Europa-Park has recently introduced a unique attraction: the historic fairground organ “52er Ruth,” which originates from Waldkirch and was handed over to the park by the Club Deutscher Drehorgelfreunde e.V. The organ now finds its new home in the Europa-Park Arena.
Handover and Presentation of the “52er Ruth”
The Club Deutscher Drehorgelfreunde e.V. recently presented its association organ, the “52er Ruth,” to Europa-Park. This cultural highlight is now displayed in the Europa-Park Arena, directly opposite the historic carousel “Eden Palladium.” The organ, built in 1931 by the firm Ruth und Sohn in Waldkirch, carries a rich history and has undergone extensive restoration work, making it a significant cultural artifact.
History of the Fairground Organ
The organ was originally delivered in January 1931 to showman Hans Gührer from Schrotzberg. Later, in 1956 and 1972, it was rebuilt by Carl Frey into the “52er Ruth” and enhanced with a glockenspiel. The Club Deutscher Drehorgelfreunde purchased the organ in 2014 and had it restored at a specialized facility for historical musical instruments, bringing it back to its former glory.
Previous Locations of the Organ
After its restoration, the organ was first placed in the Technik Museum Speyer in 2015 before being housed in Freiburg starting in 2023. With its current handover to Europa-Park, the “52er Ruth” has now found a permanent home where it can be admired by the park’s many visitors.
Significance for Europa-Park
Roland Mack, owner of Europa-Park, expressed his deep gratitude for the organ’s handover and thanked Wilhelm Reimann, the chairman of the association, for this exceptional contribution to the park. The presentation of the organ at Europa-Park is a great honor and highlights the strong historical connection between the park and the town of Waldkirch, renowned for its craftsmanship for centuries.
Historical Connection Between Europa-Park and Waldkirch
Both Europa-Park and the “52er Ruth” have their roots in Waldkirch, a place that has been renowned for its expertise in wagon construction since the 18th century. In 1870, the Mack Rides company, also based in Waldkirch, began building carousels and showmen's vehicles, maintaining a close connection to the showman industry to this day.
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