Fantasiana at 30: crafting magic, adventure, and unique experiences

Fantasiana, the largest family-run theme park in Austria, will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

Founded in 1996 by entrepreneurs Erich Wagner and Karl Heinz Grabler, Fantasiana started as a 50,000-square-metre site and has gradually expanded through continuous investment.

It now covers more than 88,000 square metres and features eight carefully themed zones.

Visitors can explore Sunny Bay, Castle Courtyard, Africa Orient, Western Town, Mushroom House, the dinosaur-themed Then-Time, Fairytale Forest, and Magic Village, all of which demonstrate the park’s family-friendly focus.

Ahead of its milestone anniversary, the attraction has expanded its offering with a new Mack Rides coaster, Helios, which serves as the centrepiece of its brand-new Sunny Bay Mediterranean-themed area. Both opened to visitors earlier this year.

The coaster joins a thoughtfully curated collection of over 50 rides, designed to appeal to people of all ages. The lineup includes many acclaimed attractions, including several world-class dark rides.

Left to right: Sieglinde Wagner-Haigerer, Karl Heinz Grabler, Sarah Grabler

Sarah Grabler, managing partner and CEO, speaks to blooloop about the park’s evolution and its highly anticipated new ride.

Three decades of magic

Today, Fantasiana is positioned as Austria's leading theme park and is known for its attention to detail, a legacy shaped by Karl Heinz Grabler’s background in advertising.

This focus ensures that the park can create magical moments for guests of all ages and build an emotional connection with its visitors.

“Fantasiana is much more than just an amusement park – it is a place where imagination comes to life. Our mission has always been to immerse people of all ages in a world where wonder, emotion, and shared experiences are at the centre,” says Sarah Grabler.

“We want our guests to leave everyday life behind for a few hours and create moments they will remember fondly – whether as a family, a couple, or with friends.”

The park’s slogan, ‘Where dreams come true’, underscores this approach.

“We deliberately focus on quality rather than quantity: lovingly designed themed areas, compelling stories, and an atmosphere that touches people are just as important to us as technical innovations,” says Grabler.

The park has expanded steadily and thoughtfully, for example, with the addition of the Castle Courtyard in 2008, the dinosaur-themed Then-Time in 2011, and the Magical Village in 2021.

“Fantasiana should be a place where everyone feels welcome, no matter their age or background,” she adds. “Our identity is built on creativity, warmth, and the commitment to provide an authentic, sustainable, and carefully managed experience. In short, we want to give our guests magic – in both small and grand ways.”

Focus on quality

The core principles shaping this growth have held steadfast throughout the park’s nearly 30 years, says Grabler.

“From the very beginning, our guiding vision was clear: we wanted to create a theme park that impresses not through size, but through atmosphere, imagination, and quality."

“Our goal has always been to provide an extraordinary experience – a combination of emotion, immersion, and personal connection that is hard to find elsewhere. This vision continues to guide every decision we make.

“Key milestones include the expansion with our first highly themed areas, the introduction of high-quality attractions such as Wild Train or Knights Ride Tower, and later Mami Wata, which demonstrated our ambition to tell stories at a high level.”

The park and its attractions have received numerous international awards across various categories, including the European Star Awards and the Park World Excellence Awards.

“Most recently, Helios and Fridolin’s Crazy Magic Express combined innovative technology with strong, emotional storytelling – setting a new quality standard for future projects,” adds Grabler.

“What connects all these steps is our commitment to develop Fantasiana organically, responsibly, and with thematic depth.”

The park’s newest zone, called Sonnenbucht (Sunny Bay), opened in 2025 and represents the most significant investment in the park's history.

The area is inspired by the Mediterranean coast and features an ice cream stand and a water playground with fountains and other aquatic features.

It also includes a chapel in memory of Erich Wagner, who died in 2023, and whose vision continues to shape the park today.

Strategic storytelling

Not only home to the new Helios roller coaster, which takes guests on a ride in the sun god’s chariot, Sunny Bay also features the Knights Ride Tower, which immerses visitors in the rich folklore of Salzburg’s Lungau region.

Here, guests accompany Knight Tannhauser through a dangerous tower rife with snakes, crocodiles, spiders, and dragons. The ride ends as Knight Tannhäuser fights a formidable griffin, and the guests are plunged into a 20-metre free fall.

Notably, the zone demonstrates Grabler’s leadership and vision. Since becoming CEO in 2017, her style has been characterised by clarity, proximity, and long-term thinking.

“It was important to me not only to continue Fantasiana’s operations but to strategically develop it – with a clear vision embraced by the entire team,” she says.

“Open communication, involving all areas, and targeted talent development have allowed us to be bolder and implement projects that might have seemed impossible before.

“At the same time, we place great value on quality and authenticity. Every expansion, attraction, and thematic decision must align with our style.

“My leadership approach has slowed down, focused, and empowered Fantasiana – we now work step by step toward a clear future vision.”

Dream supplier

This clarity led to the creation of Helios.

“It was always a dream of mine to have a Mack Rides coaster in Fantasiana – and with Helios, that dream has finally come true,” says Grabler.

Rather than a launch system, Helios begins with a traditional lift hill, followed by a tight layout interwoven around a series of park buildings, offering an unpredictable ride experience.

The €7 million coaster opened on 12 April 2025 and is Mack Rides' second Stryker Coaster after Voltron Nevera, which broke two world records when it opened at Europa-Park in Germany last year.

As its most advanced coaster, the Stryker reflects the engineering excellence and craftsmanship that Mack Rides is known for: “a partner known for quality, innovation, and reliability,” says Grabler.

“It was important to us that the ride system combine high capacity, smooth motion, and appeal to a broad audience,” she says.

“From a technical perspective, operational safety, ease of maintenance, and efficiency were key considerations. Helios needed to offer the perfect experience for both families and thrill-seekers.”

The ride includes 471 metres of track, three inversions, and top speeds of 75 km/h, with elements that wind above the theme park’s entrance, as well as an outward-banked curve, and several near misses.

Helios marks the park’s second coaster, and follows Fridolin’s Crazy Magic Express from ART Engineering.

Fantasiana has worked with the manufacturer before, collaborating to develop the first iteration of the Wild Swing, Pendula, which can be found in the Fairytale Forest zone.

Emotional, visual, and thematic integration

Helios’ unique themed world evokes the power of the sun, featuring an enhanced ride vehicle, high speeds, and a secret dark zone designed to deliver maximum thrills.

“We wanted to create an experience that goes beyond the ride itself, one that emotionally engages visitors and transports them into another world,” says Grabler.

“The character of Helios, a symbol of light, energy, and renewal, provided the perfect foundation to tell themes of new beginnings, hope, and adventure in a visually striking way.”

“Helios was designed to achieve multiple goals: appeal to new age groups, strengthen our portfolio, and become a visual highlight in the park.

“Strategically, it also plays a role in the long-term development of the surrounding area, Sonnenbucht.”

This area, she says, is a “tremendous addition to our park.”

“The water playground invites families to linger, while the ride itself serves as a true visual centrepiece at the park entrance.

“Helios has become a symbol of the Fantasiana experience – emotionally, visually, and thematically integrated.”

And the ride has received a strong reception from the park’s visitors.

“Feedback has been extremely positive from the start,” says Grabler.

“Guests appreciate the combination of an exciting ride, thoughtful design, and spaces to relax. It’s remarkable how deeply visitors immerse themselves in the story and how Helios has become a gathering point for families and groups.

“Many share their experiences on social media, spend more time in Sonnenbucht, and enjoy the atmosphere – confirming our strategy of creating attractions with emotional depth.”

Marking 30 years and future plans

Now, as the park looks to the future, Grabler is shaping its next strategic steps.

“Our planning is clearly guided by our vision: Fantasiana should remain unique in quality, themed environments, and guest experience,” she says.

“We are focusing on expanding immersive themed areas, improving comfort and visitor amenities, integrating modern technologies where they add value, and continuing to prioritise sustainability.”

In addition, a curated programme of events reflects this ethos, and includes Fantastica, a nighttime event featuring illuminations, shows, and a fireworks display, and Happy Halloween, which is billed as ‘Austria's horror capital’.

“Step by step, we are developing the park into a place where guests can create unforgettable moments,” adds Grabler, “always with a focus on magic, experience, and quality.”

And this is set to manifest in Fantasiana’s 30th anniversary celebration, shares Grabler.

“The anniversary is a very special moment for Fantasiana,” she says.

“We are planning a diverse program that will delight both longtime visitors and new guests.

“A highlight will be our Fantastica Events, which will be a permanent part of the anniversary program, offering shows, interactive experiences, and magical moments.

“The celebration will also include thematic surprises, festive decorations, and exclusive activities. Our goal is for guests to be part of this grand celebration and create lasting memories.

“At the same time, the anniversary shows where Fantasiana is headed: it will continue to be a place full of magic, adventure, and unique experiences for years to come.”