Nowadays, many of our childhood memories focus on fast rollercoasters and wild carousel rides, the smell of candyfloss and the cheerful wave of Ed Euromaus. But when Europa-Park opened almost 45 years ago, hardly anyone believed that a theme park in the south-west of Germany could be a success. Since then, over 100 million people have now visited the destination in the corner where three countries meet, and the stars go in and out here. But this success is based not just on fun and action, but also on the business sense of the Mack family. Above all, Europa-Park shows a love of detail and is authentic and family-friendly. That has always been the case.

But how does a concept like that, which still works today, come about? Following many detailed conversations with Roland Mack, his family, friends and companions, the author Benno Stieber has drawn a multi-faceted picture of an unusual family businessman who simply helped Germans to have more fun. His book provides an insight into the colourful but also tough world of the leisure industry.

“Roland Mack: Mein Leben für den Europa-Park” (My Life for Europa-Park)
288 pages, €20.00, Herder 2019.

Also available in all Europa-Park shops