LEGO Models of Esbjerg in Miniland at LEGOLAND Billund Resort, Denmark Photo by Willem Nabuurs Wikimedia

Top 10 Facts about LEGOLAND Billund Resort


 

Legoland Billund Resort, the original Legoland park, opened on 7 June 1968 in Billund, Denmark. The park is located next to the original Lego factory and Billund Airport, Denmark’s second-busiest airport. Over 1.9 million guests visited the park in 2011, and since the opening more than 50 million guests have visited the park.

This makes Legoland the largest tourist attraction in Denmark outside Copenhagen. The Legoland parks that have since been built are modelled upon Legoland Billund, most noticeably the Miniland area, which is made up of millions of plastic Lego bricks.Let’s take a look at some of the top facts about it;

1.It was opened in 1960’s to promote his toy business

In the 1960s, GKC decided to open a 14-acre (5.7 ha) Legoland Park adjacent to the Lego factory in Billund to promote his toy business; the factory itself was already drawing approximately 20,000 visitors per year by the mid-1960s, who came to view models produced for trade shows and shops.

GKC hired Arnold Boutrop as the park’s first general director and designer; after visiting Madurodam, the two men began finalizing plans for what would become Miniland, the main attraction of Legoland.It has since become one of the most visited sites. 

2.Dagny Holm is credited with much of the original design

Dagny Holm, a cousin of GKC trained as a sculptor who was hired as a model designer in 1961 is credited with much of the original design and building of Miniland. The park became an instant success, with 625,000 visitors in its first abbreviated season after opening on 7 June 1968.

Over the years, Legoland Billund has added many original models and rides.The park has now been expanded to cover 45 acres (18 ha) and is among the most successful parks in Copenhagen, Denmark and among the most visited sites. 

3.The park is divided into several themed areas

The entrance to the amusement park Legoland Billund Resort in Denmark Photo sourced from Wikimedia

The park, which has now been expanded to cover 45 acres (18 ha), is divided into nine themed areas, including Duplo Land, Imagination Zone, LEGOREDO Town, Adventure Land, Lego City, Knight’s Kingdom, Mini Land, Pirate Land, and Polar Land.

Legoland Billund is the most visited tourist attraction in Jutland and the third-most visited attraction in Denmark, after Tivoli Gardens and Dyrehavsbakken. Several other Legolands have since been built in other parts of the world. 

4.The park also has several attractions

Halloween in the pirate area in the amusement park Legoland Billund Resort in Denmark Photo sourced from Wikimedia

The park also has several attractions including;Roller coasters, Water rides, Kiddie rides and other rides, and building experiences. These attractions and activities all require an extra charge in addition to regular admission fees.

The park also hosts many special events throughout the season, including a Halloween celebration, firework shows, and Star Wars days.The Blackstone Group, an investment firm, bought a 70% controlling stake in Legoland in 2005, with the remaining 30% still owned by Lego. The parks are operated by Merlin Entertainments. 

5.It is the largest tourist attraction in Denmark

Over 1.9 million guests visited the park in 2011 and since the opening more than 50 million guests have visited the park. This makes LEGOLAND the largest tourist attraction in Denmark. The LEGOLAND parks that have since been built are modeled upon LEGOLAND Billund. 

Most noticeably the Miniland area which is made up of millions of LEGO bricks.This is the first park to open in Europe, and the first park in Northern Europe, as well as the first park in Denmark.LEGOLAND Billund is the largest tourist attraction in all of Denmark. 

6.It has won the Traveler’s Choice Award three times

LEGOLAND Billund has won the TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Award three times, in 2014, 2016, and 2017.LEGOLAND Billund has 10 official partners – Shell Oil, Frisko, Carlsberg Beer, Coca-Cola, Nintendo, Libero, SEAT, Orsted, Danske Bank, and REMA 1000.

Today, Legoland Billund is the most visited tourist attraction in Jutland and the third-most visited attraction in Denmark, after Tivoli Gardens and Dyrehavsbakken. Several other Legolands have since been built in other parts of the world. 

7.It has also been faced with controversy

The park has also been faced with controversy;On 29 April 2007, a 21-year-old female employee was killed by a roller coaster. She had apparently jumped over a security fence to pick up a wallet that a passenger had lost near the track when the accident happened.

The 21-year-old park employee was killed by a ride vehicle on The Xtreme Racer. However, the accident did not bring any arm to the fame of the LEGOLAND and has since continued their business as usual. 

8.There are several cityscapes and monuments in the Park

The LEGOLAND park has been going strong for around half a century.It is the place where several cityscapes and monuments from different parts of the world and the country have been built to 1:20 scale.

It also houses the Egyptian and Acropolis Abu Simbel temples, the Statue of Liberty, and Nyhaven, the district in Copenhagen. There are four roller coasters in Legoland, combined with lots of smaller rides for toddlers and kids.

9.There are several hotels and restaurants near it

There are several hotels and restaurants near it including;Hotel Legoland which is 0.13 miles away, Legoland Castle Hotel (0.17 mi), The Lodge Billund (0.31 mi), LEGOLAND Holiday Village (0.44 mi) and Lalandia Billund which is 0.38 miles away. 

The restaurants near it include;Grill House which is 0.04 miles away, Restaurant Panorama (0.12 mi), MINI CHEF (0.60 mi), The Leaf (0.34 mi) and Bellini Café & Ristorante Billund which is 0.68 miles away. 

10.The heart of any Legoland park is Mini Land

The area Miniland seen from the Legotop in the amusement park Legoland Billund Resort in Denmark Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Mini Land is the heart of any Legoland park. The 1:20 scale Lego brick models feature landscapes, sights and buildings from all over Denmark, as well as famous landmarks from other parts of the world. These include, in addition to the models listed below, the Acropolis of Athens and scenes from Star Wars.

The LEGOTop observation tower offers a nice view of the entire park. The models and structures in Mini Land were made using more than 25 million Lego bricks.It is currently one of the most visited sites and among the most sought after attraction. 

Legoland has lots of rides and fun for all ages and has very wide range of rides with different levels of difficulty.The workers and the staff here are all very polite.