrill rides, water attractions, family rides, playgrounds, and attractions originating from the traveling fairground industry. The park is operated by the Löwenthal family, a showmen family whose business background strongly influences the park's collection of portable and permanently installed rides. The site's institutional history reaches back to the Kirchdorf Leisure Park, which operated in Stadtbergen near Augsburg from 1975 to 1991. That earlier facility was largely a large outdoor playground, with slides, pedal-powered rides, and an electrically powered car attraction. Plans to expand the park led to a dispute with the landowner, prompting its relocation to Bad Wörishofen. The new site gradually developed a more substantial amusement-park identity, particularly in the late 1990s when larger rides began to be added. Among the notable early additions was Silberpfeil, an Anton Schwarzkopf roller coaster. The Löwenthal family acquired the park in 1999 and reopened it under the Skyline Park name. Joachim Löwenthal subsequently pursued a strategy of adding visually distinctive and technically ambitious attractions. Early investments included the Sky Rider suspended roller coaster and the Bob Racing powered bobkart attraction. This approach helped differentiate the park from smaller regional leisure facilities and established its reputation as a venue willing to experiment with unusual ride concepts. A major turning point came with the development of Sky Wheel by Maurer Söhne, now Maurer AG. Opened in late 2004 and formally presented for the 2005 season, the ride used a striking vertical-arc layout and was marketed as resembling a ferris wheel without spokes. Its design attracted attention within the amusement industry and contributed to broader interest in Maurer's X-Car and related coaster concepts. Skyline Park continued to expand its mix of permanent and relocated rides, including Sky Twister, formerly Heide Park's Condor, and an enlarged bumper-car facility described as Germany's largest. During the 2010s, the park expanded both its footprint and its range of attractions. Sky Rafting was installed in 2010 as part of a northeastern expansion. The park later acquired rides from the United Kingdom, including the former Bling at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, renamed Sky Jet, and the former Whirlwind spinning coaster from Camelot Theme Park, renamed Sky Spin. Sky Jet was eventually removed after the 2019 season, while Sky Spin became part of the park's coaster offering after refurbishment. Further western-side development between 2015 and 2019 added several SBF Visa Group attractions, including High Fly, Kids Spin, and Zero Gravity. The park also permanently installed major traveling-fair attractions from the Löwenthal family's circuit: Wildwasserbahn III in 2017 and Geisterschlange in 2019. Another important investment was Sky Dragster, a Maurer AG prototype Spike Coaster whose riders can influence the speed of their vehicle. Although the concept received innovation recognition, the ride experienced significant mechanical reliability problems, and management questioned its long-term viability during 2020. The park's most prominent recent additions were made during the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sky Fall, an 85-metre portable drop tower, was brought to the park after the cancellation of festivals and fairs across Europe. It was initially expected to remain for five months but continued through the 2021 season. In 2020, Skyline Park also opened Allgäuflieger, a 150-metre Funtime StarFlyer. The attraction became one of the tallest tower rides of its type and a major visual landmark for the park. In 2021, the park publicized plans for a substantial 2024 roller coaster investment, reportedly involving a 70-metre structure, approximately 1.2 kilometres of track, and manufacturer Gerstlauer. That project did not materialize as announced. Instead, the park added several SBF Visa attractions during 2023 and 2024, including the children's coaster Flotter Otto, the Looping Alois thrill ride, and Berg- und Tal Hetz. Skyline Park therefore remains a regional amusement destination whose identity is shaped by continuous ride investment, family ownership, and the transfer of sophisticated traveling-show attractions into a permanent park setting.

Skyline Park developed from the Kirchdorf Leisure Park, an outdoor recreation facility established in Stadtbergen in 1975. The earlier park focused primarily on playground-style activities, including slides, pedal rides, and an electric car attraction. It remained at that location until 1991, when disagreements concerning expansion with the landowner led to a move to Bad Wörishofen in Bavaria. The relocated park gradually moved beyond its original playground model. Larger attractions were introduced during the late 1990s, including the Anton Schwarzkopf roller coaster Silberpfeil. In 1999, the Löwenthal family of showmen purchased the facility and relaunched it as Skyline Park. The family brought experience from the traveling fairground sector and used that background to create a park with an unusual combination of permanent installations and rides transferred from fair circuits. After the acquisition, owner Joachim Löwenthal expanded the attraction portfolio with rides such as Sky Rider and Bob Racing. The park's profile rose substantially through its cooperation with Maurer Söhne, now Maurer AG. That relationship produced Sky Wheel, which opened in late 2004 and was formally operating for the 2005 season. Its vertical-arc layout and X-Car technology made it one of the park's signature attractions and an example of Skyline Park's willingness to host experimental ride designs. Expansion continued through the following decade. Former attractions were acquired from other parks and adapted for Skyline Park, including Condor from Heide Park, renamed Sky Twister, and the British rides Sky Jet and Sky Spin. Sky Rafting entered the park's lineup in 2010 as part of a two-hectare northeastern expansion. Sky Jet, formerly known as Bling at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, was later removed after the 2019 season. Sky Spin, formerly Whirlwind at Camelot Theme Park, was refurbished and placed into service after Camelot closed. Between 2015 and 2019, Skyline Park developed the western side of its property. SBF Visa Group supplied several attractions, while the park also made permanent homes for large showmen's rides. Wildwasserbahn III, a traveling log flume, was installed in 2017, followed by Geisterschlange, a ghost-train-style dark ride, in 2019. The park also introduced Sky Dragster, a prototype Maurer Spike Coaster in which riders can control the speed of their vehicle. Despite receiving attention for its innovative concept, Sky Dragster suffered repeated mechanical issues, and its future became uncertain around 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic altered the operating environment for traveling amusements and led to the temporary placement of Sky Fall at Skyline Park. The 85-metre drop tower was brought in after fairs and festivals were cancelled and remained beyond its originally planned five-month stay, operating through 2021. The park also opened Allgäuflieger in 2020, a 150-metre Funtime StarFlyer that became one of the tallest attractions of its type. In October 2021, Skyline Park publicized a plan for a major 2024 roller coaster manufactured by Gerstlauer. The proposed ride was described as approximately 70 metres high and 1.2 kilometres long, but the project ultimately did not come to fruition. The park instead continued incremental expansion, adding SBF Visa attractions including Flotter Otto, Looping Alois, and Berg- und Tal Hetz during 2023 and 2024. Its continuing identity is that of a privately operated Bavarian amusement park combining regional family leisure with large thrill rides and attractions drawn from the European fairground circuit.

• 2024

  New SBF Visa attractions expand the lineup

  [1]Skyline Parken.wikipedia.org

  Flotter Otto, Looping Alois, and Berg- und Tal Hetz are added during the 2023–2024 development period.

• 2020

  Allgäuflieger opens

  [1]Skyline Parken.wikipedia.org

  The park opens a 150-metre Funtime StarFlyer, one of its most prominent skyline-defining attractions.

• 2019

  Geisterschlange is installed

  [1]Skyline Parken.wikipedia.org

  The Löwenthal family's traveling ghost-train attraction is permanently installed at the park.

• 2017

  Wildwasserbahn III becomes a permanent attraction

  [1]Skyline Parken.wikipedia.org

  The large traveling log flume formerly used on the fair circuit is installed at Skyline Park.

• 2010

  Sky Rafting is added

  [1]Skyline Parken.wikipedia.org

  Sky Rafting opens as part of a northeastern expansion of the park.

• 2005

  Sky Wheel enters operation

  [1]Skyline Parken.wikipedia.org

  The park launches Sky Wheel, an unusual vertical-arc Maurer X-Car roller coaster.

• 1999

  Löwenthal family acquires and reopens the park

  [1]Skyline Parken.wikipedia.org

  The Löwenthal family purchases the facility and formally reopens it under the Skyline Park name.

• 1991

  The predecessor relocates to Bad Wörishofen

  [1]Skyline Parken.wikipedia.org

  Expansion disagreements with the original landowner contribute to the move from Stadtbergen to the park's current Bavarian location.

• 1975

  Kirchdorf Leisure Park opens

  [1]Skyline Parken.wikipedia.org

  The predecessor to Skyline Park begins operation in Stadtbergen near Augsburg as a large playground-oriented leisure facility.

A family-operated Bavarian amusement park positioned around a broad mix of high-intensity rides, distinctive record-scale attractions, family entertainment, and fairground-origin installations.

• Roller coaster · 2005

  Sky Wheel

  A Maurer X-Car roller coaster opened in late 2004 and formally operating from 2005. Its track forms a dramatic vertical arc, giving the attraction a visual profile unlike a conventional circuit coaster. Sky Wheel became one of Skyline Park's signature rides and an important example of the park's interest in innovative ride engineering.

• Spinning roller coaster · 2013

  Sky Spin

  A Maurer AG spinning coaster formerly operated as Whirlwind at Camelot Theme Park in the United Kingdom. After Camelot closed, Skyline Park acquired and refurbished the ride, reopening it under the Sky Spin name as part of its expanded coaster offering.

• Water ride · 2010

  Sky Rafting

  A river-rafting attraction transferred from the Löwenthal family's traveling fair circuit. It was installed in 2010 in the northeastern part of the park and formed part of a broader site expansion.

• Powered roller coaster

  Sky Dragster

  A prototype Maurer Spike Coaster in which riders straddle a vehicle on a monorail-like track and can influence its speed. The concept received innovation attention, but the attraction was affected by serious mechanical reliability problems and its long-term operating status became uncertain.

• Drop tower · 2020

  Sky Fall

  An approximately 85-metre portable drop tower brought to Skyline Park when the COVID-19 pandemic caused European fairs and festivals to be cancelled. It was initially expected to stay for five months but remained at the park through the 2021 season.

• StarFlyer tower ride · 2020

  Allgäuflieger

  A 150-metre Funtime StarFlyer opened in 2020. Its height makes it one of the tallest attractions of its type and gives Skyline Park a major vertical landmark visible across the surrounding area.

• Log flume · 2017

  Wildwasserbahn III

  A large transportable log-flume attraction from the traveling fairground circuit. The Löwenthal family installed it permanently at Skyline Park in 2017, adding a substantial water attraction with a showmen-industry provenance.

• Dark ride · 2019

  Geisterschlange

  A ghost-train-style dark ride dating from the traveling fairground circuit. It was permanently installed at Skyline Park in 2019 and reflects the park's practice of incorporating established mobile attractions into its permanent collection.

• Junior roller coaster · 2023

  Flotter Otto

  A children's roller coaster added as part of Skyline Park's SBF Visa expansion during the 2023–2024 period.

• Thrill ride · 2023

  Looping Alois

  An SBF Visa looping thrill attraction added during the park's 2023–2024 development program.

• Amusement ride · 2024

  Berg- und Tal Hetz

  An SBF Visa attraction introduced during the 2023–2024 expansion period.

• 2021

  Proposed 2024 Gerstlauer coasterProduct launch

  Background

  Skyline Park presented plans for a major new coaster intended to strengthen its position among Germany's largest amusement attractions.

  Action taken

  Management announced a proposed approximately 70-metre, 1.2-kilometre Gerstlauer roller coaster for the 2024 season.

  Aftermath

  The project did not come to fruition; the park subsequently pursued a smaller sequence of SBF Visa installations during 2023 and 2024.

  Announced investment. €8–10 million planned investment (Announced in October 2021 for a proposed 2024 project)

  Source

• 2020

  Temporary relocation of Sky Fall during the pandemicStrategy

  Background

  COVID-19 restrictions cancelled or disrupted fairs and festivals across Europe, leaving some portable attractions without normal operating venues.

  Action taken

  Skyline Park hosted the Goetzke family's Sky Fall drop tower, initially for an intended five-month period.

  Aftermath

  The attraction remained at the park through the 2021 season, extending the park's high-thrill offering during an abnormal operating period.

  Source

• 2004

  Commissioning of Sky WheelProduct launch

  Background

  Skyline Park sought a distinctive major attraction and approached Maurer Söhne during the development of the manufacturer's X-Car concept.

  Action taken

  The park opened Sky Wheel in late 2004, with formal operation associated with the 2005 season.

  Aftermath

  The ride became a defining attraction for Skyline Park and drew wider industry attention to related X-Car designs.

  Source

• 1999

  Rebrand and expansion under the Löwenthal familyStrategy

  Background

  The relocated leisure park had begun adding larger attractions, but its earlier identity remained centered on playground-style recreation.

  Action taken

  The Löwenthal family acquired the park, reopened it as Skyline Park, and accelerated the installation of larger thrill and family attractions.

  Aftermath

  The park adopted a more substantial amusement-park positioning and began combining permanent facilities with attractions drawn from the fairground circuit.

  Source

• 2024

  Skyline Park adds three SBF Visa attractions[1]Skyline Parken.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The park expanded its ride portfolio with Flotter Otto, Looping Alois, and Berg- und Tal Hetz during the 2023–2024 period.

• 2021

  Skyline Park announces a major coaster project[1]Skyline Parken.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Park management announced plans for a large Gerstlauer roller coaster targeted at the 2024 season, but the proposed project did not proceed.

• 2020

  Skyline Park installs Sky Fall and Allgäuflieger[1]Skyline Parken.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  The park added the temporary Sky Fall drop tower and opened Allgäuflieger, a 150-metre StarFlyer attraction, during the COVID-19-disrupted amusement season.

• 2015

  Skyline Park develops its western area[1]Skyline Parken.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  A multi-year western expansion introduced additional SBF Visa rides and family-oriented facilities, including Kids Farm and Sky Walk.

• 2010

  Skyline Park adds Sky Rafting[1]Skyline Parken.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The park installed Sky Rafting as part of an expansion toward the northeastern section of the property.

• 2005

  Skyline Park opens Sky Wheel[1]Skyline Parken.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  Skyline Park introduced the Sky Wheel, a distinctive Maurer X-Car roller coaster arranged around a tall vertical arc.

1. 1Skyline Parken.wikipedia.org
2. 2Skyline Park official websiteskylinepark.de