The name Magic Park was the result of a family's dream. Some fairgoers who, tired of traveling from fair to fair throughout Catalonia, settled in the 70s in Platja d'Aro and Lloret de Mar. Magic Park was the first amusement park on the Costa Brava.
En Mario Xufré i Fabregat va néixer en una família firaire de Barcelona. Ens explicava que la Guerra Civil i el fet que la seva mare morís quan ell era només un nen, van fer que abandonés els estudis i s’impliqués en el negoci familiar que en aquell moment portava el seu germà gran i al qual va acompanyar per tot Catalunya amb una parada de fira que es deia “la Selva». Quan en Mario es va casar amb la Maria Teresa Bertran Carol – la iaia – (Igualada 1950), van decidir instal·lar-se pel seu compte i van comprar una petita pista d’autos de xoc itinerant.
In a short space of time, they achieved 5 shock-track tracks that worked simultaneously in various locations. His desire to innovate made them travel to France where the concept of fair was much more advanced. From there, they imported the purses so that the shock cars would work automatically and not with waltzes, as it had been done until then. He also designed clues to be able to connect with each other and got to work with 60 cars at the same time, something unthinkable at that time.
Després de molts d’anys d’anar de fira en fira, la parella va decidir establir-se i comprar uns terrenys, primer a Lloret de Mar i més tard a Platja d’Aro, on van construir dos Magic Park – ja que tenien dos fills, em Màrius i en Francesc, – i on hi van instal·lar les pistes d’autos de xoc i, més tard, altres atraccions infantils, videojocs, futbolins, i les màquines d’atzar amb premi. Als anys 80, es van consolidar com a espai recreatiu, d’oci i lleure familiar i la seva publicitat era “el primer parc d’atraccions de la Costa Brava».
The Màgic Park de Platja d’Aro, which was always directed by the eldest son, Màrius Xufré i Bertran, was for more than 40 years, a meeting point for families, children, youth and adults in the municipality and neighborhoods that met in various Spaces such as: the skating rink, the bowling alley, the Màrius disco, the football or pinball area, or the games room. The “Noria” was for many years an icon of the amusement park and the village since its bright star was seen from several points in the municipality.
With the advent of new technologies, portable consoles and internet, gaming machines were becoming obsolete. Likewise, the increase in the leisure offer in the municipality and the establishment of a children’s playground a few meters outdoors, were presented as a strong competition for the family amusement park.
In March 2017, the son Marius transferred and his daughters, Teia and Jenny set themselves up as the family business. Finally, on September 11, 2017, the Magic Park of Platja d’Aro closed the doors of the area dedicated to children’s and family entertainment. He wanted to take a farewell farewell to the place he was closing and had so much represented for so many generations.
Per aquest comiat, es va fer una jornada de portes obertes i es van repartir tiquets gratuïtament. Se’n van arribar a repartir més de 15.000 i el Magic Park va està absolutament ple de nens i nenes i els seus pares, tiets, avis i amics que es volien acomiadar. Així mateix, es va preparar una exposició titulada «Magic Park. Un petit viatge en el temps» amb la qual es van recuperar fotografies, plànols, dibuixos i objectes del parc així com exemples de màquines com una que «preveia el futur» i que funcionava amb 25 pessetes; una altra que incloïa un sac de boxa i mesurava la força del participant en colpejar-la; un dels primers autos de xoc; billars; un cabasset de la sínia ja desmuntada, un cartell on es llegeix Autochoques Xufré… i també de la discoteca Màrius, que s’allotjava en el mateix edifici. El comiat i l’exposició va ser un homenatge que les netes dels creadors van voler fer al seus avis.
However, the gaming section for those over 18 continued in the same building. On January 8, 2018, the park was permanently closed and the Games Room was moved 50 meters away to the Millennium Building, where the Xufré family has definitively opened the new slot machines and sports betting space.
The new Gaming Hall consists of 200 m2 divided into two areas: A ground floor with a roulette for 10 players and 23 prize machines; and a first floor, where sports lovers have their space with the leading online sports betting house in Spain: Sportium.
Here you will find personalized attention, 3 large screens to follow the main matches live and 12 self-service terminals to make betting faster and safer and automated prize collection machines. You can enjoy all international sports: football, tennis, basketball, horse racing, Formula 1, cycling, golf and a long list of others.
The new Magic Park, for adults, has a capacity for 139 people and is open from 11 am to 2 am Monday to Thursday and 11 am to 3 am on weekends and holidays 365 days a year. The staff that will serve you are 6 people who have remained from the old amusement park staff.
