Important information at a glance
What began over 50 years ago as a fairytale sawmill has developed into the fairytale Ruhpolding leisure park. Mia and Pauline from Ruhpolding know why it never gets boring here. Let's go on an adventure trip!
Happy screams of delight echo right through the mountain forest. The sun peeks through between the lush green canopy of leaves here and there. The rays dance cheerfully over the moss covered rocks. A little bit further on there’s a rippling brook. Its hydropower was once used to saw crooked timber for sleds and harnesses. Mia and Pauline run from the car park up the forest path to the theme park entrance. An imposing five metre tall giant Rübezahl welcomes the friends. They know their way around the roughly five hectare site. They come here at least once a year, says Pauline, at least. 60 attractions are spread over this section of forest in the Brand part of Ruhpolding town. The old sledmaker’s sawmill still exists along with the bellmaker. Old trades, which are typical for Chiemgau, are presented in beautifully decorated little wooden houses. In between there are huts with scenes from world-famous fairy tales: Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, the Seven Little Goats.
Mia and Pauline are almost too old for this, they’re drawn to the rapid rides, slides and rope course. But today they stop in front of every window pane and look intensely into the little houses. Where Soup-Kaspar is fidgeting, the Sandman is sprinkling his magical sleeping sand and the witch is enticing Hansel and Gretel. “There’s one at the back too,” points Mia. Pauline counts: “Then that’s ten already now.” The girls are looking for cakes that are hidden everywhere. The theme park is celebrating its 50th birthday this year, let’s see how many cakes there will be at the end.
Siegfried’s Dragon Ride is then right up Mia and Pauline’s street. The carousel spins faster and faster in a circle. First forwards, then backwards, making your stomach do somersaults. The girls are beaming. And now let’s go to the Crystal Mine! Anyone who wants to enter has to go through the “Schratzl-Schlupf” first though. “That’s Bavarian and means secret dwarf passage,” explains Mia, disappearing into the dark abyss already. Pauline bravely follows her. They call out from the bottom. “It goes even further into the tunnel here.” It’s dark, almost a bit spooky. The bright August sun dazzles your eyes at the exit. There’s a gold rush atmosphere and Mia and Pauline join in straight away. You can dig up gemstones yourself in the brook. “I’ve already got a whole cereal bowl full of stones at home,” says Pauline.
The friends choose an ice cream at the Tischlein deck Dich restaurant. Just right for cooling down on this bright summer’s day. Although the theme park’s location is perfect. The mighty trees provide shade in the heat. They shield you from the rain in bad weather. Most of the attractions are also covered so the park is open from April to November. Mia and Pauline’s next top on their tour could be refreshing too. They’re heading for the new boat slides. Something new is added to the theme park every year.
With the Water Hopper and Water Swirl, the girls slide down the mountain slope in long and then round boats. They really pick up some speed on the 80 metre slides. “Once more,” they cry enthusiastically. Loud calling and screaming is coming from next door. The “Gipfelstürmer” (what means summit stormer) mountain roller coaster speeds along its loops at full pelt high up past the treetops. It’s the biggest sensation at the theme park. Mia and Pauline are in the perfect mood for a ride now. They get onto the first carriage, right up the front and close the safety gate. Off they go. The roller coaster pulls its passengers backwards up a steep slope, pauses briefly and then zooms down at 50 kilometres an hour. “It’s an incredible moment,” rave the girls afterwards, still really exhilarated as they climb from tree to tree on the low rope climbing course. The girls skilfully clamber hand over hand along the course. Pauline cannot be beaten on the biathlon stand. She clears all five targets in just 21 seconds.
For lunch there’s schnitzel with chips for both of them on the restaurant terrace. What do the girls like so much about Ruhpolding theme park? “There’s so many different things to do and a lot for smaller children too. And it simply never gets boring,” they agree. They’ve barely polished off their plates and the girls are already on the move again. “We’ve still got to excavate dinosaurs and go to the slide paradise and play area.” Oh yes, the cakes! Mia and Pauline counted 49. They were just short. The girls will just have to come back again.
