An eerie abandoned amusement park in the heart of Berlin is being transformed after decades of decay. Spreepark was once a popular attraction in East Germany but has now stood empty for more than 20 years.
However, a major redevelopment project is currently underway to turn it into a cultural and recreational space. The park is located in Planterwald in the Treptow-Kopenick district, and first opened in 1969 as Kulturpark Planterwald. It was the only permanent amusement park in East Germany, attracting thousands of visitors each year.
After German reunification, it was privatised and rebranded as Spreepark in the 1990s, introducing new attractions and rides.
At its peak, the park welcomed 1.5 million visitors a year, but financial struggles and rising debts led to its closure in 2002.
Since then, Spreepark has been in a state of decay. Its once-thriving rides, including a 45-metre Ferris wheel, roller coasters, and themed villages, were left to rot, creating a surreal and eerie landscape.
Over the years, the site became a hotspot for urban explorers, filmmakers, and music video shoots, with guided tours briefly offered to the public.
In 2014, the city of Berlin purchased the site, with plans to redevelop it into a public park.
The £45 million project, led by Grün Berlin, aims to preserve the park’s history while incorporating new cultural and ecological elements.
Instead of restoring Spreepark as a traditional amusement park, the plan focuses on art, nature, and sustainable design.
Some of the original structures, including the factory hall and Mero Hall, will be repurposed as event spaces.
The Ferris wheel, which was dismantled in 2021, will be rebuilt with modern safety standards, but no new rides will be added.
One of the first completed projects is the Eierhauschen, a historic building that reopened in March 2024 as a cultural venue.
It now features a beer garden, exhibition spaces, and artist residences, while offering regional, sustainable food.
Construction work is progressing across the site, with the central areas expected to be completed by 2026.
The redevelopment has received platinum pre-certification from the German Sustainable Building Council, making it the first public park in Germany to achieve this recognition.
During the transition, Spreepark remains closed to regular visitors, but limited construction site tours have been available since 2024.
Environmental workshops and small-scale events will also take place in certain sections of the park.
