Steinwasen Park

Steinwasen Park is a wildlife and amusement park in the Black Forest of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It occupies a mountainous site at the Notschrei pass, approximately 20 kilometres southeast of Freiburg im Breisgau, within the municipality of Oberried and between Kirchzarten and Todtnau. The park combines animal enclosures, rides, themed buildings, cinemas, playgrounds and views of the surrounding landscape, making it a destination oriented especially toward families with children. The park’s identity is closely tied to the Black Forest. Its attractions use local geography, regional architecture, folklore and natural history as recurring themes rather than presenting a generic collection of rides. Visitors can see a range of wildlife, including red deer, lynxes, marmots, chamois, ibexes and mouflon, kept in enclosures designed to fit the mountain environment. The site also includes a diorama of the Black Forest, model versions of characteristic regional houses and film experiences explaining the geological formation and prehistoric landscape of the southern German mountains. The property has a long history as a pass settlement. The Steinwasen area was recorded in a Kirchzarten church register in 1618, and a homestead was established there during the seventeenth century. Its position on a route through the Black Forest later supported the development of a post office and inn during the nineteenth century. In 1970, the Kreutz family sold the property to the construction company Adolf Braun. With assistance from wildlife biologists, the new operators converted the site into a wildlife park, which opened to visitors in 1974. Steinwasen Park gradually expanded from a wildlife attraction into a hybrid nature and leisure destination. A chairlift and two summer toboggan runs were introduced in 1979; one of the runs was later roofed to make it less dependent on weather conditions. A new main building was completed in 1996, followed by the indoor rides Spacerunner and Gletscherblitz, also known as Glacier Lightning, in 1998. The Black Forest cinema opened in 2000 with a production about the formation of the regional landscape. In 2001, the park added a long suspension bridge spanning the valley. Later developments included the River Splash water ride and the Schneeburg Steinwasen adventure playground in 2008, followed by a 4D cinema in 2011. The park’s offering now blends wildlife viewing with weather-protected and outdoor attractions. Its major rides include two approximately 800-metre toboggan runs, the indoor Glacier Lightning roller coaster, the adjustable-speed Spacerunner bob ride and the River Splash water attraction. Other experiences include the Legendary Black Forest Train, a dark ride through a stylized regional setting, children’s fairy-tale films, a Black Forest cinema and a castle-themed play area with slides, climbing equipment, bridges and water features. A 218-metre suspension bridge crosses the park valley and has also been used as part of a Black Forest Ultra Bike Marathon course. Steinwasen Park generally operates seasonally, from around mid-March through early November. Its combination of accessible family rides, animal encounters and regional interpretation positions it as a recreational and tourism brand rooted in the Black Forest landscape rather than as a large-scale international theme-park chain. Publicly available reference material does not identify a listed parent company, current executive team, financial results or ownership structure.

The Steinwasen site has a documented history predating the amusement park by several centuries. The area was mentioned in the Kirchzarten church register in 1618 in connection with Simon Wiestler. A simple homestead was established there during the middle of the seventeenth century. Because the location stood on a mountain pass through the Black Forest, it later became a useful stopping point for travelers. During the nineteenth century, a post office and inn operated at the site, reinforcing its role as a transport and hospitality location. A major change occurred in 1970, when the Kreutz family, identified in reference material as the last landlords of the property, sold it to the construction company Adolf Braun. The new owners worked with wildlife biologists to transform the property into a wildlife park. Steinwasen Park opened in 1974, initially emphasizing animal exhibits and the natural setting of the Black Forest. The park diversified its visitor offer in the following decades. In 1979, it added a chairlift and two summer toboggan runs, creating a stronger leisure and family-entertainment component. One of the toboggan runs was roofed in 1989, allowing it to operate in wet weather. A new principal building was erected in 1996. Two indoor attractions, Spacerunner and Gletscherblitz, were added in 1998, extending the season’s resilience beyond purely outdoor activities. The Black Forest theme became more explicit in 2000 with the opening of a cinema showing a park-produced film about the formation of the Black Forest landscape. In 2001, the park opened a suspension bridge across its valley. Reference material describes the bridge as 218 metres long and notes that it was recognized by Guinness World Records at the time as the world’s longest suspension bridge, although the exact record designation and current status are not independently established here. In 2004, the bridge was incorporated into the course of the Black Forest Ultra Bike Marathon. Further additions continued the combination of rides, interpretation and family play. River Splash, a white-water attraction, and the castle-themed Schneeburg Steinwasen adventure playground opened in 2008. A 4D cinema was introduced in 2011. The main complex also houses a Black Forest diorama, children’s fairy-tale cinema experiences and the Legendary Black Forest Train, an indoor dark ride based on regional imagery. Today, Steinwasen Park is presented as a seasonal attraction integrated into the mountain landscape near the Notschrei pass. Its animal areas contain more than 30 types of wild animals according to the reference description, including species associated with the Black Forest and Alpine environments. Its operating model combines wildlife observation, rides, educational or scenic media and children’s recreation. The park is particularly suited to families seeking a day trip within the southern Baden-Württemberg tourism region. Public reference material does not provide verified information about current ownership, executive leadership, revenue, visitor numbers or corporate group affiliation.

1. 20114D cinema added

   A 4D cinema expanded the park’s indoor multimedia entertainment offer.

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2. 2008River Splash and Schneeburg playground open

   The park added a white-water ride and a castle-themed adventure playground.

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3. 2001Suspension bridge opens

   A 218-metre suspension bridge crossing the park valley became a major landmark attraction.

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4. 2000Black Forest cinema opens

   The park introduced a film experience about the geological formation and ancient landscape of the Black Forest.

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5. 1998Spacerunner and Gletscherblitz open

   The indoor Spacerunner bob ride and Gletscherblitz roller coaster were added.

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6. 1996New main building completed

   The park opened a new main building that later accommodated several indoor attractions and exhibits.

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7. 1989One toboggan run receives a roof

   One of the summer toboggan runs was covered, improving its usability in rainy conditions.

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8. 1979Chairlift and toboggan runs added

   A chairlift and two summer toboggan runs expanded the park beyond animal exhibits.

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9. 1974Steinwasen Park opens

   The converted wildlife park opened to visitors in the Black Forest.

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10. 1970Property acquired for wildlife-park development

    The Kreutz family sold the property to the construction company Adolf Braun, which began converting the site into a wildlife park with help from wildlife biologists.

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11. 1618Early documentary reference

    The Steinwasen area was recorded in the Kirchzarten church register in connection with Simon Wiestler.

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A family-oriented Black Forest destination that combines wildlife, regional interpretation and amusement attractions in a natural mountain setting.

• Wildlife parkAnimal attraction1974

  The wildlife area is the foundation of Steinwasen Park’s identity. More than 30 types of wild animals are described as living in enclosures integrated into the mountain landscape, including red deer, lynxes, marmots, chamois, ibexes and mouflon. The offer emphasizes viewing animals in a setting connected to the Black Forest and nearby upland environment.

• Summer toboggan runsOutdoor ride1979

  Steinwasen Park operates two summer toboggan runs, each described as approximately 800 metres long. A chairlift transports visitors to the upper station. One run was roofed in 1989, allowing the attraction to remain usable during rain and making it a more dependable part of the seasonal family offering.

• Gletscherblitz (Glacier Lightning)Indoor roller coaster1998

  Gletscherblitz is an indoor roller coaster located in the main building’s Glacier World area. Its enclosed format complements the park’s outdoor rides and animal exhibits by providing a weather-protected thrill attraction within the broader Black Forest-themed visitor complex.

• SpacerunnerIndoor bob ride1998

  Spacerunner is an indoor bob-style ride in the Glacier World area. Riders can adjust the speed, giving the attraction a degree of personal control and making it suitable for a family audience while still providing a faster-paced experience than the park’s scenic and wildlife elements.

• Suspension bridgeScenic attraction2001

  The park’s suspension bridge spans the valley for approximately 218 metres. It is both a scenic walking attraction and a prominent visual feature of Steinwasen Park. Reference material also records its use as part of the Black Forest Ultra Bike Marathon course in 2004.

• River SplashWater ride2008

  River Splash is an outdoor white-water attraction in which boats travel through a water channel. It adds a conventional amusement-park ride format to Steinwasen Park’s wildlife, landscape and regional-interpretation program.

• Schneeburg SteinwasenChildren's adventure playground2008

  Schneeburg Steinwasen is a castle-themed children’s play area with water features, tube slides, drawbridges, climbing structures, spring boards and balance equipment. It is designed to provide active play for younger visitors and reinforces the park’s family-oriented positioning.

• Black Forest cinema and media attractionsEducational and themed entertainment2000

  The park’s media attractions include a Black Forest cinema about the formation of the regional landscape, a diorama, fairy-tale films for younger children, a 4D cinema and the Legendary Black Forest Train dark ride. Together they interpret local nature, history and folklore through indoor audiovisual experiences.

• 2008Addition of River Splash and Schneeburg SteinwasenProduct launch

  The park continued to develop attractions for families and children alongside its wildlife offer.

  What changed. It opened the River Splash water ride and the Schneeburg Steinwasen adventure playground.

  Aftermath. The two additions strengthened the park’s mix of water-based entertainment and structured children’s play.

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• 1979Expansion into family amusementStrategy

  The park originally centered on wildlife and the natural mountain environment.

  What changed. A chairlift and two summer toboggan runs were introduced.

  Aftermath. The additions broadened the park’s appeal and established a lasting hybrid model combining wildlife with rides and active recreation.

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• 1970Conversion from pass property to wildlife parkStrategy

  The property had previously served as a homestead, inn and post-office location on a Black Forest pass.

  What changed. After acquiring the site, Adolf Braun worked with wildlife biologists to establish a wildlife park.

  Aftermath. The project led to the opening of Steinwasen Park in 1974 and created the foundation for its later combination of animal exhibits and amusement attractions.

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1. Steinwasen Park
2. Steinwasen-Park official website