A Family Triumph, 50 Years in the Making

Europa-Park’s pre-opening 50th anniversary celebration in March felt like a family reunion. Half a century after Roland Mack and his late father Franz Mack launched what would become Germany’s largest theme park, friends, colleagues, and the entertainment world’s glitterati applauded Europa-Park’s milestone achievement.

The Mack family has always balanced tradition with forward thinking and they arrived at the park gates with a vintage bus full of today’s visitors—children. Mouse mascots Ed and Edda, the stars of the animated movie “Grand Prix of Europe” premiering in 2025 and Europa-Park’s latest family ride, greeted the crowds. 

Faithful Stewards
Roland Mack was quick to express his gratitude. He sees himself as the “steward” of the family business. Just as his parents entrusted him with Europa-Park, he wants to do the same for his children. The family announced that Ann-Kathrin Mack will join her brothers Michael and Thomas as a managing partner. She is the first woman appointed to the management board in almost 250 years. Frederik Mack, the son of Roland Mack’s brother Jürgen, is following in his father’s footsteps in human resources, finance, and controlling.  

The seventh and eighth generations of the Mack family shared the spotlight, recalling their favorite memories, successes, and comic anecdotes—from soaking hotel guests with fountains to being briefly stranded on a ride with a bishop and his congregation. “If you grow up in a theme park, you can do a lot of silly things,” says Thomas Mack.  

Besides the highlights, there have been worrying times, from financial challenges to the impact of the pandemic and devastating fires, but the family has always bounced back. Their constancy and commitment to quality remain reassuring.  

“It’s a family-run business with a future,” Roland Mack says proudly, sharing the “special moment” with his beloved wife Marianne.

The entrepreneurial Macks risked everything to create a world-class destination in the former fishing village of Rust in 1975. Their multi-faceted empire now encompasses the Europa-Park theme park, the spectacular Nordic-themed indoor water park Rulantica, six four-star hotels, Eatrenalin, an exclusive restaurant serving deliciously inventive experiential dining, and much-admired hospitality, festivals, and events operations. The rebranded Silver Lake City campground is fast expanding. The Mack world’s businesses, from Mack Rides to Mack One, Mack Animation, and VR Coaster, reflect the global attractions industry’s evolution. 

2025 Season Highlights 
The theme of Europa-Park’s 50th anniversary season is “Experience. Europe. Together.” “Whether this is your first or 50th visit, we want it to be memorable,” Ann-Kathrin Mack says.

Europa-Park’s new interactive 3D dark ride, Grand Prix EDventure is revving up to the starting line this season. Guests enter the queue line through a TV broadcast truck. They spot Edda tinkering with her race car in the workshop before joining Ed and Edda’s racing crew on a whirlwind trip across Europe. Mack Rides’ Gameplay Theater system neatly blends dark ride technology, multimedia, projections, themed design, interactive gameplay, and animatronic elements. One round of track offers guests two rounds of gameplay as the four-seat ride vehicles spin inside or outside, showing different sets and screens. This modern spin on a carousel is a compact, high-capacity, family-friendly addition. Grand Prix EDventure’s storyline connects to the upcoming movie, a co-production between Mack Magic and Warner Bros. Film Productions Germany.

A special exhibition in the Silver Star hall leads guests through Europa-Park’s 50-year timeline. Also, there’s a preview of the new Monaco-themed area (opening in 2026), plus a look at prized cars from the Monégasque royal family. The development will be Europa-Park’s 21st themed area. It will showcase Monaco’s strong circus tradition.

Europa-Park has further strengthened its entertainment lineup, including a new parade and a stunt horse-riding show, The Legend of Zorro. “Celebrating Under the Stars,” a catchy new anthem by best-selling pop musician DJ BoBo, will soundtrack the 50th anniversary season.  

“If you know our history, you know we like moving people,” Michael Mack says. Beginning in 1780 with wagons and carriages, the family business has progressed to wooden roller coasters and exciting, emotion-packed rides such as Voltron Nevera. With lifetimes of experience, limitless vision, and new generations ready to shine, the Mack family’s legacy looks in safe hands for the future.    

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