Spreepark scrape

But I had to go back. I had to see for myself. I thought Spreepark might be unguarded because of the legal limbo it finds itself in as it awaits sale. It’s not. As I’d find out.

That in turn hardened my resolve to get in again. I hopped the fence, made my way through the foliage as I’d done before. This time however, I avoided the main paths, stayed among the trees.

I heard weird sounds, weird sounds inside the goldmine. A grating, screeching noise, a siren, possibly an alarm. Had I triggered something by hopping the fence? I had to go on.
I made my way to the rollercoaster, greeted the colorful giant cat.
“Howya cat! Long time no see! I trust you’re not as lonely as you were before?”
He said business was brisk, no end to the visitors.

I wandered on, up toward the giant Ferris wheel. The screeching grew louder as I drew near and it was then I realized – it was rusty, and turning in the wind! I gazed on in humble awe. Despite everything, the wheel was still turning. No matter what, the world keeps turning. It might screech, but it turns all the same.

Sure enough, a man’s voice called out. “HALT!”
I looked back, saw he was on bike. No dog. I can’t outrun a bike. I went over.
I refused to delete my photos as he demanded, despite the implicit threat of violence in his stance, despite his threat of ringing the police, a criminal record and €150 fine.
He rang someone, said something about five minutes, told me they were on their way, and I’d have to delete the photos anyway.

As I was leaving he called me back, asked if I’d pay €25 for photo rights. I’d already tried bribing the fucker, so said yeah, as long as it cancelled the €150 fine and criminal record. He said it would. I suppose I’ll find out.

“Nein,” he replied.
Another guard came along during the ubiquitous form-filling, clearly in a better mood. I think he was drunk, probably from hanging out too long with the dinosaurs. He was very friendly.
I asked the original guard if they got many people hopping the fence.

“Eine Menge,” said the other. (Loads.)
I took a few more snaps of relocated dinosaurs on the way out. Their days are numbered it seems, and pending its sale to the city’s preferred bidder, Spreepark’s days are too.
I recommend a visit soon, either of the more exciting do-it-yourself variety (the worst that will happen is you get caught) or by doing a tour as others have suggested. Tours might be better for those of a nervous disposition.
I won’t be doing a tour but I will go back. I have to go back.
This post originally appeared on the Abandoned Berlin site, where it can be viewed again if you want to click on the images to see them in a fancy photo-viewer thing.
cars with a huge nose and a mustache! ha! cool photos. so is this where you were, before meeting us at the cafe?
ReplyDeleteYep!
Deletelook what i literally just came across: http://www.cracked.com/article_20704_the-6-creepiest-places-earth-part-5_p2.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fanpage&utm_campaign=new+article&wa_ibsrc=fanpage
ReplyDelete(number 2)
Only the second creepiest place on Earth?! Looks like I'll have to get me to the first!
DeleteReading your story encourages me to visit that place some time soon, if only to annoy the hell out of the bloomin' bloke.
ReplyDeleteGo! Give him something to do!
DeleteWeird to read about this place as abandoned. I remember various (class-)trips there when the place was alive and buzzing,
ReplyDeleteWhat?! You got pictures? Anecdotes?
DeleteCan't help with pictures. And anecdotes are rare as well. At the time it simply was an amusement park. Not a really fancy one, but you could spent a day there for cheap money. I did kiss a girl there though. ;)
DeleteI just have to check when the place was closed. According to my mind it isn't that long ago, but maybe that's because I refuse to accept that I am getting old.
Dan