Developments firm up for Ittertal theme park refurbishment in Solingen
In the heart of Solingen, a city known for its rich history and vibrant community, plans for the revival of the Itter Valley Leisure Park are gaining traction.
The leisure park, previously owned by showman Bruno Schmelter, was sold to Yevgen Besedin from Wuppertal in 2019. Since then, Besedin has been determined to breathe new life into the park, which closed in an unknown year.
However, the summer 2021 flood and simultaneous COVID-19 restrictions put a halt to all further plans, leaving Besedin to wait and clear up the worst of the damage. Fortunately, a building pre-application for the park's renovation has been positively decided by the city of Solingen.
Besedin plans to invest a seven-figure sum in the park's revival, with a focus on outdoor activities for children and relaxation areas for adults. The old Fairytale Forest houses and Bayern Hall, which are in poor condition, will undergo renovation. The demolition of Bayernhalle will be followed by a new building, with a slightly offset location.
A new restaurant is set to open soon in the adjacent building to the leisure park, and a gastronomic offer with a beer garden is part of the plans for the new park. The protected water carousel will also be preserved.
Moreover, the bed of the Itter stream is to be relocated and widened, creating a larger open space for events like Christmas markets.
A group called the "Itterthalers" has formed a club to advocate for the continuation of the Itter Valley leisure park as a leisure park. Yevgen Besedin is seeking more cooperation from the authorities to expedite the renovation process.
Despite these promising developments, there has been no significant improvement in the park since the flooding three years ago. Yevgen Besedin estimates that they are still far from a building permit for the Itter Valley leisure park.
For the latest, locally specific updates, contacting local municipal authorities in Solingen or regional planning offices could provide direct insights. The revival of the Itter Valley Leisure Park is an exciting prospect for the city and its residents, and we look forward to seeing its progress.
The revival plans for the Itter Valley Leisure Park, under new ownership, aim to transform it into a destination for outdoor activities, home-and-garden relaxation areas, and a new restaurant with a beer garden, thereby promoting an lifestyle aligned with outdoor-living. The authorities have recently positively decided on a building pre-application for the park's renovation, signifying a significant step towards realizing this vision.
