After the death of the founder

Bankruptcy imminent: No future for Dinopark

In 2020, dinosaur figures also moved into the Agrarium as an attraction. They are now being removed.(Bild: Horst Einöder/Flashpictures)

The fate of the Agrarium Dinopark in Steinerkirchen/Traun appears to be finally sealed: Following the death of the operator at the end of 2022, there was a temporary solution last year. But now the theme park is facing insolvency. Everyone involved hoped for a solution until the very end.

Until the very end, everyone involved hoped that the Dinopark Agrarium in Steinerkirchen an der Traun would reopen soon - or still does. But now the final end of the theme park on the site of the historic Almegg Castle seems to be sealed. Since the death of Agrarium founder Erich Preymann in December 2022, the future of the 30-year-old, ten-hectare leisure park has been uncertain. 

Company will soon file for insolvency
However, lawyer and trustee of the estate Stefan Kowacsevich has now let the cat out of the bag to the "OÖ-Krone" newspaper: "Unfortunately, it is not possible to reopen the Agrarium. There is a lack of financial resources and there is also no funding from the state. I am personally very sorry for the Agrarium, but we will have to file for insolvency of the operating company in the next 14 days."

After the interim solution in 2023, the Agrarium is now apparently coming to an end.(Bild: Horst Einöder)

Legacy not accepted prevents continuation
The background to this is that the heirs appointed by "Agrarium dad" Preymann do not wish to accept their inheritance. The estate will therefore probably fall to the Republic of Austria. "The dinosaur figures will go back to the manufacturing company, which will finance part of the remaining debt," says Kowacsevich. What will happen with the rest remains to be seen.

As a community, we would be very happy if the Agrarium continued to exist. But as far as I know, the future has not yet been clarified.

Thomas Steinerberger, Bürgermeister Steinerkirchen

Bild: Markus Wenzel

Those involved hope for a solution until the end
Christian Öttl, who temporarily took over the Agrarium as managing director last year together with Preymann's partner Herta Schreiber, is still hoping for a small miracle. "Maybe we won't be able to open this year, but possibly next year. There will be a few more talks in the next few days," he tells the Krone. Steinerkirchen's mayor Thomas Steinerberger has not yet buried all hopes either.