Flight to Rookburgh

From where we were staying in Germany (Düsseldorf), getting to our next hotel was just an hour away by train. But it was all a complete surprise to me. Bjorn only referred to this portion of our trip as the "Super Secret" place. He had planned this for almost a year. And I was finally going to find out.

And then I hear it... even before I see it. A rollercoaster zooms by. The blur was just feet from the windows! I look up through the sunroom skylights and see it whiz by again. After Bjorn checks in, I come to realize we are in our own fantasy land. The Charles Lindbergh hotel is actually located inside an amuzement park! It's the PhantasiaLand Theme Park to be precise. We just became part of a magical, fully-immersive other-worldly guest experience.

Once in Brühl, the only hint I get is Bjorn's directions to the Uber driver: "Charles Lindbergh Hotel". Sounds like some tiny old hotel with a pilot theme, how quaint. As we pull up, my curiousity peaks. I see what looks like a rust-colored art-deco style industrial factory. Like a speakeasy, you can't even enter the building without proving you have a "ticket". We press a button then a large steele door opens. A porter appears. He's wearing a striped shirt, suspenders and a newsie-style hat. He lets us in. The man helps us with our bags, then quickly closes the door behind us.

We are instantly transported to the 1920s. The main hallway is actually one long tube-like corridor with a roller rack carrying vintage luggage - an early-period baggage claim of sorts.

Our steampunk aeronautic surroundings are part of the newest land of "Rookburgh" - complete with its own private park entrance for hotel guests.

Our guest portfolio is an actual folder that includes several items critical for us "aeronaut explorers" landing at Rookburgh would need to know. We get the local newspaper, a couple note pads/journals, our special park tickets to enter Rookburgh, and keys to our room... (ahem) I mean airship. I wonder if this is how Charlie Bucket felt when he found the Golden Ticket and entered Wonka's chocolate factory.

Turning the corner, Ragtime piano jazz is playing in the lobby. Antique furniture with Twenty's décor set the scene. But I notice it all seems a bit odd. Seems only somewhat historically accurate to the period. It has a Jules Verne-esque industrial vibe mixed with an infusion of creative imagination. To add to the mystique, it's raining outside. It all begins to feel like I just stepped into an Agatha Christie mystery novel.

We have three full days to explore. In addition to a full breakfast and dinner every day at "UhrWERK", our stay includes four passes (each) to Rookburgh's flagship ride "F.L.Y.". We finally get to experience this "blast from the past" for ourselves.

Another rollercoaster flies by as we approach our airship pod: B-22. At this point, I'm still in a bit of shock. It's hard to even grasp that something like this exists - to be this immersed in a theme hotel. Turn after turn we continue experiencing our own adventure unfolding.

F.L.Y. debuted in the roaring twenties (2020 that is), but is still PhantasiaLand's most popular attraction. It is considered the most authentic flying experience of any amusement park ride in the world.

We can't get over the level of detail. There's a silk scarf tied around a pipe along with a pair of WWI goggles, subtle art-deco designs on doors and walls, and an analog clock above the bed that looks like an old steam gauge. Absolutely amazing. One wall even has old-time framed family photos. All we can do is marvel at all the exposed pipes, tubing, and rivets everywhere. Just brilliantly done. This is something truly special and unique indeed.

As aeronaut pilots, we have exclusive gate access to the skip the main queue and go to the front of the line. Inside we get special wrist bands for lockers where passengers must stowe all their belongings - even glasses and phones.

On the last night, with our senses saturated but more than satisfied, we return to our cozy little pod. Goodnight Rookburgh. Long after we leave, we'll be thinking of you, listening to the playlist, and flying there every night in our dreams.

Passengers step into each 2-seat grouping by clamping your legs into "cuffs", while an overhead harness comes down. The cars start out aligned sideways. As the coaster slowly advances, you see projection images of workers in a tall open-air factory getting ready for launch. The seats now slowly rotate you forward into a prone position - facing the ground. In two speed-staged launches, we are suddenly propelled out into the open air like a flying bullet. We navigate over, through, and even under this steampunk new world.

Over the next few days, we had much more to discover in other parts of the park. So we only managed to ride F.L.Y. five times. But PhantasiaLand's other lands are also so well-themed, and just as impressive. Definitely gives Disney a run for its money.

Another "pilot perk" that comes with our guest package is exclusive after-hours access to the park (in Rookburgh).

Every hotel guest must enter through the bar to get to the UhrWERK restaurant (accessible from inside the hotel for guests only). One night we made the mistake of ordering a "drink for two". Didn't know drinks could be served in a fish bowl with candy!

At the end of the day, we head to the bar to relax. Adding to the Speakeasy vibe, we have a few drinks before dinner at "1919". The secret entrance to Bar 1919 is only for hotel guests. It's a neat little lowly-lit secret hangout spot with candles all around.

And then, there we are - hurling narrowly by those same set of lobby windows I walked up to the day before. I barely catch the blur of our own B-22 pod as we're twisting around and through the steel structure at 78 mph. I was screaming and yelling with excitement the whole way. Surprisingly (and thankfully), the ride was smooth, and we landed unscathed. It did feel a lot like flying - very different than anything either of us had ridden before.

P.S. It's always hard framing an experience like this into something relatable. But our stay at the Charles Lindbergh hotel is a bucket-list worthy adventure - one we recommend to anyone seeking something different. The fact that Bjorn kept this a secret was an even better way to experience this. It was the gift of discovery. (Of course he researched the heck out of it for months!) But I got the benefit of the full story unfolding before me in real time. It was the trip, within a trip, of a lifetime! Now I can say I've been there, done that (and yes, I even bought the t-shirt flight jacket!).

Being able to explore the land in depth - see at night what no one else can during the day - makes the whole experience that much more immersive. Not only exclusive, but impressive.

Looking around, the lighting, the theming, and even interactive sounds (steam billowing, steel creaking, the faint hum of a factory engines running) are all set to an erie audio backdrop of the Rookburgh soundtrack. (You can find the "Rookburgh Soundtrack" playlist on Spotify.)

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