Photo TR: Terra Mitica

[HazmatI Guess Donkeys Are Okay]

It's not like loads of people are going to complain if they close a whole section?

[windowWhich came first the turtle or the donkey?]

Great report Hazmat! When did you visit? I was there on Friday June 25th. The park was dead then. If it hadn't of been for a few coach loads of Spanish kids (I think it was the last day of school term) it would've been empty.

I last visited in May 2006 and the SLC was located in the now closed 'Iberia' section as previously mentioned. It was then named Tizona and built in and around a castle. I took some pictures of the castle and closed section from the observation tower. The Tizona name is still visible on the castle turrets from the boat ride.

You entered the Iberia zone just past the bumper cars (the archway is boarded up now) or just past the drop tower where you had a picture taken. I guess they've closed that area to try and save money?

[saiyanhajimeI know quite a lot about Donkeys!]

Terra Mitica is so weird. I've never known anyone visit and when it's been busy. I visited around Christmas time in ....2001? and it was so dead that a ride op was literally following us around the smaller attractions.

The park is really nicely kept, the themeing is spot on, the dark rides are pretty good and their major rides aren't THAT bad. They certainly aren't so bad that the GP would think they were bad... So why does it fail to attract any visitors? Benidorm certainly attracts enough holiday makers from the UK and Germany that you'd think foreigners alone would make the park heaving, but no. Mystery.

Nice photos!

[SynkopeCan I park my donkey here?]

Terra Mítica has had a problem of management. If they had let real professional work, Terra Mítica hadn't been so bad. But now everything is going to change, because the park is rented by other Benidorm park group: Aqualandia-Mundomar. They're going to invest 15 million euros to solve rides' problems, lack of green where public walks, areas where refresh, restore buildings, etc. That's why they're going to close Terra Mítica 6 months to make all these improvements. They want to reopen Iberia zone and put in there a ride of quality, probably where Tizona was.

As far as attendance, it's true not always the park is busy, but I've been a lot of times when there were almost 15.000 people. Certainly, attendance has been limited by economic crisis...

According to Aqualandia director comments, the group wants to make Terra Mítica an European theme park reference.

[SynkopeCan I park my donkey here?]

Terra Mítica has started its new master plan's works. First works consist of improving Egypt, Greece, Rome and The Islands zones with a total amount of 5 million €.

Here's a pic:



Next year will be Iberia's improvement. They'll invest 5 more millon € to reopen this zone in 2012 (probably with some new rides) and finally, in 2012, they'll invest last 5 million € in Iberia too. Anyway, Aqualandia-Mundomar wants to buy Terra Mítica, this fact could be next year.

Terra Mítica will open again its doors in April 14th with more green, more water and more fun, because they're going to check all the rides to keep them in working order.

[jray21Why do I still have a donkey title???]

Awesome report! Spain is definitely on my theme park must do list! Theming looked very good, but they definitely need more shade!

[SynkopeCan I park my donkey here?]

That's what they're going to do, Terra Mítica is going to be a great garden.

[neovortex2kHoly crap you have a HUGE donkey!]

MM I read somewhere that Tizona ahd to be moved becuase the area of land right beside it was owned by a group that wanted to build a hotle there just before the recccesion hit. The plans were all in place for the coaster to be moved and it had started but the group pulled out and the hotel I believe is on hold until numbers pick up. The hotel may be part of the theme park i'm not too sure.
It makes sense to close that part of the park becuase Tizona was the only ride there. The was a theatre there where they had one show an evening so I suppose it wasnt hard to cancel it. Makes sense to close the "land" to save money and hopefully build new attractions that are quieter to allow the hotel to be built in the future.

[SynkopeCan I park my donkey here?]

Well, it's not exactly like this. They moved Tizona because last director wanted to reduce Terra Mítica. If you've ever ridden an SLC, you'll know that they are pretty quiet. It was just an excuse to do that, but the hotel wasn't to be near this place (Iberia), but near Egypt area. Terra Mítica's west part was to be built with 2,000 small apartments.

Now there's a new managing. They want to reopen Iberia area in 2012 with a new first class ride, so they might fill Tizona's space. They're going to build a new entrance from carpark access road, because they want to remain opened Iberia all year. They'll invest 5 million € next year to do this. Anyway, new managing wants to buy Terra Mítica next year and there are some rumours about buying again land they sold to free cessation of payments in 2006. New managing, which its called "Ocio y Parques Temáticos" ("Leisure and Theme Parks"), has other two parks in Benidorm, Aqualandia and Mundomar (WaterLand and SeaWorld), which they want to move to Terra Mítica's area and create a resort. Some weeks ago in Spanish news it was said they're planning hotel and sports zone projects.

[SynkopeCan I park my donkey here?]

First pic of Terra Mítica's works:



They're painting all Magnus Colossus' quarry!!! I like very much the effect.