European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 26, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Joseph Owen staff writer found at last a place where a Case of the blues is Good news. Blue bodies abound just North of Metz in northeastern France but not because their owners suffer from some strange skin ailment. They re the smurfs Europe s Home grown cartoon characters and their Home is big bang smurf one of Europe s newest amusement Parks. It s Worth noting right away that this is not one of those Central Florida style Galaxy sized dream worlds like the Disney Complex now under construction in the suburbs of Paris. Don t fret if you accidentally leave your camera in the trunk of your car you re never far from the exit. Nonetheless it is Large enough to Swallow up to 35,000 visitors a Day and has plenty to offer each of them. Americans visiting the Park last fall had nothing but Praise for it. Spec. Gerald p. Loy of Baum older enjoyed big bang smurf s Lack of Long lines. Another american said she liked the Park s tidy appearance. Small children Giggle and stare at the walking but not talking smurf characters who perform dance routines at regular intervals. Older visitors who could not care less about smurfs but like wild rides electronic  stage shows studded with special effects will be pleased to know that escaping from the bloated Blue midgets is not difficult. The Park has a second theme that is fortunately More pervasive. That theme is the european economic Community which provided financial support for construction according to operations director Charles pallard. The practical Benefit for americans is that maps signs and brochures All appear in English As Well As in French and German. Quot smurf Quot is Quot sch Roumpf Quot in French and Quot Schlumpf Quot in German big bang smurf is comprised of five main sections the wild continent the City of Waters the Metal 8 stripes Magazine july 26, 1990 High flying fun Waits a youngsters at big bang smurf near Metz France. Planet the european forum and the smurf Village. Its unusual features include seismic panic which simulates an earthquake in a setting that looks like ancient Rome the reactor a simulated ride into space and the Xanadu a 70-millimeter film theater. The Anaconda roller coaster proves quickly that it deserves its name dragging riders up 100 feet before plunging them into a Long series of loops at speeds up to 62 Miles per hour. Aspiring Rock singers can record their own voices Over tracks of famous pop songs and take Home a cassette recording of their efforts a for a fee of course. And those who visit on hot Days w ill enjoy the 100,000-gallon-per-minute wild water Odissea ride although it generates the longest line in the Park. Now in its second the Park already has added new attractions including drivable robots safari cars Remote control boats and More activities for Small children in the smurf Village Park spokeswoman Veronique Skrotzky said. The emphasis on the bizarre and futuristic sometimes occurs at the expense of practical details maps of the Park Are posted everywhere but their Picasso like look makes them difficult to read. And visitors will tire quickly of the Park s theme song which blares continuously from television monitors placed near the Entrance and at other strategic locations. Park guide Daniel Limoge expressed particular Pride in Cali from space a Short but Bone rattling 70-millimeter film starring James Coburn and made especially for the Xanadu theater. The plot is thin hut the effect is Pov Weful. Quot there s Only one place you can see it and that s Here Quot Limoge said