Thrills and Views- the most picturesque theme parks around the world

Lush fields, enchanting gardens and sapphire seas likely aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of theme parks, but among the thrills and spills of all your favourite rides and attractions, you can find some incredible landscapes and architecture in some parks. So today lets take a break from the rollercoasters, flat, water and dark rides and those iconic theme park screams, and explore some of the most picturesque theme and amusement parks around the world!

Alton Towers, Staffordshire, England

Nestled among the emerald green fields of Staffordshire, stands the last thing you’d expect in such a rural environment- a theme park! But not only that, Alton Towers is the largest theme park in the UK, and is home to ten rollercoasters, several flat rides and a range of immersive darkrides aimed at children and adults alike. The land that is now home to all of these amazing attractions first gained fame for the Towers themselves, when the estate and its grounds opened to the public in 1860. From then on in the grounds began transforming into a tourist attraction, with the first major changes occurring in the 1920s when estate agents purchased the land, and around 30 years later attractions such as a classic fairground.

The 1970s brought the first major expansions for the Towers, when John Broome acquired the park in 1973 and began the transition of the previously small tourist attraction into a major theme park. Rides that would soon become Alton Towers’ most iconic began opening in the following years, with a Vekoma Corkscrew aptly named Corkscrew in 1980, and Around the World in 80 Days and The Flume in 1981. At this point, the park was almost only aimed at families, but this would change throughout the next twenty years when more thrilling rollercoasters opened after the success of Corkscrew: Black Hole in 1983 (located in the area where Smiler is now!) then Thunderlooper, a Schwarzkopf Shuttle Loop, in 1990.

Alton Towers was quickly and surely increasing its appeal to the thrill market, but it wasn’t until the mid-1990s when the park would truly make its mark with what is still considered one of the greatest rollercoasters of all time. Intertwined in a deep storyline and theme that eventually formed the basis for the iconic Secret Weapon program, Nemesis opened in March of 1994, as the world’s first B&M Inverted Coaster.

With all this expansion however, came a problem- and one that still affects the design of the Towers’ rides and attractions today. The beautiful grounds and historic estate that made the park famous to begin with mean that nothing can be built above tree level, so as not to be seen from anywhere in the grounds or in the surrounding area. But the tree height limit has led to Merlin Magic Making have found some pretty cool ways around it, from rides built extremely low down into the ground, from compact layouts such like that of the Smiler!

Alton Towers has long been a staple of the UK theme park industry, and is a must-visit attraction if you ever find yourself in the North of England!

Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Virginia, USA

New Jersey may be known as the Garden State, but a little further South in Williamsburg, Virginia, Busch Gardens is definitely a “garden” park. One of two stunning Busch Gardens located in the US and operated by entertainment company SeaWorld, BGW is home to over nineteen rides and attractions with a new Intamin Blitz Coaster, Pantheon, under construction and set to open in 2021.

But while Virginia’s only SeaWorld operated park has an impressive attraction lineup, the aesthetic of Busch Gardens Williamsburg is another level of amazing. Surrounding walkways and rides across the park are masses of flower gardens, greenery and lakes, all placed carefully and meticulously so that you feel as if the landscaping and attractions have been there forever. Except that compared to many parks in the US and Europe that have been operating since the 1950s or earlier, BGW is relatively new, having opened in 1975!

Busch Gardens Williamsburg was originally built as part of a new development in order to improve the local area, which would eventually include a brewery and some office blocks. First named The Old Country, the park that would eventually go on to be considered the World’s Most Beautiful Theme Park opened with just a few rides, including an Arrow Log Flume, Le Scoot, and Le Catapult, a Scrambler flat ride, both of which are still operating today!

In the years and decades following more attractions would debut at the park, with coasters such as Das Kätzchen and Die Wildkatze both opening in 1976 (translating from German as “The Kitten” and “The Wildcat”). Sadly these rides would only have short lifespans at The Old Country/BGW, with Die Wildkatze being relocated to Playland Park in 1983, and Das Kätzchen closing completely a year later.

However, many of the flat rides that opened in Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s earliest years are still going strong today, with Le Catapult- a Scrambler flat ride- and Le Scoot- an Arrow Log Flume, highly popular at the time- opening in the park’s opening year of 1975, continue to thrill visitors today, as does Flying Machine, an Orbiter from Tivoli Manufacturing that made its debut five years later in 1980.

While of our favourite theme and amusement parks are split into themed lands, Busch Gardens Williamsburg uses a different name for them: Hamlets! (A reference to a historic name for a type of village, not to the Shakespeare play!) The park is home to ten hamlets, nine of which are themed to different countries, such as England, Germany and Scotland, with the tenth being Sesame Street Forest of Fun. Each Hamlet has rides and attractions based around its respective country, such as Loch Ness Monster in Heatherdowns (Scotland), and Finnegan’s Flyer in (Killarney) Ireland.

Busch Gardens puts a new spin on many aspects of the world’s greatest parks, including landscaping and themed lands, and is worth visiting solely for the greenery and architecture, even if the major rides aren’t your thing!

Efteling, Kaatshuvel, The Netherlands

Many of the world’s most well-known theme parks started from something small, and Efteling, located in Kaatshuevel City in the Netherlands is now exception. From its origins as the Fairytale Forest in the 1950s, an enchanted forest where you can explore your favourite fairytales and children’s stories, Efteling has expanded to become one of the greatest theme parks in Europe, and even in the world.

Throughout its sixty eight years of operation, Efteling has stayed true to its original charm, and kept some of its earliest attractions in the process, including the Kleine Zweefmolen Chair-O-Plane, and the Anton Pieckcarrousel carousel (the name is a reference to the designer of the original Fairytale Forest!).

But as the theme park industry continues to innovate and grow, so has the park and its attractions, leading to some amazing attractions, with the beautiful theming Efteling is known for. A key example of this is Symbolica, a trackless darkride located not far from the Fairytale Forest, which combines an original theme and elaborate scenes both in the queueline and the ride itself. A little further into the park, Baron 1898 offers the thrills of a B&M Dive Coaster surrounded by steampunk theming and storytelling.

Since Efteling’s opening in 1952, many theme parks have opened in a range of different locations across Europe, with their own themes and styles of theming, but few have come close to the level of architecture offered in Efteling!

Cedar Point, Ohio, USA

If you’re a theme park enthusiast, you’ve most likely heard of this breathtaking theme park located on the edge of Ohio’s Lake Erie. Cedar Point is known as “America’s Rockin’ Roller Coast”, and has certainly earned its title, with what is possibly one of the most incredible coaster lineups in the world, combining cutting edge ride experiences like Steel Vengeance and Top Thrill Dragster, and nostalgic woodies such as Gemini and Blue Streak. Every rollercoaster that has opened at Cedar Point in the last several decades has broken some sort of record, making the park a bucket list destination for many of us enthusiasts.

But while most visitors go for the rides and attractions, Cedar Point has so much more to offer. Cedar Point’s extensive history is on display in the museum, and in the Summer you can take a break on the park’s beach, and relax under the Ohio sunshine.

Since its opening as a lakeside resort in 1840, Cedar Point has attracted visitors seeking to enjoy the stunning views and attractions, and is certainly one of the greatest coastal theme parks out there!

Dollywood, Tennessee, USA

Located in the heart of Tennessee, Pigeon Forge is home to a range of alpine attractions, including alpine coasters that create a debate on whether or not they can actually be counted as coaster credits (and, by the way, alpine coasters ARE in fact credits!), but these controversy-creating coasters aren’t the only amusement offerings in Pigeon Forge. Since its opening in 1961, a family theme park has called this area home, and this park is Dollywood!

Originally called Rebel Railroad, the park had two main attractions- a small carousel and a steam train- but relied on theming and entertainment such as a General Store and Saloon to tell the story of a small town during the American Civil war of the 1860s. In its first few decades of operation, the small theme park in Tennessee was renamed several times, each rename bringing something new to the park. When renamed as Goldrush Junction as 1970, an outdoor theatre, a log flume and a Church. The name was shortened to just Goldrush in 1976 after being bought by Herscend Family Entertainments, then changed completely to Silver Dollar City Tennessee (after the theme park Silver Dollar City in Missouri) a year later, with many improvements being made to the park during this time.

It wasn’t until 1986 when country singer Dolly Parton purchased interest in the park, and it gained the name we all know today- Dollywood! While the park was getting new rides and attractions before then, such as Blazing Fury, an indoor rollercoaster built by park maintenance in June of 1978, the park’s attraction offering really began to grow after becoming Dollywood. A waterslide-type ride, Mountain Slidewinder, opened in 1987, and Thunder Express, an Arrow Mine Train opened two years later in 1989.

Come the 2000s and 2010s, ride numbers were increasing rapidly, but throughout all this expansion, Dollywood never lost sight of the original Rebel Railroad, and the theme of a small American town has always stayed significant in the park’s design. The natural landscape of forests and hills in the heart of Tennessee, combined with the well-themed rides, attractions and entertainment, makes for a truly immersive and enjoyable experience!

What’s the most beautiful theme or amusement park you’ve visited! Let me know in the comment box below!

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You are all clear… and outta here! Thanks for reading, and have a great Christmas!

-Lily 🙂