BonBon-Land

Holmegaard, Denmark

“Hilarious theming, simple rides”

It would be wrong to say that BonBon-Land is a widely acclaimed theme park. However, this place does get a decent amount of attention from the international coaster community. This is mainly due to the park’s unusual theming ideas and attraction names. BonBon-Land seems to have a preference for papier-mâché, cartoonish characters and downright bizarre theming. The most striking example undoubtedly is a roller coaster themed to dog farts, but you’ll also find a turtle-themed wave swinger and a log flume themed to sewer rats. The quirkiness is the thing that really sets this park apart from its competition.

ROLLER COASTERS

Legendary coasters don’t have to be big. The world-famous Hundeprut Rutsjebanen is actually the smallest coaster in the park with a track length of 410 feet (126 metres) and a maximum speed of just 18 mph (30 km/h). The layout was built around Henry’s doghouse. Henry stands in a rather embarrassing pose and fart noises can be heard throughout the area. Although this coaster definitely does not deliver a giant thrill, it’s kind of hilarious to ride it.

Vild-Svinet is the oldest Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter. It opened in 2003 and it was the first roller coaster to feature a beyond-vertical drop. This feature has become considerably less unique over the course of time, but Vild-Svinet remains a fine thrill for a medium-sized amusement park like BonBon-Land. The ride does everything you might expect from a Euro-Fighter, both in a positive and negative way. On the positive side there’s a fine layout and a relatively smooth ride. On the negative side there are some weird transitions and uncomfortable restraints. Vild-Svinet is certainly not a bad roller coaster, but one ride was more than enough for us.

Vild-Svinet is themed to a wild boar who likes to race, while the neighbouring Han-Katten is inspired by cats. This is a surprisingly smooth Gerstlauer spinning roller coaster with a layout that consists of some very disorienting twists and turns. However, I’m not overly fond of the awkwardly designed trains, in which you stare directly at your fellow passengers. I would love this ride if it had classic Maurer spinning coaster vehicles, but it’s ‘just okay’ with those Gerstlauer trains.

Viktor Vandorm started a second life at BonBon-Land in 2009, after being operational at Germany’s Panorama Park for many years. Remarkably, Flinker Fridolin (as the ride was called in Germany) was a terrain coaster, cleverly making use the hilly landscape of the Sauerland region. BonBon-Land, on the other hand, is a park with no elevation changes. That explains why Viktor Vandorm’s station floats several metres above ground level and why the train gets an extra push twice by means of drive wheels. Nonetheless, this is an excellent family roller coaster with an unconventional layout and a pretty long ride duration.

WATER RIDES

It’s easy to cool down during warm summer days, as BonBon-Land is home to several water rides. One of them is Vandrotten, which translates to ‘water rat’. This log flume does not use the classic logs, but the colourful boats are shaped like rats instead. The track includes two small descents and a tiny dark ride scene, so it’s a pretty fun attraction for the whole family. The BonBon-Land website advertises Bæver Rafting as the longest rapid river in the Nordic countries. I would like to add that it is probably also the best-hidden rapid river in the Nordic countries. The attraction is barely visible from walkways and the entrance is located in a remote corner. It’s an excellent rapid river, though. Bæver Rafting is beautifully integrated into the landscape and there’s quite a lot of theming. Besides, I also like the fact that this attraction doesn’t make its passengers soaking wet.

OTHER EXPERIENCES

Scandinavian amusement parks usually offer a wide range of flat rides. BonBon-Land is no exception to this rule. Notable examples include Svend Svingarm (a Giant Frisbee by Zamperla), Albatossen (an original themed Disk’o), Cobratårnet (a free fall tower) and Klaptorsken, a swinging ship in the shape of a giant fish. Thrills like these don’t usually appeal to me, but I’m happy to make an exception for Kragetræerne. This attraction may look familiar if you know Donnerbalken at Tripsdrill, as it is almost identical. This double tower ride was designed to look like two trees. The drops are anything but intense, but the ride’s rickety tilting system is guaranteed to make your heart beat faster.

The execution and quality of theming at BonBon-Land is sometimes questionable. The papier-mâché figures may not always look fantastic, but they do give the park an unmistakable identity of its own. One of the attractions in which this unique atmosphere reaches a peak is Søløven. This 250-metre-long boat ride depicts a cheerful voyage around the world, so I consider it as a local version of It’s a Small World and Carnaval Festival. However, in contrast to its siblings at Disneyland and Efteling, Søløven has not yet been adjusted to be ‘woke’. The attraction still features very stereotypical depictions of distant cultures, so it may feel a little uncomfortable for some. Nevertheless, I would recommend visiting Søløven, as this boat ride offers a welcome moment of peace and quiet.

WORTH A VISIT?

BonBon-Land offers a decent experience for families with children. They have an extensive attraction collection, I enjoyed the unusual theming and the staff members do their best to ensure you have a good time. Nevertheless, I have to say that BonBon-Land is one of the least interesting amusement parks in Denmark. It lacks a real eye-catcher, some parts of the park look cheap and the area surrounding the park entrance is downright ugly. All in all, I would only recommend visiting BonBon-Land if you don’t have to make a huge detour to get there. And certainly remember that BonBon-Land is not a full-day destination. It’s best to combine it with a visit to a nearby town or spend some time in the Scandinavian countryside.

Have you been able to ride Hundeprut Rutsjebanen yet? And what’s the best-themed ride at BonBon-Land? Share your opinion in the comments section at the bottom of this page.