Human Power Shows Potential In Giant Theme Park In Italy – All Attractions In Ai Pioppi Require Patrons To Put In The Work [Videos]

In the green community presently, there is much emphasis on utilizing renewable sources of power as a means to keep our ecosystem clean. The search also has a secondary purpose of eliminating our dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear fission, two sources that consistently produce harmful waste. Presently, there are two renewable power sources being pushed, but the one that gets the most attention these days is solar. As a matter of fact, solar energy has grown so much, it is now being implemented into cities so people can be independent from the power grid.

However, there is one form of renewable power that most wouldn’t even think of utilizing, and that is human power. If you think about it, there are ways we can produce our own power through kinetic energy. And if such a prospect seems impossible, simply go to Ai Pioppi, a restaurant and theme park located in Italy. What’s unique about the park is that every attraction works on human power.

Originally, the Osteria ai Pioppi (which is better known simply as Ai Pioppi) was a restaurant that opened in the heart of Montello back in 1969 by its owner simply named Bruno. His restaurant served grilled meat, polenta, sopressa, fungi, and grilled cheeses for their guests. As time went by, they expanded to include a tavern/inn which served bar-style foods and drinks.

Though the food does look amazing, it would be Bruno’s creations that would put Ai Pioppi on the map. According to Atlas Obscura, Bruno paid a visit to a local blacksmith looking for basic hooks and chains. The said blacksmith refused and instead, showed Bruno how to weld. That was the beginning of over 40 years of creations, all welded by Bruno and all running on the kinetic momentum of human power.

And just recently, traveler Tom Scott paid a visit to Ai Pioppi, recording the place in the style of a traveler’s presentation, as reported by Huffington Post. Scott, however, wasn’t expecting to find anything, thinking the human powered theme park was some sort of myth.

“I’ll be honest: I sort of thought it was a myth. The idea of unattended, huge kinetic ride-on sculptures was surely false. There was some evidence: a very artfully-shot documentary, and some shaky tourist footage, but I couldn’t quite believe that something this potentially dangerous could still exist.”

Needless to say, Tom Scott is now a believer as he now knows Ai Pioppi’s theme park is still a popular attraction. As for Scott, he rode one of the rides which took him vertically in a complete circle. It was the focal hook of his presentation as shown below.

To see more attractions located in Ai Pioppi, check out the promotional video in which Bruno himself takes viewers on a guided tour of his park, which includes a behind-the-scenes view of his welding shop. Bruno also shows the daily operations of both his restaurant and tavern.

[Image via Ai Pioppi’s Official Website]