Everland Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary with New Attractions
Rose Festival in Full Bloom Until June 15
From Student Groups to Visitors in Their 50s and 60s
"Everland is not just a place for rides."
On the afternoon of the 28th, Everland was bustling with visitors, even though it was a weekday. Most of the guests were students, groups of foreign tourists, and people aged 50 and above enjoying a day out. Visitors who came in small groups were experiencing the Rose Garden, which was covered with roses in full bloom.
Rose Garden during the ongoing Rose Festival at Everland on the afternoon of the 28th. Photo by Park Juni.
As soon as you enter the Rose Garden, you are greeted by a strong rose fragrance and countless varieties of roses in full bloom. The Rose Garden, composed of four themes?Victoria, Venus, Cupid, and Maze?features three million roses that visitors can see up close. Since 2013, Everland has been developing new domestic garden rose varieties, and this year’s festival showcases a wide range of rose breeds.
In particular, at the 'Venus One' section of the Rose Garden, visitors could see world-renowned roses, including six award-winning varieties from the World Rose Convention, Everland’s own 'Everose,' and 'Perfume Everscape,' which won the top prize at the International Rose Contest. Everland explained that it has expanded hands-on experiences by setting up a 'fragrance zone' and introducing 'gardening' activities that families can enjoy together.
On the afternoon of the 28th, Everland showcased its newly developed garden rose variety, 'Perfume Everscape,' in bloom. Photo by Park Juni.
Everland has recently been working to make the Rose Garden a core attraction. As demographic changes such as the decline in the school-age population among the 10s and 20s?Everland’s previous target audience?continue, the company’s strategy is to transform into a complex cultural space that older generations can also enjoy. Bae Taekyoung, head of the resort division, said, "Population decline and aging are trends we cannot avoid," and added, "Customers in their mid-50s to early 60s used to feel awkward about coming to Everland, but now they come and enjoy their leisure time."
Kim Okhee (55, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan), who visited Everland that day, said, "When I came here with my children in the past, I thought it was a great place for kids to play, but now I see it's also a place where adults can feel really good," adding, "I like that there are more diverse concepts now compared to when there was only a field of roses."
Afternoon tea set sold at Cucina Mario restaurant located inside Everland on the afternoon of the 28th. Photo by Jun Park.
From May 16 to June 15, Everland is holding the Rose Festival under a new concept called 'Rose Garden Royal High Tea (ROROTI).' The event features a month-long 'tea party' in the Rose Garden with a fennec fox character as the main mascot. Everland collaborated with renowned artists such as Daria Song, Gappao, and Buwon to decorate the Rose Garden with elegant illustrations and sculptures.
In fact, throughout the Rose Garden, sculptures of the fennec fox character named 'Donna D. Rozi' add a cute touch. Inside the Rose Castle showroom in the garden, there is also a ROROTI concept store. For adult visitors who come to Everland for the Rose Festival, this is expected to be a new attraction to enjoy together.
On the afternoon of the 28th, Luibao (left) and Huibao (right) at 'Panda World' in Everland Zoo. Photo by Park Juni.
On the same day, the Everland Zoo was also crowded with visitors eager to experience 'Panda World,' which has become one of the park’s signature attractions. Currently, Everland’s Panda World is home to pandas Ai Bao and Le Bao, as well as their cubs, Luibao and Huibao. Due to the popularity of the pandas, Everland has extended the viewing time from the previous 5 minutes to 10 minutes. Head zookeeper Kang Chulwon explained, "As Fubao became popular, Luibao and Huibao have taken up the baton, and Panda World has become one of the most visited spots. The waiting time is now 30 to 40 minutes on weekdays and 60 to 70 minutes on weekends."
Luibao and Huibao are preparing for independence, leaving the enclosure they share with their parents. Kang added, "Luibao and Huibao have grown rapidly, and since pandas are usually separated from their parents at around one and a half to two years old, I expect they will move to a second house and become independent sometime between June and August."
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