In Talks with Eric Christopher Straube, New Managing Director of Panorama Park Sauerland

(eap) After almost five years as assistant to the management at Karls Erlebnis-Dörfer (specifically at Karls Erlebnis-Dorf in Rövershagen) Eric Christopher Straube is now moving to Pano GmbH in Germany’s Sauerland region to take on the role of Managing Director from Heiko Hamm himself. This puts him at the helm of the Panorama Park in Kirchhundem, established in 1963 and nowadays part of Pano GmbH: A wildlife and amusement park that aims to reinvent itself over the next few years to become a modern leisure destination for families...

We spoke to Eric Christopher Straube about his plans for Panorama Park and the challenges he faces as the park’s new Managing Director.

EAP: Eric, congratulations on your new position as Managing Director of Pano GmbH and the related Panorama Park! What are your primary goals for the coming months?

Eric Christopher Straube (ECS): Thank you very much, I am very happy about this new professional chapter and the tasks I am now able to take on! My primary goals are to further strengthen Panorama Park’s position as a unique family and nature experience in the Sauerland region and to continuously improve the guest experience here. This includes not only expanding our offering, but also optimizing internal processes to ensure that we work more efficiently and can offer our guests a memorable experience.

Sustainability and regionality also play a role, as we want to act in harmony with nature in the long term and set an example. The wildlife park should not just stand on its own, but go hand in hand with the adventure and leisure park area. We also want to communicate the wildlife park topics and information in a contemporary way and create an understanding of the local flora and fauna. We are currently working on improving processes in gastronomy and creating seasonal offers – such measures are rather difficult to implement during the winter closure. We are starting with a truly homemade pumpkin soup from the end of September!

EAP: Sounds good! What lessons can you take from your time at Karls into your new position as Managing Director?

ECS: My time at Karls was incredibly instructive, but every company has its own dynamics and special features. The Karls concept is unique, and while there are certainly overlaps in the aspect of leisure attractions, my aim is not to simply transfer “strawberry recipes for success” to Panorama Park. Rather, it is about adapting and further developing the experiences and approaches to suit the situation, the visitor structure and volume. The Panorama Park concept is completely different and is also positioned differently on the market.

Thanks to Robert Dahl and his team, I was able to learn what it means to be agile and try out new things. For example, I learned that boundaries should not be seen as obstacles, but as challenges. The philosophy of making things possible, even if they seem impossible at first, has definitely shaped me. Robert has an inspiring way of developing visions and encouraging people to break new ground without letting initial doubts stop them. One of Robert’s credos, namely “Everbody said: “This can’t be done! Then someone came along who didn’t know that and just did it” – happened to me just now on the construction site for our 2026 innovation and I had a very inspiring moment with my new colleagues...

EAP: Speaking of innovations and park projects: How do you assess the further development potential of Panorama Park in general, what strategies in particular will you pursue in the future?

ECS: The potential is enormous, but unfortunately, we are currently failing to attract the necessary visitors due to our location. We are one of the largest excursion destinations in Germany with an area of 80 hectares that other parks can only dream of... However, we are currently affected by extensive construction work on the A45 highway near Lüdenscheid. Until construction works on A45 are completed, we will have to deal with rather slow operational performance. Around 50 percent of our potential guests are affected by the current highway closure. I have an appointment with the responsible authorities in a few weeks’ time. We have to align our further developments with their plans so that – in the best-case scenario – we are ready to significantly increase our visitor numbers in four to five years’ time.

The Panorama Park has an eventful history and is currently still a bit asleep, from which I would now like to wake it up... The Hamm family has done a fantastic job in recent years, which will make the next “start” – or let’s say the ignition of the next shoot – much easier! However, until this drive stage can actually be ignited, our focus will now initially be on sustainable and targeted measures. By this I mean, for example, self-service attractions, new fantastic playgrounds and an expansion of the wildlife offer.

EAP: Earlier you mentioned a new attraction for the 2026 season. Are there already new attractions planned for next year as well and if so, which ones?

ECS: Yes, we already have some exciting plans for the 2025 season. The new main attraction in the park will also set a record in Germany and will hopefully not only get attention in the Sauerland region. We are currently negotiating the final details of the contract and making design decisions in order to be able to complete the foundations before the frost sets in. We are investing a seven-figure sum for this. We are also already working on the new attraction for 2026, as this will be installed in an existing building and we will have to make the necessary structural changes and adaptations there this year. Once the plans for this attraction are complete, there will be around 20-30 other small projects on the table, all of which I would like to implement over the next two to three years. These will not always be immediately noticeable as new features, but will improve guest satisfaction and the overall impression of the park in the long term. These measures range from new waste bins and signage to vending machine solutions and new photo points.

EAP: You pointed out the current infrastructural problems due to the long-term closure of the A45 highway. Is the Panorama Park currently facing any other specific challenges? What could solutions to these look like?

ECS: Like many amusement parks and private zoos, we are also facing the challenge of finding staff and being able to offer competitive remuneration. And, of course, meeting the expectations of an increasingly demanding clientele in a timely manner while keeping an eye on costs... The feedback from our visitors ranges from “too expensive” to “very cheap”, which shows how different perceptions are. Finding a balance with a balanced price-performance structure is quite a challenge.

At the same time, I would like to highlight the Panorama Park on the adventure map of Germany every two to three years with special projects and implement one or two lighthouse projects – also for the Sauerland tourism region. Our aim is to create a new network with partners in the region and to establish a common approach for short breaks, which is what the Sauerland has to offer as a summer and winter destination – whereby our focus is of course on the summer months [laughs].

We will never be able to completely avoid our biggest challenge: The weather. Bad weather always means fewer guests for us, and indoor halls can’t help much here, as with 80 hectares of space, there’s quite a bit of walking involved. But maybe we’ll soon offer rain insurance when you buy your ticket, who knows [winks] ...

EAP: Dear Eric Christopher, thank you very much for the interview and the exciting insights into your plans for Panorama Park! ■