In 2017, with the opening of a third park, Ferrari Land, the resort rebranded to PortAventura World, which manages all three theme parks, six hotels, a convention center, and an RV park. Reus Airport lies within 15-minute drive, and Barcelona Airport is within an hour.[5] The train station Salou-Port Aventura is 750m from the resort entrance and features line R17 trains to Barcelona and Tarragona.
History
When Port Aventura opened in 1995 in Salou,[6]The Tussauds Group owned 40.0% of the park, while La Caixa had 33.2%, Anheuser-Busch had 19.9%, and FECSA had 6.7%.[7][8][9][10] In 1998, the majority of Tussauds Group's shares in the park were sold to Universal and the park was rebranded as 'Universal's Port Aventura', which made it the first Universal Studios theme park in Europe.[11][12][13]
In 2002, a water park (Costa Caribe) and two hotels (Hotel PortAventura and Hotel El Paso) were constructed, and the resort was further rebranded as 'Universal Mediterranea'.[14][15] In 2004, NBCUniversal (Universal Studios' parent) sold all interest in PortAventura.[16] It is owned and operated by La Caixa Banking Group's investment vehicle Criteria,but as of 2005, the Universal name has been dropped from the branding, and the resort was once again named 'PortAventura' (the space in the name is deliberately left out for trademark reasons). In 2009, the resort hosted 3,310,000 visitors.[17]
In December 2013, private equity firm KKR[18] picked up a 49.9% stake in PortAventura from Investindustrial, which still owned 50.1%. In 2016, the resort was renamed 'PortAventura World Parks & Resort'.[19] The second theme park, Ferrari Land, was inaugurated on April 7, 2017.[20] PortAventura Dream Village, opened in 2017.[21]
The park features five theme areas based on civilizations (Mediterrània, Far West, México, China and Polynesia), and one theme area based on Sesame Street. Mediterrània is the main entrance area of the park.
Dragon Khan, with 8 inversions this formerly held the record as having more inversions than any other roller coaster. It also held the world record for the tallest vertical loop on any roller-coaster. The ride built by Bolliger & Mabillard was one of the two roller coasters that Port Aventura had when it opened. It consistently ranks among the world's best roller coasters in polls.
Shambhala, this B&M hypercoaster beat three European records as it was the fastest (134 km/h) and tallest roller coaster in Europe. It is 76 m tall and had longest drop in Europe at 78 m (2 m underground).
Angkor, a large splash battle themed in the Angkor ruins that opened in 2014.
Street Mission, an interactive Sesame Street dark ride.
Ferrari Land
Italian village, Ferrari Land
InvestIndustrial and Ferrari signed a deal to build a new area themed to the Italian sports car brand in the PortAventura resort covering 60,000 m2,[27][28] including new rides, restaurants, shops and car racing simulators. Ferrari Land is the resort's second theme park, separate from PortAventura Park. The park was opened on 7 April 2017, after an investment of more than €100 million.[29]
Its entrance is adjacent to PortAventura Park's main entrance. The Mediterranean theme is common to both entrances, as Ferrari Land is inspired by Italy, including recreations of Venice's Piazza San Marco and Rome's Colosseum. The main ride of Ferrari Land is Red Force, a 112 m tall vertical accelerator coaster that surpassed Shambhala as the tallest coaster in Europe and is also the fastest coaster in Europe. Ferrari Land opened a kids area in 2018.
Ferrari Land is the second amusement centre themed to Ferrari in the world, after Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.[30]
Costa Caribe Aquatic Park entranceCosta Caribe Aquatic Park – La Laguna de Woody
PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park is a water park which is adjacent to PortAventura Park. It has an area of 50,000 m2, which includes 16 attractions and slides, as well as over 8,500 m2 of water-covered surface area. It is themed to the Caribbean, with beaches, palm trees, and Latin and reggae music, and it also includes shops and restaurants.
Rides
King Khajuna – Europe's tallest free-fall slide of 31 meters and 55-degree descent by ProSlide. Opened in 2013.
Ciclón Tropical – MultiBUMP slide by ProSlide opened in 2013.
Rapid Race – ProSlide ProRacer opened in 2013.
The Mambo and Limbo – Two corkscrew waterslides by ProSlide. Opened in 2002.
El Tifón – Two ProSlide body waterslides opened in 2002.
El Río Loco – Lazy River opened in 2002.
El Torrente – A ProSlide Mammoth river with four-passenger round tubes, opened in 2002.
Barracudas – A pair of ProSlide tube chutes with two-passenger inline tubes, opened in 2002.
Kids rides
Zona Indoor with Junior Slides – Indoor play area including pool and slides by WhiteWater West. Opened in 2002.
La Laguna de Woody – Woody Woodpecker-themed play area by WhiteWater West. Opened in 2002.
Resort hotels
The resort features six themed hotels:
PortAventura Hotel PortAventura: Mediterranean theme (4*)
PortAventura Hotel Caribe: Caribbean theme (4*)
PortAventura Hotel El Paso: Mexican theme (4*)
PortAventura Hotel Gold River (including 'The Callaghan's'): Western theme (4*)
PortAventura Hotel Colorado Creek: Rustic Western theme (4*)
PortAventura Hotel Mansión de Lucy: Victorian-style Western theme (5*)[31]
Hotel Ferrari: Ferrari theme (5*) (future)[32]
Seasonal events
FiestAventura
During seasonal events like summer nights, Halloween (September to November) and Christmas (November to January), PortAventura Park opens seasonal walk around rides or shows, including the mazes: [REC], Horror in Penitence, La Selva del Miedo and the nighttime Halloween show Horror en el Lago.
Some events
Summer
Dance Revolution – At the Gran Teatro Imperial Theatre
PortAventura Parade – A parade with music and choreography, leading up to the start of the FiestAventura show
FiestAventura – The fireworks show including water effects and floats
Halloween
Halloween Kingdom – At the Gran Teatro Imperial Theatre
[REC] Experience – Passage of terror
Horror in Penitence – Passage of terror
La Selva del Miedo – Passage of terror
Halloween Parade – A parade with music and choreography of the most terrifying monsters at the park, leading up to the start of the Horror en el Lago show
Horror en el Lago – The fireworks show including water effects and floats
Christmas
PortAventura Christmas World – At the Gran Teatro Imperial Theatre
Cuento de Navidad – Magnificent artistic and acrobatic display with international ice-skaters
Christmas Family Festival – A family area only for Christmas
Christmas Parade – A parade with music and choreography full of Christmas lights and carriages, leading up to the start of the La llegada de los Emisarios Reales
La llegada de los Emisarios Reales – The Three Kings helpers arrive at the lake with a great multimedia firework show.
^"Universal Mediterránea destinado a ser el destino familiar más importante de Europa". parquestematicos.org. 13 June 2002. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
^Eduard Castaño (8 July 2020). "PortAventura vuelve a abrir hoy" (in Spanish). Diari de Tarragona. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
^ a b"Annual report Corporate responsibility 2012" (PDF). fundacioportaventura.org. 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
^Themed Entertainment Association; Economics Research Associates (2013). "Global attractions attendance report" (PDF). AECOM. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
^"How to get to PortAventura". portaventura.co.uk. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
^Richard Schweid (2 November 1992). "Europe's Second Theme Park Planned in Spain". Associated Press. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
^"Naissance de Port Aventura, gigantesque parc de loisirs près de Barcelone". Libération. 24 April 1995. Retrieved 28 October 2018..
^"Ray Barratt". blooloop. 30 August 2013. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
^Josep Maria Cortes, Manel Perez (29 January 1993). "La Generalitat tomará y el 10% del parque de Salou si Busch recupera la mayoría". El País. Retrieved 28 October 2018..
^Salvador Anton Clavé (16 April 2007). The Global Theme Park Industry. CABI. p. 131. ISBN 978-1845932084.
^"Pearson raises pounds 58m on sale of Spanish theme park stake". The Independent. 23 June 1998. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
^"Pearson Completes Tussauds Group Disposal". pearson.com. 19 October 1998. Retrieved 18 October 2018..
^"Veremonte y La Caixa se alían en Barcelona World". La Vanguardia. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2018. Translation: "Veremonte and La Caixa team up in Barcelona World".
^"Universal Mediterranea near completion". leisureopportunities.co.uk. 26 February 2002. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
^"Del Dragon Khan al mayor polo turístico del Mediterráneo". diaridetarragona.com. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
^"U sells Port Aventura stake". Variety. 20 June 2004. Retrieved 28 October 2018..
^"Spain: Port Aventura, registered 3, 310, 000 visitors, representing a decrease of 8% over the previous year". blooloop.com. 26 February 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
^"KKR picks up 49.9% stake in PortAventura from Investindustrial | AltAssets Private Equity News". Altassets.net. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
^Joe Kleiman (26 January 2016). "PortAventura Rebrands with New Website in Anticipation of Ferrari Land". inparkmagazine.com. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
^"Ferrari Land estará separado de PortAventura y creará 150 empleos". La Vanguardia. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
