History
How the treetop walk with its many playgrounds came about…
The origin of the Waldwelt? Are little patients! At the beginning of the millennium, the children at the Prinzregent Luitpold clinic wanted a real spectacle to accompany their stay. Mayor Ulrich Pfanner took this wish to heart in 2007 and promised to build the children a “path through the treetops” – with the best views.
Catholic Youth Welfare in Augsburg and the spa town of Scheidegg in the Allgäu region embarked on this unique construction project. The aim: to build a nature adventure park in the high forest as gently as possible without heavy machinery.
Man and nature
The focus is on people and nature. The project should be economically viable and ecologically compatible. A benefit for tourists and people from the region.
It all started with the plans drawn up by Biedenkapp from Wangen and a structural analysis that took a full three weeks. “You would have to print out 100,000 pages of paper to see all the data,” say the project managers. Of course, not that much is printed out – just the most important information. The team submits the building application in 2009.
Construction of the towers begins in March 2010. This is followed by the masts, the pillars and the bracing. Finally, the experts assemble the bridge elements. The trickiest aspects of the construction phase: the soft forest soil and the 13 bridge elements with a span of up to 50 meters. In short: everything wobbled when it was bolted down. The result is a secure but resilient structure.
The cornerstones of the Waldwelt
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| 2010 | On October 30, 2010, the “Skywalk Allgäu” opens its doors – an integration company from the very beginning. |
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| 2011 | … the net tunnel is completed. In the same year, the Biedenkapp company wins the German Steel Construction Prize in the “Steel Structures” category with the treetop walkway. |
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| 2013 | … the first animals move into the newly built petting zoo. |
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| 2017 | … the millionth visitor comes to the park. The restaurant is remodeled and the store opens. The first forest Christmas takes place in winter. |
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| 2018 | … the team opens the Försterhaus, where workshops and readings will take place in the future. In the same year, politician Markus Söder is a guest. |
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| 2019 | … the park sets a record for the number of visitors on a single day – 3518 guests attend the Forest Christmas on this day. Actor Bully Herbig is also on the treetop walk this year. |
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| 2021 | … the nature adventure garden “Bees and blossoms throughout the year” opens. The first Skywalk run takes place in summer and the first elaborately staged scary run in fall. |
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| 2023 | … opens the gliding shoe run in winter. |
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| 2024 | … the Skywalk Allgäu becomes Waldwelt. At the same time, the chips disappear – a woodland culinary experience takes over. |
Highlights – Marriage in the forest
In the course of history, there was a marriage proposal (at a treetop dinner) and one at the corner of Lake Constance (with balloons). One summer, an employee turned the grounds into a wedding location. The park is also very welcoming in other ways: it participates in “Aktion Mensch” and the “Postcode Lottery” and has received awards from “Reisen für Alle” and “Bayern barrierefrei”.
The history of the treetop walk began with people. To this day, the park is committed to connecting them with nature.