Linnanmäki

Infobox Amusement park
name = Linnanmäki


location = Helsinki
location2 = Finland
location3 = flagicon|Finland
address = Tivolikuja 1,
00510 Helsinki
phone_numbers = [phone]
opening_date = May 27, 1950
previous_names =
season = April to October
area = 75.000 m²
rides = 40
coasters = 6
water_rides = 2
owner = Lasten Päivän Säätiö
slogan =
homepage = [http://www.linnanmaki.fi/en/ www.linnanmaki.fi]

Linnanmäki ("Borgbacken" in Swedish, colloquially "Lintsi", literal translation "Castle's Hill") is an amusement park in Helsinki, Finland. It was opened on May 27, 1950 and is owned by Lasten Päivän Säätiö ("Children's Day Foundation"). Linnanmäki has 41 different rides of different sizes. It also has other attractions, such as arcades, games, kiosks, restaurants and an outdoor stage on which different performers appear in the summer.

In 2004 Linnanmäki had 1,337,591 visitors [http://www.mek.fi/web/stats/Publish.nsf/(pages)/Kavijamaarat?OpenDocument] .

Rides and attractions

Linnanmäki currently has 40 rides, along with many other non-ride based attractions. Probably the most notable ride in the park is the Wooden Roller Coaster or "Vuoristorata" in Finnish. This is the most recognisable symbol of the park, and was one of the first rides to be built at the park. The oldest ride in Linnanmäki is "Karuselli" (a carousel), built in 1896.

Linnanmäki also has many other big attractions, including "Raketti", or "Rocket" (formerly Space Shot), which is a standard upwards-launched free fall tower, built in 1999 by S&S Power. Other roller coasters in the park include Tulireki, Linnunrata (an indoor roller coaster built inside a water tower, with a space theme), Pikajuna, and Finland's first water coaster, Vonkaputous.

Major rides

Attractions

Removed rides

Admission to the park is free, and the rides can only be ridden with the possession of a ride ticket, or the more popular wristband, which allows the wearer free access to all of the park's rides for the entire day. The wristband's cost depends on the customer's height, as taller customers can visit more of the park's rides.

The park also contains the "Peacock Teatteri", a theatre known for its musical productions. In addition to the park itself, guests can also visit a Sea Life Centre.

In 2007, a new roller coaster was built. It is a "Zacspin" model, known as Kirnu, and was built by Intamin, of Switzerland. Other changes for 2007 include the movement of the Autorata into the new space under the Rinkeli Ferris Wheel. In 2008, Linnanmäki is putting up a new rollercoaster Salama ("Lightning") above the Hurjakuru water ride. It will be built by Maurer Söhne. Its speciality is spinning cars.

=Gallery of

External links

* [http://www.linnanmaki.fi/en Official homepage in English]
* [http://www.ultimatethrillride.com/spring.asp?cid=1173 20th Spinning Coaster set for Linnanmäki in 2008]
* [http://www.ultimatethrillride.com/park.asp?pid=460 Photos & Video from Linnanmäki's major rides]