Spreepark

When Kulturpark Plänterwald opened beside the river Spree, in 1969, the future looked bright inBerlin. The 29.5 hectares of forest land were used in Neukölln and Treptower Park borderKreuzberg, and to create a new amusement park riverside and bright. Water rides, carnival games, monuments and a huge Ferris wheel followed, the only park of its kind in Berlin. Once the wall fell in 1989, the park continued privatization, then known as EBV Kulturpark Berlin, under the direction of Norbert Witte. 

Image © Annika (Flickr) Above the main image © Chris Grabert (Flickr)

The giant ferris wheel in Berlin Spreepark 

Drugs and Theft Walk in the heart of Berlin 

This change of ownership led to a series of events and scandals that would not be out of place in the HBO television series Carnivale: The park experienced significant financial problems after the city council eliminated 3,000 parking spaces in an attempt to preserve the surrounding forest. Norbert Witte got scared and left, making transport and stealing six full-sized attractions from Berlin to Lima without shaking the red feathers. The family went to Peru, where Norbert imagined starting a new venture amusement park with rides stolen. 

The women of the family, suspecting his Peruvian adventure would be short lived, later abandoned Witte men in Peru and moved back to Berlin. Father and son were arrested and imprisoned for smuggling 180 kilos of cocaine inside the ride "flying carpet", Norbert Witte and ended up living in a caravan in Plänterwald years later, and refuses to have anything to do with Spreepark. 

Image © vpisteve (Flickr)

Spreepark abandoned in Berlin Walks 

Women pick up the pieces 

Norbert wife Pia and her daughter Sabrina have put their best efforts in restoring what they can. In 2011, opened Mythos, a small cafe near the park entrance, and began to arrange guided tours through the parks. The Parkbahn (one adorable mini train runs around the perimeter of the park) is now back in action, and the park is commonly used as an entertainment venue and home and film set function. 

The rusty panels, fallen dinosaurs and decaying bridges can cause some health and safety hazards at work to the general public, but have proved popular with bands especially enjoy making ethereal music videos in the mists surrounding attractions fallen. The production team of the 2011 film Hanna use the land for one scene. Despite tight security, sneaking into the park in the dark of night remains a popular pastime for locals and curious visitors. Occasionally, someone beheads a stegosaurus and away in the night. 

Image © Swithun Crowe (Flickr)

Dinosaurs watch over Spreepark 

New Directions for Spreepark? 

A lot of investors have shown interest in buying and make up Spreepark, but bureaucratic and financial obstacles are enough to deter most. An attempt to execute a failed mortgage in 2013 Events continue to thrive, attracting thousands of visitors. The Witte family has ideas for the future, but for now, the park is relatively lifeless and completely fascinating. Dinosaurs fallen lie broken in the woods, abandoned cars sit quietly on tracks that lead nowhere, and the wheel of fortune spins with the wind slowly and ominously in the distance way. 

Image © Swithun Crowe (Flickr)