Creative Studio Berlin, the experiential design firm, has once again partnered with Schloss Dankern in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, to deliver its new Forest Farm expansion.
The attraction has been owned and operated by the same family since its launch in 1971. This new area, spanning 5,000 square metres, has been designed by Creative Studio Berlin to bring the story of forest farming to life.
This project follows Spielewerft, a shipyard-inspired play area designed by Creative Studio Berlin, which opened in spring 2025.
Chris Lange, chief creative officer and founder of Creative Studio Berlin, says: "We really wanted to keep the story authentic with the region, similar as we already did with Spielewerft.
"It was a lot of fun planning in local references in design-driven, creative ways. We love working at Schloss Dankern and are so proud how the new area turned out."
The new area has a forest farm life theme, complete with tractors, muddy barn animals, and horses.
Image courtesy of Creative Studio Berlin
In addition to integrating existing rides, the Forest Farm expansion marks the debut of the autonomous tractor ride by ABC Rides Switzerland. This can run in either autonomous mode or be controlled by the guests.
Inspired by local industry
The centrepiece of Forest Farm, Trecker Tour takes guests to the barn where the farmer stores his tractors. On the way, they pass his workshop, where he makes bird and bee houses and wooden shoes, and go through a hallway that displays his family’s treasured photos.
In the barn, guests can ride any of the themed tractors and see more creations from the farmer's workshop.
Forest Farm visitors can also explore the car workshop, where they can use the fuel pumps or drive one of the newly fixed cars.
Visitors to the barn can ride in the farmer's themed tractors and explore the detailed theming.Image courtesy of Creative Studio Berlin
In the Pferdebahn, Creative Studio Berlin has updated the existing ride to take visitors through the stables, with sculpted wooden horse heads peeking out at guests as they ride through.
For the steam engine ride, the Torfbahn, Creative Studio Berlin has tied a partially existing ride into the overall design to provide transport for the Forest Farm area.
This takes inspiration from the local trains that brought peat from the fields into the town for generations, and takes visitors on a journey through the farm buildings and among the animals.
Furthermore, with the Kammerjäger shooting game, guests aim at insects as they pop out of cupboards and onto countertops in the farmer’s kitchen.
Other attractions include a Motorik Trail, Rabbit Hutch climbing area, and a discovery trail. The Mirrorpavilion invites visitors of all ages to be silly in front of the different spinning mirrors.
Fran Rossini, senior producer who led the project at Creative Studio Berlin, says: "This was an incredible opportunity to bring together local architecture and work alongside local suppliers, to create a truly genuine area of the park reflecting Emsland traditions, industries, and even dialect.
"It’s such a fun and enjoyable area for all ages—that was so rewarding to capture that on opening day."
To deliver this project, CSB collaborated with suppliers including:
SH TArchitekten, THE ROOM Laboratories, Bentin Projects, ABC Rides Switzerland, Eye-Opener Decors, Holzschwestern, Metallbau Kirschner, Metallbau Emmeln, Kinderland Emsland Spielgeräte, Jan Niesler, Petra Fritz Design, and Jeffrey Steenbergen, among many other local companies.
Earlier this year, the new Creative Studio Berlin-designed Waterfly expansion opened at The Land of Legends theme park in Antalya, Türkiye.
The new themed water world brings together the energy of water with the freedom of flight through immersive storytelling, dynamic attractions, and vibrant colour.
