Could This Be the World's Best-Themed Dive Coaster?

October 15, 2014, 12:51 PM · The Dutch theme park Efteling today announced its new attraction for 2015, a Bolliger & Mabillard Dive Coaster called Baron 1898.

Baron 1898

As you can see from the illustration provided by the park, Baron 1898 might be the world's best decorated and most themed Dive Coaster when it opens next summer. Themed to a mine founded by "Baron Downfall" in the late nineteenth century, the coaster is now under construction near "The Flying Dutchman," as seen in this promotional video from the park.

This isn't your typical roller coaster promo video, which makes sense given that Efteling is in no way a typical iron park. There's no talk of specs, of airtime, of inversions, in this video. Instead, designers and managers talk about storytelling, and the need to devise a compelling narrative for the attraction.

Longtime Theme Park Insider visitors will remember that Efteling is home of some of our readers' favorite dark rides outside the Disney theme parks, including Fata Morgana and Droomvlucht. Baron 1898 promises a unique blend of theme and thrill that should add to the parks' appeal among theme park fans.

Replies (9)

October 15, 2014 at 1:13 PM · There is a bit lost in translation. The name of the baron is Hoogmoed. When you translate that literally it are 2 words hoog = height and moed = courage (that translation is the same meaning in Dutch as it is in English. But "hoogmoed" together is translated into "arrogance". There is a Dutch saying that goes like this "Hoogmoed komt voor de val" translated "Arrogance comes before the downfall". The falling in this is also appropriate for the ride.
The story tells about baron Hoogmoed who finds caves underground and want to mine it's treasures so he build a mine. The Witte Wieven (White Women (in Dutch dialect)) are their to protect earth treasures and make sure the cable of the mineshaft vehicle snaps and it's riders plunge to their death.
October 15, 2014 at 2:05 PM · Great stuff. I love how the folks at Efteling approach theme park design.
October 15, 2014 at 2:11 PM · I'm so excited! I'm heading to Europe next year! Do you know if they have any expected completion dates at this stage?
October 15, 2014 at 3:00 PM · This ride is scheduled to open in July 2015.
October 15, 2014 at 7:22 PM · There's not much here to see yet, but the renderings certainly look impressive. Yet another fun and exciting overseas attraction I will never get to visit. *Sigh*
October 15, 2014 at 8:17 PM · July 2015, perfect, I'll let you all know how i find it :-)
October 16, 2014 at 12:48 AM · Here you can find the illustration in a much larger resolution to see all the details:
http://documenten.eftelist.nl/duik/tekeningen/zijaanzicht_baron.jpg
October 16, 2014 at 5:37 AM · We go almost every year, 3 weeks today we go. I'm so excited for this next year.
October 16, 2014 at 6:12 AM · The first theme park I ever visited - glad to know they're still doing great things!

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