What has become of Six Flags Belgium

[Dacorian]

Walibi is a Belgian park is one that started in 1975 by a close friend of my family, "Eddy Meeus. He was a toy manufacturer that opened a recreation park in one of several village borders. 'Wavre, Limal, Bierges... take Wa Li Bi and you have a type of kangarou. Due to medical reasons, the man had to sell walibi and all members of the walibi group (7 parks) to the Americans and re- named it in 2001 to Six Flags Belgium. Eddy Meeus died in the same year. It became an unseen investment in new attractions and new habits in the park, Belgium never saw rides like this even though they were not spectacular or unique but the first SLC, free fall and Wooden coaster was a fact. Unfortunately that could not help because just four years after the reform they had to sell it to star parks who in turn sold the park to the current French owners 'Compangie des Alpes, or short: CDA.

Six flags invested for the last time in 2003 in the interactive dark ride 'challenge tunankhamon' and since then the park begin to shrink like a deflating balloon and rides like Turbine (schwarskopf shuttle) or Inferno (enterprise) who had to leave the park.

Despite this there was still a high price increase during the last years, and no new attraction had to come to the park despite nearly 10 years no investment. This year, CDA wanted that the friendly walibi figure and all his friends make way for a young fresh 15 year old walibi with new friends. He's a part of the pop group 'WAB' and takes on his more evil brother and the rock group SkunX. The Americans made from this park a very strong brand in the country for although the huge downgrade in recent years, there has never been so many visitors like now. The new British owners (Star parks 2005- 2007)built a world first "Vertigo" in 2005 and was officially opened by Jean Claude Van Damme but was permanently closed immediately after the opening because of the premature wear. Even with this and all the daily technical defects The park is still hugely popular with the Belgians and even the neighbors who also have parks walibi themselves. Walibi Holland, Walibi Sud ouest (France), Walibi Rhone Alpes (France) and CDA will open her 5th Walibi park in Morocco 'Walibi Sindibad.

 

The old mascotte 'Walibi

 

The New Walibi in 2011

 

World's first ableway coaster 'Vertigo'

(I did it 2 times, yeey! This is a unique credit)

 

Old rides in Walibi before Six flags came:

 

Bounty (Intamin Looping ship)

1993- 2002

Close because of six flags- very poor maintenance

 

 

Tornado

 

1979- 2002- Six flags never used this very first Vekoma coaster

 

 

Inferno

 

1975- 2010- too old

 

 

Riviere sauvage

 

1975- 1995- Made way for the new log flume with invertor

 

 

Secret de Licorne (darkride about the adventures of Tintin)

 

1980- 1995- Just left with no known reason

 

 

Grand 8

 

Very first roller coaster in Walibi: 1975- 1983

Left to make place for big roller coasters

 

And what can we expect from the park today? Almost all attractions are a legacy of Six flags.

 

Flashback:

(1995-

 

Vampire:

(1999-

 

Cobra:

(2001-

 

Dalton Terror:

(1998-

 

Calamity mine:

1992-

Build because of the Disney threat

 

Loup Garou (werewolf)

2001-

 

And of course the very popular event: Halloween

2000-

 

This is the new theme song of Walibi:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRmRav6QyUU

 

Battle against his brother, the second mascotte of this park:

 

[msep003]

The first time i went to Walibi Belgium was back in 2001 when they just had their new name to Six Flags Belgium .

 

They just opened the same year Le Cobra , Le Loup Garou ( in a bad shape now ) , and Their Top Spin . The mad house was also new and i was able to ride Ali Baba ( Indoor Dark ride next to Le Cobra ) .

 

Since then Six Flags invested a lots into Six Flags Belgium but i still remember the discussions between Six Flags Belgium and Holland to get the Goliath . YES there were talks for Six Flags Belgium for an Intamin Megacoaster .

 

Since then the park was run by Star Parks and La Compagnie des alpes . Right now La Compagnie des Alpes still runs Walibi Belgium but due to flood this past winter their having issus with a lot of Foundations . Le Cobra , Le Vampire and Weerworlf are down probably for the rest of the season . I hope they let adults to ride '' La Coccinelle '' . Otherwise the lack of thrills is missing for this park this Season . I suggest to all people they ve planned on going to Walibi Belgium this year to switch and go to Bobbejaanland or Plopsaland this year . Better parc Management and worth for the price !!!

[typhoon200]

^When posting info, make sure it's correct!

Cobra is down because of a flood, this winter... And will reopen before july!

Vampire and Loup-Garou are still open!

Turbine is closed (for 2years now) and will open again next year!

 

Still, the history of the park is very sad! But the reason why the mega coaster and the GIB never came to Six Flags Belgium, was because of the neighbors complaining about the noise! GIB was replaced by a normal Boomerang. And the Titan (megacoaster) well... I guess we got Challenge instead! Vertigo was a big mistake... But the biggest mistake is, they didn't replace the ride with another coaster!!!

 

Well, let us hope after Asterix Park is getting a brand new B&M roller coaster, Walibi get's one to (or an intamin).

Otherwise, go to Plopsaland indeed, it's good for my paycheck!

[Dacorian]

Oh yes, the flood:

 

 

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

It made sure that the Cobra never worked this year yet. Nonsense because after the flood, they have not even bothered to test the attractions. Just before the new season starts it's like 'oh darn, prolapsed supports'. How unprofessional can you be?

 

The re- opening of Turbine is not a fact yet. The capacity of the turbine was a disaster and everyone wants to see NEW coasters and not one partially restored coaster that was build anno 1982.

[msep003]

Tornado hasn't been Replaced since he's gone !

 

Why all theses STUPID Neighbours complains about the Noise that come from the Turbine after all theses YEARS . The Local area have to remember that without Walibi the City of Wavres wouldnt be the same . On theses days i would never come back to Walibi Belgium untll they get something more attractive than a Boomerang or even a New Themed Character . I miss bugs bunny and their friends .

[robbalvey]

Tornado

 

1979- 2002- Six flags never used this very first Vekoma coaster

 

I rode this during my first visit to the park when it was "Six Flags Belgium."

[brossa]

Tornado

 

1979- 2002- Six flags never used this very first Vekoma coaster

 

I rode this during my first visit to the park when it was "Six Flags Belgium."

 

Me too and it was pretty much the worst of it's kind (of those I have ridden)!

It was still kinda upsetting to see it being torn down that brutally.

[Ghost]

Haven't been for years and it doesn't look like I will be going this year either. Even the "new" mascotes will not be able to convince me. I'll be going to the Efteling instead. They understand that you can only get repeat visits when you invest in new things and as long as Walibi isn't showing me something "new", I will not go.

[Dragon Khan]

I'm also very disappointed not to see any new coaster at the park but Turbine (hopefully reopening next year... I guess with a "Speed of Sound" theme) is pure delight... Its capacity may be poor but I don't mind waiting 20 minutes for this one (I just avoid peak days) As for Werewolf I rode it some weeks ago and it is in GREAT shape, imho...

[Jeroen_twee]

The park is still hugely popular with the Belgians and even the neighbors who also have parks walibi themselves. Walibi Holland, Walibi Sud ouest (France), Walibi Rhone Alpes (France) and CDA will open her 5th Walibi park in Morocco 'Walibi Sindibad.

 

Walibi Holland is in the Netherlands, if someone wants to know.