IAAPA 2015: Enjoy the fastest wooden coaster in the world, before it's open
POSTED 17 Nov 2015 . BY Alice Davis
A rendering shows the 20-storey high launch of Lightning Rod
Coaster fans can now experience the world’s fastest ever wooden rollercoaster – four months before it’s due to open.
Lightning Rod, which will also be the world’s first ever wooden launch coaster, was revealed as a VR experience at IAAPA today (17 November). The 360-optimized point-of-view footage – produced by Los Angeles-based 3D Live – means users can watch the video, ideally using their smartphone and something like Google Cardboard, to try out the ride.
The US$22m Lightning Rod – which is being built by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) – is set to open at Dollywood on 19 March 2016.
For RMC, the 3D technology is a great way to communicate some of the innovations of Lightning Rod, which features a number of world-firsts. It also opens up a world of marketing possibilities, and enables people who can’t visit the park to share some of the experiences.
“Imagine hospital patients that may never be able to go to a theme park. Now, this is at least the first step in bringing that experience to them,” said 3D Live CEO Nathan Huber. “There is something about creating these immersive experiences; you can take something that would be difficult for them to experience and make it accessible. Now they can sit in their living room, put on a VR headset and be inside the park for a minute.”
The ride, which marks the largest attraction investment in The Dollywood Company’s history, launches riders from zero to 45mph, features twin summit airtime, a 165-foot drop, 3,800 feet of track and a top speed of 73mph.
Read a feature on wooden coasters, including an interview with Rocky Mountain Construction, in Attractions Management Q2, 2015 or click here
Dollywood reveals US$300m expansion plan POSTED 27 Aug 2013. BY Chris Dodd Dollywood has announced the first of its new projects as part of a US$300m
(£192m, €225m), 10-year expansion plan in and around the theme park, which
is based in Tennessee.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
IAAPA 2015: Enjoy the fastest wooden coaster in the world, before it's open
POSTED 17 Nov 2015 . BY Alice Davis
A rendering shows the 20-storey high launch of Lightning Rod
Coaster fans can now experience the world’s fastest ever wooden rollercoaster – four months before it’s due to open.
Lightning Rod, which will also be the world’s first ever wooden launch coaster, was revealed as a VR experience at IAAPA today (17 November). The 360-optimized point-of-view footage – produced by Los Angeles-based 3D Live – means users can watch the video, ideally using their smartphone and something like Google Cardboard, to try out the ride.
The US$22m Lightning Rod – which is being built by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) – is set to open at Dollywood on 19 March 2016.
For RMC, the 3D technology is a great way to communicate some of the innovations of Lightning Rod, which features a number of world-firsts. It also opens up a world of marketing possibilities, and enables people who can’t visit the park to share some of the experiences.
“Imagine hospital patients that may never be able to go to a theme park. Now, this is at least the first step in bringing that experience to them,” said 3D Live CEO Nathan Huber. “There is something about creating these immersive experiences; you can take something that would be difficult for them to experience and make it accessible. Now they can sit in their living room, put on a VR headset and be inside the park for a minute.”
The ride, which marks the largest attraction investment in The Dollywood Company’s history, launches riders from zero to 45mph, features twin summit airtime, a 165-foot drop, 3,800 feet of track and a top speed of 73mph.
Read a feature on wooden coasters, including an interview with Rocky Mountain Construction, in Attractions Management Q2, 2015 or click here
Dollywood reveals US$300m expansion plan POSTED 27 Aug 2013. BY Chris Dodd Dollywood has announced the first of its new projects as part of a US$300m
(£192m, €225m), 10-year expansion plan in and around the theme park, which
is based in Tennessee.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
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An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
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