Särkänniemi amusement park revitalizes beloved character Pena Puu after preservation efforts

Tuula Salminen, the IT manager of Särkänniemi amusement park, could not bear to see Pena Puuta sent to the landfill. She was the one who originally suggested the park acquire the character. Pena Puu is a singing, animated figure that features various animals and has been both beloved and disliked by visitors, especially younger ones.

The voice of Pena Puu comes from the late actor Asko Sahlman, alongside well-known Tampere performers like Sami Hintsanen and Lari Halme. Salminen first encountered a similar animated character, known as Animatronics, at a fair around twenty years ago, created by Heimo GmbH, a company that no longer exists.

Pena Puu entertained guests at Särkänniemi for nearly two decades before falling into disrepair. Last year, it was slated for disposal, prompting Salminen to take action. “Since I’ve been involved in Pena Puu’s story from the beginning, it was hard for me to let it end up as waste,” she explained. She presented the idea of restoring the character to Särkänniemi’s craft club, and together with employees from the IT department, they embraced the challenge.

The restoration proved to be a larger task than the club anticipated. Employees worked on the project as a hobby after hours, starting in April and finishing in August. The maintenance team assisted with repairs to the mechanical components, while many enjoyed painting the character’s details.

Särkänniemi rewarded the craft club members involved in the restoration with small gifts. Pena Puu is now located at the entrance of the Tornado attraction in Särkänniemi.