Park Profile
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uilt with the support of the Istanbul metropolitan authorities on a hilltop site in the district of Eyüp, the 600-hectare Vialand project has been developed by the partnership of Gürsoy Grup & Via Properties, who between them already have several real estate developments under their belt here on the European side of Istanbul. The masterplan for the 110,000 square-metre theme park, which sits directly across from the Vialand mall, was prepared by the ANM Group, a local company that cut its teeth in the industry 20 years ago when it designed Istanbul’s ultimately ill- fated indoor park Tatilya. Theming & Animatronic Industries (TAA) was appointed as main theming contractor for Vialand. A somewhat Disney-esque castle facade greets guests and the park comprises three key zones, descending one after the other over different levels of a former quarry. Incorporating such broad themes as Oyun Dünyasi (Play Zone), Efsaneler Dünyasi (History Zone) and Macera Dünyasi (Adventure Zone), Vialand – like Istanbul itself – provides a crossroads to different cultures, hence its name. Together with the shopping and entertainment components, the complete project is forecast to generate 30 million annual visits, in turn providing a 15% increase in the number of the domestic and international tourists coming to Istanbul. No mean feat. The somewhat ambitous goal for the theme park, which will operate from mid-February through until late December, is for upwards of 3 million guests a year or, as operations manager Cem Tuna puts it: “We want to get to the top five in Europe.” Tuna came on board at Vialand mid-way through the park’s construction this winter and returns to his native country after 22 years in Australia, serving latterly as events and operations manager at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast. The charismatic manager trained the Istanbul park’s 350 full time staff over a period of two months, but says neither they nor he were ready for the large crowd that greeted them when Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived to declare Vialand open on 26 May. “People had heard the park were going to be free and there were about 150,000 waiting at the shopping mall,” he recalls. “There was no way we could let them all in, we had to have special forces at the front gate holding them all back. It was like they were storming the castle!”
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Instead, the real opening took place on 14 June, just days before there was a storming of a different kind across town when Erdogan’s government sanctioned the clearing of protestors from Taksim Square. But that is another story for another publication.
At Vialand, things have been operating at a more relaxed pace since that initial opening day flurry. With a handful of key attractions still awaiting commissioning and promotional efforts scaled back until they are complete, the park is essentially in soft opening phase.
Adult admission is priced at TL 55 Operations manager Cem Tuna – back in Turkey after a career down under JULY 2013 29
($28.15/€21.65) Monday to Thursday, rising to TL 79 ($40.45/€31.10) at weekends. Comparisons to other local parks are difficult, as most are “Luna park” operations with rides that operate on a pay as you go basis.
Coasters coming soon
Guests at Vialand will eventually be able to enjoy more than 50 rides and attractions. The biggest disappointment to visitors right now must surely be the absence of the Nefekesen (which translates as “Breathtaking”) – Turkey’s first LSM launch coaster. The Intamin ride will, by the time it opens this September/October, take 16 passengers per train on an exhilarating 660m-long ride, reaching 110kmh in just three seconds. Featuring a signature 27-metre- high hump, the ride will be located to the left of the park’s main entrance and, given its elevated position 45m above ground, stand taller than the Bosphorus Bridge that links Istanbul’s European and Asian sides. Maceraperets, Vialand’s “family coaster” with blue track and whiite supports, was also supplied by Intamin. Opened this month (July), it features a 20- seater train with cars themed like off-road vehicles. “For a family coaster it’s still quite big,” smiles Tuna. The park’s third and final coaster, Küçük Madenciler (Mini Miner), is already up and running in the Fun Zone, however similar Caterpillar-themed coasters can already be found operating all over Istanbul. A theme park in a hot country like Turkey needs water rides like Disneyland needs Mickey Mouse. Vialand has two, both from Intamin. Viking is currently the fourth most popular attraction in the park, but host to some of its most imposing theming. The Spillwater attraction features a 480m-long channel punctuated with drops of 10 and 15 metres, between which riders sail though a themed dragon tunnel. Peering down over passengers as they make their voyage is a 20m-tall giant Viking statue. Five 20-seater boats are in use and the complete ride experience lasts around six-and-a-half minutes. This
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Vialand mascot Captain Gaga Park mascot Captain Gaga
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project is forecast to provide a 15% increase in the number of the domestic and international tourists coming to Istanbul
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