Efteling's FIRST Haunted Attraction - Spookslot - CLOSED Attraction 👻🏰🕸

The Haunted Castle or known as Spookslot was a haunted attraction in the amusement park Efteling in the Netherlands. It was designed by Ton van de Ven and was the first attraction built outside the Fairy Tale Forest.

On July 24, 1976, an announcement on the making of the world's biggest haunted castle appeared in Brabant's daily newspaper: Het Brabants Dagblad. The article mentioned that the castle would be built between the Fairy Tale Forest and the rowing and canoeing pond. This was a strategic choice because the location of the attraction would attract visitors to the normally ‘forgotten’ southern part of the park.

The main reason for this mega-attraction was the declining numbers of visitors at Efteling. Aiming to increase attendance with an indoor attraction that did not depend on weather conditions, Efteling authorized its young designer Van de Ven to start designing the ride.

Van de Ven designed the castle as a walk-through attraction. Following the style of Anton Pieck, Van de Ven designed the castle to appear old and decayed, yet somewhat romantic and haunting. Efteling chose Danse macabre by Camille Saint-Seans as the soundtrack and unifying theme for the ride.

Construction took about 18 months and the castle was officially opened May 10, 1978. On May 12, 1978, a television special was broadcast with Kate Bush singing in and around the castle.

On January 24, 2022, Efteling announced the attraction would permanently close on September 4 of that year. It was replaced by a new ride in the same theme, inspired by the same music of the Danse macabre. The ride, named Danse Macabre, opened on October 31, 2024. Elements of the original attraction were repurposed in its successor and the new surrounding Huyverwoud area.

THIS VIDEO IS NOT MONETIZED

#efteling #spookslot #dansemacabre #closed #themepark #attraction #Haunted #hauntedcastle #spooky #details