Thurn Castle Adventure Park

What Thurn Castle Adventure Park does

Thurn Castle Adventure Park (Erlebnispark Schloss Thurn) is a family-owned, single-site amusement park located in Heroldsbach, Bavaria, within the Franconian Switzerland tourism region of Germany. The park operates multiple themed areas and a broad ride portfolio spanning family attractions, thrill rides, animal exhibits, and VR-based experiences, including a VR roller coaster and a self-described world's-first Steampunk VR Scooter. It also runs the Bavarian Bat Center, a conservation and education facility developed with the Nuremberg Zoo and the Bavarian Association for Bird and Nature Protection (LBV), which differentiates it from typical regional theme parks.

The park generates revenue through a direct-to-consumer model combining day tickets, family tickets, season passes (Saisonpässe), on-site food and beverage, group bookings, and event revenue, with a recent extension into overnight stays via the GlampingPark launched in July 2025. Its stated customer segment is families and regional tourists in the Bamberg, Nuremberg, and Erlangen catchment. Operationally, it uses a standard digital stack (CMS, CRM, ERP, payment gateways, marketing tools) and is a member of the VDFU, the German amusement park association. The business is seasonal, operating during the warmer months with event-driven programming across the calendar year.

The business is privately held by a single family, with no disclosed funding rounds, acquisitions, or leadership transitions. Headcount is reported in the 11–50 range, and no financial figures (revenue, EBITDA, attendance) are publicly disclosed. Strategic activity has historically centered on incremental theming and ride investment, with the GlampingPark addition representing the most material recent shift in business model.

Name

Thurn Castle Adventure Park

Legal name

Schloss Thurn GmbH & Co. Erlebnispark KG

Website

https://schloss-thurn.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Thurn Castle Adventure Park is a family-owned, single-site amusement park in Heroldsbach, Bavaria, offering themed rides, VR attractions, animal exhibits, and on-site glamping to regional families and tourists in the Franconian Switzerland catchment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family Amusement Park

NAICS

Amusement and Theme Parks (713110), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Destination Theme Parks (Large-Scale, Multi-Attraction Parks) (THAJAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Resort/Hotel-Integrated Parks (On-Property Theme/Water Parks) (THAJAEAF)

Keywords

• Amusement park operations
• Family theme park
• Outdoor entertainment venue
• Theme park attractions
• Adventure park rides

Headquarters

HQ city

Heroldsbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: Day tickets, family tickets (Sparticket), afternoon tickets, and season passes. Core revenue driver. Prices range from €38.90 (adults) to €22.90 (afternoon). Season passes from €133.
2. Food and Beverage: On-site restaurants including Western Saloon, Coffee House, Biergarten, and various kiosks throughout the park. Cashless payment only.
3. GlampingPark Accommodation: Glamping facilities adjacent to park opened July 2025. Safari lodges and camping pitches for motorhomes/caravans. Direct park access included.
4. Remise Thurn Hotel: On-site accommodation in historic carriage house building.
5. Merchandise: Souvenir shop (Glaspalast) at main entrance selling themed merchandise including knight equipment, wooden swords.
6. Coin-operated Attractions: Some arcade and game machines require 50 cent or 1 Euro coins in addition to admission.
7. Group Bookings and Events: Birthday parties, school trips, kindergarten groups, corporate events with special pricing and catering options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Thurn Castle Adventure Park (Erlebnispark Schloss Thurn) is a single-site family adventure and amusement park in Heroldsbach, Bavaria, Germany. It operates day-ticket admission to multiple themed areas (Westernstadt, Märchenwald, Motorikpark, Tierpark, and Magisches Tal), rides, live shows, an on-site Bavarian Bat Center museum, and on-site dining. It also sells adjacent overnight accommodation through the GlampingPark and Remise Thurn.

Product overview

Thurn Castle Adventure Park (Erlebnispark Schloss Thurn) is a single-location family theme park in Bavaria, Germany. The core product is the day-ticket adventure park featuring multiple themed areas: the Westernstadt (Western Town), Märchenwald (Fairy Tale Forest), Tierpark und Natur (Animal Park), Motorikpark (Motor Skills Park), and the newer Magisches Tal (Magical Valley). The park offers approximately 30+ attractions including roller coasters (VR Achterbahn), water rides (Wildwasserbahn), rides (Fledermausflug, Dampfeisenbahn), and thrill attractions (Ritterschlag Freifallturm). The product portfolio is supplemented by live entertainment shows (Knight Tournament, Western Show), seasonal events (Halloween), the Bayerisches Fledermauszentrum museum, and overnight accommodation via the adjacent GlampingPark. Additional services include group bookings, birthday parties, school trips, and dining at themed restaurants. Ticket products include day passes, family tickets (2+2), season passes (Gold and Standard tiers), and discounted afternoon tickets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GlampingPark Schloss Thurn: On-site glamping accommodation adjacent to the adventure park, featuring Safari Lodges and caravan/motorhome pitches, with direct access to the park.
• Bayerisches Fledermauszentrum

Products and services

• Erlebnispark Schloss Thurn (Adventure Park) Core day-ticket family adventure park featuring themed areas, rides, live shows, and animal encounters for families with children of all ages.
• Westernstadt (Western Town) Themed western town with Saloon restaurant, western shows, and the Steampunk VR-Scooter attraction.
• Bayerisches Fledermauszentrum (Bavarian Bat Center) Unique museum featuring 16 interactive learning stations about bats including a blacklight room; home to over 300 bats living in the castle attic.
• Märchenwald (Fairy Tale Forest) Themed nature area featuring fairy tale experiences and storybook attractions for children and families.
• Tierpark und Natur (Animal and Nature Park) Nature park featuring native wildlife including fallow deer, black-necked goats, and donkeys in naturalistic enclosures.
• Motorikpark (Motor Skills Park) Physical activity area designed to develop motor skills and coordination through interactive play equipment.
• Erlebnisspielplätze (Adventure Playgrounds) Multiple themed adventure playgrounds throughout the park including large climbing structures and play areas.
• GlampingPark Schloss Thurn Glamping accommodation directly adjacent to the theme park offering caravan/camper spots and safari lodges with direct park access.
• Shows and Entertainment Daily live shows including Knight Tournament, Western Show, Puppet Theater, Dinolino's Magic Show, and Clown Show, included with admission.
• Halloween Events Special Halloween events including Family Halloween and Scary Nights with separate pricing and enhanced offerings.
• Group Events and Birthday Parties Organized group visits, birthday party packages, school trips, kindergarten groups, and corporate events with special pricing and catering options.
• Freifallturm Ritterschlag Nearly 30-meter free-fall tower in the Magical Valley area offering panoramic views before the drop.
• Fledermausflug (Bat Flight) 11-meter tall swing ship attraction in the Magical Valley themed area, accommodating up to 42 riders per ride.
• Steampunk VR-Scooter World's first VR auto scooter where players compete against each other and giant robots using optional VR headsets in a steampunk desert setting.
• VR Achterbahn Family roller coaster combined with VR technology featuring a 90-second ride through a virtual dragon world with Dinolino mascot.
• Wildwasserbahn Water ride featuring steep uphill climb followed by a nearly vertical drop into a splash pool, accommodating up to 3 adults or 4 children per boat.
• Dampfeisenbahn (Steam Train) Steam train ride through the park and animal enclosures with stops at various stations throughout.
• Remise Thurn Hotel On-site hotel accommodation in a historic carriage house building on the park grounds.
• Season Pass 2026 Annual passes offering free entry on opening days. Gold pass (€149) includes Halloween event; Standard pass (€133) excludes event days.

Quantifiable outcome

• Season passes pay off after just a few visits

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Oberfranken StiftungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the creation of the Bavarian Bat Center, a unique educational attraction featuring 300+ live bats in the castle attic. Partnership provides environmental conservation and educational value.
• Bayerischer NaturschutzfondsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funded the Bat Information Center supporting conservation education at the park. Aligns with nature protection mission.
• Gemeinde HeroldsbachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal municipality partnered in creation of Bat Center supporting community tourism development.
• Meisterwerk - Social Media AgenturminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial media agency managing Facebook, Instagram, and other social platform content and engagement.
• VDFU (Verband der Freizeitparks)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in German amusement park industry association for industry representation and best practices.
• Meta Platforms (Facebook, Instagram)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial media platforms for marketing, visitor engagement, and advertising. Facebook Pixel installed for visitor tracking.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Bayern-Park: Bavarian regional amusement park in Reisbach, similar mid-sized family theme park profile with rides, shows, and themed areas. Closest comparable in scale and target demographic within Bavaria.
• Serengeti Park: Safari/animal park combined with amusement rides and on-site accommodation in Hodenhagen, Lower Saxony. Closely comparable in combining wildlife/animal experiences with theme park rides and lodging.
• Playmobil FunPark: Family-oriented theme park in Zirndorf near Nuremberg — direct geographic competitor in the Metropolregion Nürnberg/Franconia catchment area, targeting similar family demographic.
• Tripsdrill: Family-owned theme park in Baden-Württemberg combining rides, animal enclosures, and accommodation (a holiday resort). Closely comparable in family-owned structure and combined park-and-stay model.
• Hansa-Park: Family-owned German theme park on the Baltic coast, similar mid-sized profile with rides, themed areas, and seasonal operation. Comparable in family-owned positioning and regional draw.

Broad incumbents

• LEGOLAND Deutschland: Larger themed park in Günzburg, Bavaria with resort/hotel integration. Competes for family visitors in Bavaria but at significantly larger scale and with international brand backing.
• Movie Park Germany: Film-themed amusement park in NRW, owned by Parques Reunidos. Competes for family visitors in Germany with a broader themed attraction portfolio.
• Heide Park: Major German amusement park in Lower Saxony owned by Merlin Entertainments. Operates in the same family theme park category at significantly larger scale with broader IP and capital resources.
• Europa-Park: Germany's largest theme park in Rust with on-site hotels and resort integration. Comparable in offering rides plus themed areas and accommodation, but operates at an order-of-magnitude larger scale.
• Phantasialand: One of Germany's largest and most-visited theme parks, based in Brühl. Operates in the same family theme park category but at materially larger scale and capital intensity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/schlossthurn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UClW4IgfBtXuhP225Qb-nn_A
• Facebookfacebook.com/schlossthurn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schlossthurn
• Instagraminstagram.com/schlossthurn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Thurn Castle Adventure Park