The iconic theme park Tivoli World in Benalmádena, Spain, has been abandoned for the last five years after its closure in 2020. The beloved Costa del Sol amusement park is currently undergoing an incredible transformation and is expected to reopen in 2028.

The park shut down in 2020 due to financial difficulties and the COVID-19 pandemic, but is finally set to reopen after a €100million (£86million) redevelopment plan. Benalmádena’s local government and the park’s owner, Grupo Tremón, reached an agreement last year to transform Tivoli World into a top tourist and commercial destination.

The new park will feature a huge wheel and a free-fall tower, as well as a new commercial area with restaurants, shops and hotels.

The reopening of Tivoli Park is expected to give a major boost to the local economy, creating around 1,000 jobs.

The mayor of Benalmádena, Juan Antonio Lara, said that this was a historic step, and that there’s “no time to waste”. He added: “We’re pulling out all the stops to fast-track the process.”

Tivoli World, originally founded in 1972 by Danish entrepreneur Bernt Olsen, quickly became a major entertainment hub in the south of Spain.

People took to Tripadvisor to comment on the news, with one saying: “Tivoli World to reopen, sadly not until 2028!” Another one commented: “Went twice in my younger days. The kids loved it.”