Exclusive: Greek developers plan to build 30-hectare amusement park near Bucharest

Several Greek real estate investors plan to build an amusement park on a 30-hectare plot in Chiajna near the A1 highway, across the street from Carrefour Militari, with the first phase of the project expected to be finalized next year,romania-insider.com has learned. The project, called Divertiland, will be built in phases and will include a water park, an amusement park, a sports club, and indoor park as well as retail units, company representatives have told romania-insider.com. The developing company, Magic World Developments, expects around 4 million visitors a year. The company, which has Greek shareholders, has registered four trademarks related to this project - Divertiland Multi Entertainment Park, Aventure Park, Oasis Fun Center and LaPlaja Acua Park. The developer is currently discussing with several banks in order to contract the loan required to finance the project. The first phase which will be completed should be the water park, together with the amusement park, that the developers expect to finalize next year. The two combined should cover 10 hectares. The entire project should be finalized in two to three years. A future phase of the project, on an adjacent plot, could be a 227-condominium development. The project will also include a local, old train station, which will be revamped. The developer is currently awaiting for the authorization from the Romanian Railways to revamp this train station. The Greek real estate investors, which have been active in Romania since 2004, started buying land in the area in 2006. Initially they wanted to build this project near Urziceni, on a smaller size plot, but switched to Chiajna after running a feasibility study. For the amusement park, the company is working with a US amusement parks operator, which will take over the management of the park once finalized. The project is still in the incipient marketing and sales phase, according to company representatives. It is preparing to officially launch the project towards the end of September. After finalizing the project in Romania, the company plans to use the same recipe to build a similar park in Sofia and then further expand in the Balkans, where it will look for partners. Divertiland project details:

40,000 sqm water park 40,000 sqm adventure park – carousel, panoramic wheel, Ferris Wheel, ecological ice skating rink, games galleries 37,000 sports club: children's playground, tennis courts, football courts, jogging track, climbing wall, archery gallery, lake events and catering areas, olympic pool, fitness, gym, squash, boxing ring, 20,000 sqm indoor park – Oasis Fun Center – indoor water park facilities, bungee jump, archery, roller skating rink, bowling, billiard, restaurants, cafes 2,000 parking places railway station

Corina Saceanu