Spreepark
Originally constructed by the communist government in East Germany in 1969, the park stood until the fall of the Berlin Wall twenty years later. It thrived throughout the communist era but fell on hard times when it was taken over by Norbert Witte in 1991.
During the time Witte controlled the park, he changed the scenery multiple times, even adding an English village and water landscape. Unbeknownst to police and Berliners, Witte had also become involved in cocaine smuggling in pieces of ride equipment between Peru and Germany during his time as park administrator.
Due partly to his criminal activities and due partly to lacklustre visitor numbers, Spreepark was shut down to the public in 2002, and Witte was tried on smuggling charges two years later.
The result of this shutdown is the majestic wonderland Spreepark is today. Among the highlights of the park ruins are life-sized dinosaurs, including a fallen Tyrannosaurus, a Ferris wheel as well as an old roller coaster leading out of a rabid-looking animal’s mouth.
During the time Witte controlled the park, he changed the scenery multiple times, even adding an English village and water landscape. Unbeknownst to police and Berliners, Witte had also become involved in cocaine smuggling in pieces of ride equipment between Peru and Germany during his time as park administrator.
Due partly to his criminal activities and due partly to lacklustre visitor numbers, Spreepark was shut down to the public in 2002, and Witte was tried on smuggling charges two years later.
The result of this shutdown is the majestic wonderland Spreepark is today. Among the highlights of the park ruins are life-sized dinosaurs, including a fallen Tyrannosaurus, a Ferris wheel as well as an old roller coaster leading out of a rabid-looking animal’s mouth.
