Tropical Islands

The following was sent to me by Byter Sue P.  Thanks Sue.

Although sent as an uncredited email, it is actually a reprint from an article in the Daily Mail at:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2281349/Incredible-pictures-luxury-Tropical-Islands-resort-inside-enormous-German-hangar-surrounded-SNOW.html#ixzz3uyxTd9NY

The article appeared in February 2013.

An amazing development, one that I had not heard of previously.

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With sandy beaches, clear blue water and palm trees, this looks like a spectacular and luxurious sun-kissed resort.

Holidaymakers can be seen relaxing in swimming shorts and bikinis. Even the occasional flamingo can be spotted.

But not everything is as it seems at Tropical Islands.

Luxury: With sandy beaches, clear blue water and palm trees, this looks like a spectacular sun-kissed resort

Fun: Despite appearances, not everything is as it seems at Tropical Islands

Odd: The 'resort' is actually located on the site of a former Soviet military air base in Krausnick, Germany

The 'resort' is actually located on the site of a former Soviet military air base in Krausnick, Germany.

Tropical Islands is inside a hangar built originally to house airships designed to haul long-distance cargo. And despite it looking like temperatures are through the roof - outside the giant hangar it is actually snowing.

As these incredible pictures show, the resort contains a beach, a lagoon , water slide and adventure park.

Guests can enjoy numerous restaurants, evening shows and can also relax in a sauna.

Indoor: Tropical Islands is located inside this giant hangar - with the actual weather a far cry from the conditions inside

Cold: Snow surrounds the giant hangar which houses Tropical Islands

Relaxing: Tropical Islands is inside a hangar built originally to house airships designed to haul long-distance cargo. Visitors can be seen swimming in the lagoon at the resort

Holiday: The resort contains a beach, lagoon, water slide and adventure park. Guests can also enjoy numerous restaurants, evening shows and saunas

A range of options are available for stays, from the basic to luxury. Accommodation includes quaint looking cottages and even beach tents.

As well as flamingos, free-flying canaries also fly around the site.

It is believed that the hall which Tropical Islands is located in is the biggest free-standing hall in the world. 

Popular: Tropical Islands attracts up to 6,000 visitors a day and in its first year attracted 975,000 visitors

Accommodation: A range of options are available for stays, from the basic to luxury. Accommodation includes cottages, pictured, and even beach tents

Simple: Guests can also stay in one of the beach tents

It has a maximum capacity of 6,000 visitors a day and in its first year attracted 975,000 visitors.

As well as the thousands of visitors each day, approximately 500 people work at the site. Tropical Islands opened to members of the public in 2004.

Incredibly, the hangar, which is 360 metres long, 210 metres wide and 107 metres high, is tall enough to enclose the Statue of Liberty.

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Some more facts and information about Tropical Islands:

• It is housed in the former CargoLifter airship hangar (known as the Aerium), the biggest free-standing hall in the world. The hall belonged to the company CargoLifter until its insolvency in 2002.

• it Is one of the largest buildings on Earth by volume, and is the world's largest single hall without supporting pillars inside.

• Tropical Islands has a maximum capacity of 6,000 visitors a day. In its first year of operation it attracted 975,000 visitors, according to the operators. The Tanjong company reported 155,000 visitors in the business year February 2004 to February 2005. Approximately 500 people work at Tropical Islands.

• Tropical Islands has a number of different themed areas:

The Tropical Village, featuring copies of traditional buildings from Thailand, Borneo, Samoa and Bali.

The Rainforest, with around 50,000 plants and 600 different species, including some rare plants.

The Tropical Sea, a 140 metres (460 ft) pool with an area of 4,400 square metres (47,000 sq ft) and a depth of 1.35 metres (4 ft 5 in) designed to look like the waters of a coral island and a 200 metres (660 ft) sandy beach.

The Bali Lagoon, with an area of 1,200 square metres (13,000 sq ft) and a depth of less than 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) in places, fountains, a current canal, whirlpools and two water slides.

• On entering the hall, visitors choose between different basic admission options with different prices. Tropical Islands is divided into two main areas, each with its own admission price. Visitors can move from one area to the other by paying an additional daily charge. Additional charges also apply for areas such as the water slide tower, crazy golf course, African Jungle Lift, evening show and internal accommodation area. The entertainment program comprises a gala evening show, smaller shows during the day and various events.

• Development is ongoing with various items having been added: a 4,000 m² children's play area; a sauna and spa facility with six separate areas, the largest tropical sauna complex in Europe; a crazy golf course and a campsite. 

• Visitor numbers remain behind original estimates. For a cost-effective operation, 1.25 million visitors per year are required. In 2005, the resort lost between 10 and 20 million euros. By October 2006 there were about 600,000 visitors. The initial lack of visitors has been attributed to various reasons, including the relatively remote location of Tropical Islands. In addition, in Berlin, South Brandenburg, the direct surrounding area of the resort, the disposable income is below the national average. The target demographic of the resort was extended to attract visitors from further away, including Poland.

• By altering the ticket price structure and adding new overnight accommodation, visitors attendance has been improved. According to the then managing director Ole Bested Hensing, 2008 was the first time Tropical Islands Resort made a profit. It recorded 300,000 overnight stays. 

• At the start there were problems with the plants that were under the light-tight dome. In October 2005, the southern front along the "South Sea" bathing area had a special UV-transparent film made of ETFE installed. This 20,000 square metre "window" allows daylight. The palms, trees and bushes have grown well since.

A comparison to show scale

Under construction

Before and after comparisons