Parc Saint-Paul: The Future is Being Written in the Heart of Oise, Between New Developments and Tradition.

Parc Saint-Paul is much more than just an amusement park. It's a leisure institution in the Oise region, a place that has cradled the childhoods of entire generations and which, today, is preparing to write a new chapter in its history. With its acquisition by the Looping Group, a major player in European amusement parks, the iconic family park of the Picardy region has embarked on a path of transformation and renewal. Far from betraying its DNA, this evolution aims to modernize its infrastructure, enrich its offerings, and solidify its place as an essential destination for families. This article offers you a journey through time, from its beginnings to its promising future, while highlighting the assets that make Parc Saint-Paul an experience to live and relive.

The History of a Family-Friendly and Welcoming Amusement Park

The history of Parc Saint-Paul began in the early 1980s when the site, then a farm, was converted into a leisure space. Over the decades, it has forged a unique identity as a human-scale, friendly, and authentic park. One of its strengths has always been its direct connection with nature, with its pond, wooded areas, and animals. The park grew step by step, adding attractions that left their mark, such as the famous Wood Express, a wooden roller coaster that quickly became an icon of the park, appreciated for its intensity and surprising layout.

Throughout these years, Parc Saint-Paul has remained true to its mission: to offer a quality day of entertainment to families, without the frenzy of large international parks. It strikes a perfect balance between attractions for the youngest, rides for the whole family, and a few thrill rides for adrenaline enthusiasts. The park has always made it a point of honor to provide a relaxed and secure environment, where children's laughter blends harmoniously with the pleasure of a stroll in nature. This unique atmosphere is what has built its loyal customer base and solid reputation in the Oise region and far beyond.

The Acquisition by the Looping Group: A New Era Begins

In 2024, Parc Saint-Paul experienced a major turning point with its acquisition by the Looping Group. For amusement park enthusiasts, this news was met with great enthusiasm. The Looping Group is indeed a name that inspires confidence in the industry. Created in 2011, it has established itself as a benchmark player by acquiring and managing leisure parks across Europe. Their business model is simple and effective: acquire parks with high potential, respect their identity, and invest to modernize and grow them.

The Looping Group boasts an impressive collection of parks, each with its own specific characteristics. In France, it owns the famous Parc Bagatelle on the Opal Coast, as well as Terra Botanica, the first plant-themed park. On a European scale, their expertise extends to parks such as Fort Fun Abenteuerland in Germany, Avonturenpark Hellendoorn in the Netherlands, and Isla Magica in Spain. This diversified portfolio demonstrates their ability to manage a wide variety of leisure offerings and adapt their strategies to the specificities of each site. The acquisition of Parc Saint-Paul fits perfectly into this approach, with the firm intention of giving it the means to achieve its ambitions.

Taking Over: First Visible Transformations Already Underway

Since the acquisition, the change is already palpable. Strolling through the pathways, one notices a progressive and thoughtful takeover. One of the first areas of improvement has been the park's general appearance. The decorations are being cleaned, areas are being redeveloped in a more open manner, and particular attention is being paid to details. This desire to "declutter" certain spaces helps make the experience more fluid and enjoyable. Older attractions are receiving new theming, such as the dinosaur area, now called Dinotopia, which has benefited from a real makeover.

Investments are also materializing with the addition of new attractions. Last year's novelty, the Nébulaz, is a good example of this dynamic. This attraction, which blends perfectly into the environment, offers a new experience to visitors and shows the direction the park is taking. The Wood Express, which remains the star attraction, also benefits from special attention to ensure it retains all its quality and intensity. The park also doesn't forget the importance of ancillary services: automatic ordering kiosks have been installed at food outlets, speeding up service and improving visitor comfort. These small touches testify to a desire to modernize the overall customer experience.

A Smooth Takeover and Synergies

The acquisition of Parc Saint-Paul by the Looping Group marks a turning point which, naturally, is accompanied by profound changes. The park's management is currently familiarizing itself with new processes and management systems brought by the group, a necessary learning phase to harmonize operations. Synergies are actively being sought, particularly to benefit from collective purchasing power and optimize management, which will ultimately result in gains in efficiency and quality. While this transition period may seem to slow down the pace of immediate novelties a bit, it is in reality an essential step for unprecedented future development. Despite initial fears, revived by the example of certain parks like Bagatelle, the Parc Saint-Paul teams met on site are extremely enthusiastic and positive about this takeover, seeing in the Looping Group's expertise an exceptional opportunity to make their park shine like never before.

The Future: A Renovated Park Full of Ambitious Projects

The real enthusiasm of visitors and fans primarily stems from the bright future shaping up for Parc Saint-Paul. The Looping Group has already announced major projects that will redefine the park's appearance. The most exciting project is undoubtedly the arrival of a giant drop tower, with an impressive height of 60 meters. Manufactured by the renowned builder Funtime, this new attraction will replace the area formerly occupied by an older drop tower and the Wild Train. This drop tower, whose reputation is well-established, will become the new flagship attraction for thrill-seekers, attracting a new clientele while giving the park unprecedented visibility.

But the park doesn't stop there. Other projects are being discussed, including a reflection on the entrance area to modernize it and make it more welcoming. There is a desire to redevelop certain underutilized areas to install new attractions there (our wish: a new water attraction would be very welcome). All these changes will not happen overnight, but the vision is clear: to make Parc Saint-Paul an amusement park that remains true to its family spirit, while equipping it with the infrastructure and offerings worthy of the best European parks. The ongoing work shows that the park is in good hands, those of professionals who have the ambition to make it shine.

Parc Saint-Paul is experiencing a renewal. The Looping Group brings not only the necessary capital, but above all a vision, expertise, and passion for the world of leisure parks. The park continues to be this friendly and welcoming space, but with a new dynamic. Parc Saint-Paul is definitely a destination to rediscover.