Salitre Mágico

Salitre Mágico is an amusement park in Bogotá, Colombia, situated within the Parque El Salitre area near Simón Bolívar Park. It is one of the city’s best-known traditional amusement venues and is described in reference material as one of the largest parks of its kind in Bogotá. The park combines mechanical rides, family attractions, children’s entertainment, live shows, and selected aquatic or water-oriented experiences. The site first opened in 1973 under the name Parque El Salitre. At the time of its inauguration, it was regarded as one of the most modern amusement parks in Latin America. Its location between Avenida 68 and Calle 63 placed it within a major recreational zone of Bogotá and close to the area that later developed around Parque Simón Bolívar. The original park operated for several decades before undergoing a major ownership and redevelopment change. Mexican entertainment company Corporación Interamericana de Entretenimiento, commonly known as CIE, acquired the park and closed it to the public in 1999 for remodeling. It reopened in December 2000 under the Salitre Mágico name. The relaunch introduced a substantially redesigned attraction mix, initially comprising 29 rides distributed across the park. The redevelopment included imported and reconstructed equipment, among them a helicoidal roller coaster popularly known as the Screw, as well as the Rueda Millenium, a large observation wheel offering views of Bogotá from approximately 40 metres above ground. The park’s attraction portfolio has included roller coasters, spinning rides, family rides, children’s rides, bumper cars, drop-style attractions, and theatrical or seasonal entertainment. Reference material identifies three roller coasters and highlights attractions such as Tornado, Double Loop, the Screw, Top Spin—known at the park as Apocalipsis—carousel rides, flying swings, and a miniature wheel. The park also features the Castillo del Terror, or Castle of Horror, a horror-themed attraction presented as a distinctive part of the venue’s offering. Some rides combine family entertainment with higher-intensity experiences, including free-fall elements and substantial track layouts. A nearby sister venue, Cici Aquapark, expanded the broader entertainment proposition with water attractions, including a wave simulator and slides. Reference material states that Salitre Mágico and Cici Aquapark are part of the CIE entertainment group. The park’s principal audience is the Bogotá family and leisure market, with programming designed to serve children, teenagers, adults, and visitors seeking thrill rides. Its positioning rests on accessible urban recreation, a broad concentration of attractions, and the combination of classic amusement-park rides with more intense roller-coaster and horror experiences. Public reference material does not establish a separate founder, a current executive roster, financial results, or a detailed current operating structure. The park’s current ride count is described in the supplied material as 39 mechanical attractions, although individual attraction availability can change through refurbishment, replacement, maintenance, or seasonal operations.

Salitre Mágico originated as Parque El Salitre, which opened in Bogotá in 1973. The park was built in the Parque El Salitre recreational area between Avenida 68 and Calle 63, near the developing Simón Bolívar Park zone. At inauguration it was presented as one of the most modern amusement parks in Latin America, giving Bogotá a large centralized venue for mechanical rides and family recreation. The original Parque El Salitre operated for many years before a major redevelopment. Mexican entertainment company Corporación Interamericana de Entretenimiento, or CIE, subsequently acquired the park. CIE closed the attraction in 1999 to carry out remodeling and reconfiguration. The closure marked a transition from the original Parque El Salitre identity to a more commercially developed amusement-park format. The renovated venue reopened in December 2000 as Salitre Mágico. The relaunch included 29 rides and introduced equipment intended to broaden the park’s appeal across children, families, and thrill-seeking visitors. Among the notable additions was a helicoidal roller coaster imported from the United States and reassembled in Bogotá. It became popularly known as the Screw because of its spiral form. Another prominent addition was the Rueda Millenium, a Chicago Wheel-style observation wheel standing approximately 40 metres high and designed to provide panoramic views of the city. Following the relaunch, Salitre Mágico developed a mixed attraction portfolio. Its rides have included roller coasters, spinning rides, bumper cars, children’s attractions, drop-style experiences, and family rides. The reference material identifies Tornado, Double Loop, and the Screw among the roller-coaster attractions, while the children’s and family range includes a carousel, flying swings, and a miniature wheel. The Top Spin attraction, known as Apocalipsis, represents the park’s more intense ride category. The park also developed the Castillo del Terror, a horror-themed attraction that became one of its recognizable features. The broader CIE entertainment presence in the area also included Cici Aquapark, a nearby sister park offering water-based entertainment such as a wave simulator and slides. Together, the venues provided a combination of mechanical rides, aquatic activities, shows, and seasonal family entertainment. Salitre Mágico’s role within Bogotá’s leisure landscape has therefore been based not only on individual rides but also on its location in a larger cluster of urban recreational facilities. Reference material describes the park as currently featuring 39 mechanical attractions, although attraction counts and operating lineups may vary over time. Publicly supplied sources do not provide a complete chronology of later ownership changes, management appointments, capital expenditure, visitor numbers, or financial performance. The available record nonetheless establishes Salitre Mágico as the successor brand to Parque El Salitre and as a long-running Bogotá amusement park operating under the CIE entertainment umbrella.

• 2000

  Reopening as Salitre Mágico

  [1]Salitre Mágicoen.wikipedia.org

  The renovated venue reopens in December under the Salitre Mágico name with 29 rides.

• 1999

  Park closes for redevelopment

  [1]Salitre Mágicoen.wikipedia.org

  After acquisition by Corporación Interamericana de Entretenimiento, the park closes to the public for remodeling.

• 1973

  Parque El Salitre opens

  [1]Salitre Mágicoen.wikipedia.org

  The amusement venue opens in Bogotá under the name Parque El Salitre in the Parque El Salitre recreational area.

A broad-format urban amusement park focused on family recreation, children’s entertainment, and thrill rides in Bogotá.

• Amusement rides · 1973

  Mechanical rides

  The park’s core offering is a collection of mechanical attractions spanning family rides, children’s rides, spinning equipment, bumper cars, observation rides, and high-intensity attractions. Supplied reference material describes the current park as having 39 mechanical attractions, while noting examples such as the carousel, flying swings, Top Spin, mini-wheel, and bumper cars.

• Thrill rides · 2000

  Roller coasters

  Salitre Mágico has featured three roller coasters identified in the reference material as Tornado, Double Loop, and the Screw. The Screw is distinguished by its helicoidal design, imported from the United States and reassembled in Bogotá during the park’s redevelopment for its 2000 reopening.

• Horror attraction

  Castillo del Terror

  Castillo del Terror, or Castle of Horror, is a horror-themed attraction and one of the park’s distinctive entertainment features. It complements the mechanical-ride portfolio with theatrical, fear-based programming intended primarily for older children, teenagers, and adults, subject to operating and admission conditions.

• Observation wheel · 2000

  Rueda Millenium

  The Rueda Millenium is a large Chicago Wheel-style observation attraction introduced during the redevelopment preceding the park’s December 2000 reopening. Its approximately 40-metre height provides elevated panoramic views over Bogotá and offers a slower-paced alternative to the park’s thrill rides.

• Live entertainment

  Family shows and entertainment

  In addition to rides, Salitre Mágico offers entertainment programming and shows for children and families. The supplied material does not identify a fixed show lineup, production titles, or a complete schedule, so this category refers to the park’s general live and family-oriented entertainment offer.

• Alleged discrimination complaint

  A Colombian media report referenced a complaint alleging discrimination associated with Salitre Mágico. The available material does not establish the incident’s exact date, the parties involved, any judicial or regulatory finding, or a definitive outcome.

  Source

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• 2000

  Rebranding and relaunch as Salitre MágicoStrategy

  Background

  The redevelopment was intended to transform the former Parque El Salitre into a modern, branded amusement park with a wider mix of family and thrill attractions.

  Action taken

  The park reopened under the Salitre Mágico brand with 29 rides, including imported and reconstructed attractions and the Rueda Millenium observation wheel.

  Aftermath

  Salitre Mágico became the continuing identity of the Bogotá amusement park and developed a portfolio combining roller coasters, family rides, horror entertainment, and shows.

  Source

• 1999

  Closure for comprehensive remodelingStrategy

  Background

  CIE acquired the former Parque El Salitre venue and sought to reposition and modernize it as a renewed commercial amusement park.

  Action taken

  The park was closed to the public for remodeling and attraction redevelopment.

  Aftermath

  The venue reopened in December 2000 under the Salitre Mágico name with a redesigned attraction portfolio.

  Source

1. 1Salitre Mágicoen.wikipedia.org
2. 2La FM report concerning an alleged discrimination complaintlafm.com.co
3. 3Salitre Mágico official websitesalitremagico.com.co