Music is everywhere at Europa-Park Resort in Rust, Germany — humming softly in the background of a themed restaurant, swelling dramatically at the entrance of a roller coaster, or drifting through an outdoor plaza to evoke the feeling of a distant country. But none of it happens by chance.
Matthias Lange, head of the creative team at MACK Solutions, is one of the key figures behind the park’s sonic landscape. His team is responsible for the conceptual and emotional dimensions of the guest experience — and sound, he says, is central to that work.
“We work multisensory,” Lange explained (Translated from German). “So we always consider sound as part of the overall design.”
A Process Rooted in Research and Collaboration
When Europa-Park developed its Croatia-themed area and the headline attraction Voltron Nevera powered by Rimac, Lange’s team began with what he calls a “hookline” — a guiding emotional premise that shapes all creative decisions. For Croatia, that premise was simple: the feeling of being on vacation.
“Since the area is themed around Croatia, our composers immersed themselves deeply in the country’s traditional music,” Lange said. The result, according to the park, is an atmosphere that transports guests to the Adriatic coast the moment they step in.
Concepts and visualizations are shared with external sound and music experts, giving composers a clear picture of what guests will see and experience — allowing them to develop music that fits seamlessly into each environment.
“At Europa-Park, we frequently take a country-specific approach,” Lange noted. “That supports the vacation atmosphere and the authentic feeling that allows guests to fully immerse themselves in each theme.”
When the Attraction Drives the Sound
Not every area follows the country-specific model. With Voltron Nevera, the sonic approach took a different direction. Rather than drawing on Croatian musical traditions, the team oriented the soundscape around the ride itself — its energy, its setting, and the tension it was designed to build.
One of the most striking elements in the attraction’s queue is the use of Tesla coils that produce what Lange describes as “singing lightning” — a distinctive sound effect that ramps up anticipation before riders even board.
“I think we really nailed the sound around Voltron,” Lange said. “It puts visitors into a state of palpable excitement even before the ride begins.”
Sound as Memory
From the charming streetscapes of the France-themed zone to the earworm melody of “Projekt Euro-Mir” — the signature song of the Euro-Mir roller coaster — Europa-Park’s music is designed not just to accompany a visit, but to outlast it. The goal, according to Lange’s team, is to create sonic memories that guests carry with them long after they leave the park.
The creative process relies on regular collaborative meetings between designers and composers, with continuous refinement until the sound achieves the intended emotional effect.
It is, by any measure, a meticulous craft — one that many guests will not consciously notice.
Cover image courtesy of: © 2026 Europa-Park GmbH & Co Mack KG
