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Spreepark was an entertainment park in the north of the Plänterwald in theBerlin district
Treptow-Köpenick
(formerly part of theGDR-controlled East Berlin). It was also well
known by its earlier name Kulturpark Plänterwald. The entertainment park
was opened in 1969 as
Kulturpark Plänterwald, covering an area
of 29.5 hectares. The area is situated in the north of the Plänterwald,
next to the river Spree. It was the only constant entertainment park in
the GDR, and the only such park in either East or West Berlin. The VEB
cultural park Berlin was completed in 1991 by mixed municipal
authorities in Berlin. From seven applicants altogether the Spreepark
Berlin GmbH company received the contract. Crucially, the references of
Norbert Witte of the company were not properly checked. Under the
Spreepark GmbH some new attractions were added and visitor
numbers reached 1.5 million per annum. Later the concept was changed.
The park was transformed gradually to a recreational park on a more
western model. From now on an overall fee (adults: 29 DM, children: 27
DM) for admission and for all attractions was charged, instead of
visitors paying an individual price at each ride, as had previously been
the case. The asphalted surface around the Ferris wheel was taken up
and converted into a water landscape. Roller coasters, two game water
courses, a stage, a Western town and an English village were later added
to the park. Since 1999 the park has had to cope with large debts. The
increase in
the admission fee to 30 DM per person and a lack of parking space
contributed to a drop in visitor numbers until in 2001 only 400,000
visitors entered the park. In 2001 Spreepark GmbH announced that they
were insolvent. On 18 January 2002, Norbert Witte, together with his
family and closest coworkers moved to Lima in Peru. They shipped six
attractions (
Fliegender Teppich,
Butterfly,
Spider,
Baby-Flug,
Wild River and
Jet Star)
in 20 ship containers, having been allowed to do so by the authorities
who believed they were being sent for repair. Since 2002 the park has
not opened for visitors. In August 2002 the
park was declared completely insolvent. Debts at a level of €11,000,000
remained and the area was allowed to fall into disrepair. The Ferris
wheel still stands, but has not operated since the park's closure,
likewise, the remains of other attractions can still be found on-site. A
scene for the 2011 action film "Hanna" was filmed at the park.
Norbert Witte failed in his attempt to run a "Lunapark" in Lima. On
19 May 2004 he was sentenced to seven years in jail for attempting to
smuggle 180 kg of cocaine with a value of £14 million from Peru to Germany in the masts of the
Fliegender Teppich ("flying carpet") ride.
In
October 2006 a Peruvian court sentenced Wittes' son, Marcel Witte, to
20 years for drug smulling. Since 2011, guided tours have been offered
to the public at restricted times. Text © Wikipedia
