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< Previous8 Funworld | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023 | IAAPA.org/Funworld The Miirage 3D holograms are bright and colorful, allowing the display modules to be used in ambient and even outdoor lighting. First Application of the Innovation Beyond theme parks, the technology can be applied in museums, science centers, zoos, and aquariums, where modular units can be used in educational settings. Lister also foresees a live-streaming application, because a telepresence can save on carbon emissions where an executive could deliver a speech in a 3D format, thus preventing the need to step foot on an airplane. Since the technology is so new, Lister admits Miirage has faced challenges demonstrating the innovation through static photos or 2D video. “Because people haven’t seen anything quite like it … they won’t completely ‘get it’ until they see it. The critical factor to understand is that it’s the depth that [makes] the illusion. We’ve had success doing remote demo webinars where we are in front of Miirage answering questions, calling up content by use case and showing off its dimensions and viewing angles,” Lister says. He asserts that attractions are the ideal domain for a technology like Miirage because the technology can be used for entertainment, wayfinding, or advertising. Also, guests can experience it, then return two months later and the application can be a different experience. There are already Miirage systems operating in London, Hong Kong, and Melbourne, with more on the way as this advancing 3D hologram technology gains attention. miirage.digital Developing a New Technique Butler and Lister say much of their background is rooted in the events industry. When COVID-19 emerged, the pair was planning a tour of Thailand with a client who had hoped to present holograms of celebrities at shopping malls. However, most of the available technology relied on projection technology, which wouldn’t work in brightly lit venues. To address the challenge, Butler, an expert in holograms, created the new technology while residing in Macau during the COVID-19 lockdowns. “He designed Miirage towards the global events and attractions industry,” says Lister. “It’s modular, so you can just keep adding units to grow it. It’s also scalable and easy to transport. There’s nothing else like it currently in the global marketplace.” He adds that Miirage can be used as part of a large ride or other immersive attraction, as a stand- alone experience, or to enhance live entertainment. To heighten the illusion, Lister says the content needs to keep moving, even if the movement is subtle. The viewing sweet spot is three to seven meters away, but because of its brightness and high resolution, the images appear lifelike even close up. “A park attraction is really a perfect place for it because you can build sets around it—an environment with foliage, etc.—and people stay in front of it,” says Lister. A Miirage three-module unit can display the depth of the 3D holographic characters. MIIRAGE MIIRAGE10 Funworld | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023 | IAAPA.org/Funworld LAUNCH Dispatch Sourced by the Funworld Editorial Team 1 CORPORATE ACQUISITIONS A YEAR OF GROWTH RIBBON CUTTINGS AND MILESTONES AN FEC WITH CHARACTER Toy-inspired attractions take center stage at Hasbro City, a new indoor family entertainment center (FEC) in Mexico City. Rides, attractions, and interactive experiences themed to Transformers, My Little Pony, Monopoly, Play-Doh, NERF, and others span 9,000 square meters. “We want the guest to feel like they are immersed in a real city, so by combining storytelling, architectural, and theming elements based on Hasbro’s characters, Hasbro City was born,” says Sandra Home, senior manager of location based entertainment at Hasbro. The FEC is a partnership between Hasbro, Inc. and VXT Negocios. Achieving climate neutrality by 2030 led the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain to become a member of the Gallery Climate Coalition. The GCC is a community of arts organizations facilitating a 50% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2030 and promoting zero waste. The Guggenheim measured its carbon footprint; created a working group to raise awareness, and published a sustainability framework allied with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. Read its commitment at: guggenheim- bilbao.eus/en MUSEUM CLIMATE ACTION This autumn, Anakeesta opens the next phase of a multi-year, $34 million expansion nestled in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains. Stone Village includes the Hellbender Smoky Mountain Coaster and BirdVenture. Three giant bird houses and seven serpentine slides winding 50 feet down the mountain will entertain children, while Wiegand’s new Hellbender alpine coaster features 3,350 feet of track for adventure seekers. Founding partner Bob Bentz says Anakeesta “embraces nature, seamlessly blending the landscape and breathtaking views.” FALL INTO NATURE ANAKEESTA 2 Five Star Parks & Attractions recently acquired two Fun Land family entertainment center (FEC) locations in Northern Virginia, giving the company its first presence in the Virginia market. “Fun Land is known for delivering exceptional experiences, and we are thrilled to build upon that foundation,” says John Dunlap, CEO of Five Star Parks & Attractions. The acquisition comes on the heels of Five Stars Parks’ acquisition of Scene 75 Entertainment in May. Five Star Parks’ portfolio now includes 27 locations in 13 states across the U.S. HASBRO, INC. GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM BIBAO11 IAAPA.org/Funworld | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER | Funworld 56 3 GROWING TALENT 4 SUPPLY PARTNERSHIPS MAKING A SWITCHEROOINNOVATIONS IN SAFETY COMING ATTRACTIONS DRIVE THE SKY POSITIVE CONNECTIONS THE FACE OF SERVICE Bellewaerde Park in Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium, continues its tradition where full-time employees work a front-line position. During Bellewaerde’s annual Jobswitch Day, Managing Director Stefaan Lemey operated the park’s two new attractions, Hampi and Psssht Station (part of a €16-million CapEx plan for 2023). Lemey says Jobswitch Day gives the execs more appreciation for front-line employees and allows them to gain a fresh perspective. The new Wildcat’s Revenge coaster features an innovation between the knees of riders. Hersheypark and Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) developed an additional handle for riders that complements the existing ASTM Class-5 restraint. “Safety is paramount in all that we do. Now the guest has two different options for holding on tight. It’s almost like a little lasso,” says Laura Woodburn Krolczyk, Hersheypark’s asst. general manager. “The park was great to work with. They really had a vision of what they were looking for,” says RMC President Darren Torr. Not one, but two 420-foot-towers will make up Top Thrill 2, Cedar Point’s new-for-2024 roller coaster. Themed as a vertical speedway, the ride will first launch 74 mph forwards, provide a rollback, accelerate to 101 mph traveling backwards while navigating a reverse spike, then launch 120 mph forwards before cresting a 420-foot-tall top hat. Designed by Zamperla, Top Thrill 2 will use an all-new linear synchronous motor (LSM) launch system and three of Zamperla’s new Lightening trains. “Our stamp on the industry is in roller coaster innovation,” says Carrie Boldman, park vice president and general manager. Cedar Point began an in-park teaser campaign in July with graphics placed on midway surfaces, playful signage, and hints positioned on construction walls. CEDAR FAIR BELLEWAERDE SCOTT FAIS Providing an outstanding guest experience is at the heart of Sentosa island resort in Singapore. The Sentosa Development Corporation calls their employee-facing program SHOW. The acronym stands for Safe, Helpful, Outstanding, Welcome. Even in the corporate office, a display reminds em- ployees at all levels of the value of SHOW, includ- ing a mirror where employees can see themselves with the message “This person will SHOW the way” positioned above their head. SCOTT FAIS12 Funworld | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023 | IAAPA.org/Funworld LAUNCH Asia-Pacific by Michael Switow Electrifying Hong Kong Netflix Series Comes to Life at Halloween Horror Nights in Singapore FRED SUGAR, SUGAR HK UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE FRED SUGAR, SUGAR HK Hong Kong’s largest utility, CLP Power, recently renovated an iconic clock tower, which formerly served as the company’s headquarters. The transformation resulted in a new museum , CL Pulse, showcasing the intertwined histories of Hong Kong’s electricity development, the city’s spectacular growth, and the Kadoorie family, which founded the company in 1901. “It was my father’s simple view to provide electricity to anybody who wished to have it,” says CLP Holdings Chairman Sir Michael Kadoorie. The 2,000-square-meter museum, master planned by attraction consultancy Winkle-Picker, is LEED Platinum-certified. The museum promotes decarbonization and sustainable development. “We challenged the norm and introduced energy savings of up to 50%, which is huge considering the amount of energy the split unit types use in Hong Kong,” says Colin Fredricson, creative director of Sugar HK and the lead design consultant on the project. Instead of traditional air conditioning, the museum uses radiant chilled panels with copper and aluminum elements to cool the galleries. www.clpulse.com/ Scenes from the hit Korean series “All of Us Are Dead,” which reached No. 1 on Netflix’s worldwide rankings, come to life this autumn at Universal Studios Singapore during Halloween Horror Nights 11, where fans can brave their way through a zombie infestation at Hyosan High School. “We are thrilled to create this one-of-a-kind horror experience for our guests based on a show beloved by global fans and take them on a journey of both physical and psychological thrill,” says Resorts World Sentosa Director of Resort Experience Markham Gannon. The “All of Us Are Dead” experience in Singapore is the world’s first horror attraction inspired by the series. It is also the first time the park’s Halloween Horror Nights will include an attraction based on a Korean series. Five years ago, the two companies teamed up to offer a hugely popular “Stranger Things”haunted house. rwsentosa.com/en/promotions/attractions/hhn11©2023 Brunswick Bowling Products, LLC. Form #0623-03 DUCKPIN SOCIAL! BURSTING WITH PERSONALITY AND A PROVEN REVENUE-GENERATING AMENITY. Guests of all ages will enjoy the engaging, entertaining social interaction of Duckpin Social, the attention- getting amenity that delivers all the advantages of bowling in far less space. Duckpin Social drives food and beverage sales, keeps guests on the property longer, encourages repeat visits, and builds guest loyalty. · VISIT US AT BRUNSWICKBOWLING.COM/DUCKPIN-SOCIAL ·14 Funworld | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023 | IAAPA.org/Funworld LAUNCH Europe, Middle East, Africa by Juliana Gilling Visitors to the new Deutschlandmuseum will master the art of time travel. The Berlin-based museum takes guests on a whistle-stop tour through 2,000 years of German history. In one hour, visitors will walk through 12 epochs, exploring the forest where Germanic tribes defeated Varus’s Roman legions, a medieval castle, a WWI trench, the division of Germany, and a Berlin S-Bahn train in the reunified country. “Designing and building this new experience was extremely challenging,” says Robert Rückel, director of the Deutschlandmuseum and German Spy Museum. “We could only achieve this with Creative Studio Berlin’s world-class team. They brought their proven partners and suppliers, which we could trust with our ambitious timeline.” Chris Lange, creative director of the Deutschlandmuseum and Creative Studio Berlin owner, says the way the experience “breaks down cultural barriers and engages visitors in history is quite unique,” fusing Swiss Park Falls for New Ride History in the Making at Deutschlandmuseum The entrance to “Crazy Professor,” Conny-Land’s new free-fall tower. history and entertainment. The immersive exhibition rooms combine evocative theming, sounds, smells, and lighting effects with digital displays, interactive maps, 3D projections, and artworks about each era. deutschlandmuseum.de DEUTSCHLANDMUSEUM DAVID WEYAND Guests are now “dropping in” on the “Crazy Professor,” Conny-Land’s new free-fall tower. Park CEO Roby Gasser expects the new tower to be a hit with adrenaline fans. Conny-Land worked closely with Ride Engineers Switzerland (RES), Nick Farmer of Farmer Attraction Development, and local companies on the project. Farmer shares with Funworld how the ride and video combine to enhance the experience. “AV specialists DJ Willrich developed the video system, projecting on a huge video screen the full height of the tower. Tim Willrich of Limbo Pictures produced the superb live-action and CG 4K video, using four projectors to create a seamless video image 15 meters high. The video storyboard was beautifully illustrated by Steve Pearce,” Farmer says. Crazy Professor’s bespoke story and film ensure differentiation, Gasser believes. The free-fall tower maximizes the available space. RES provided the 10-seat, 25-meter-high ride, which includes special effects like leg ticklers, air jets, and forward tilt. Guests must be 1.2 meters to ride. connyland.chA Global Leader in Miniature Golf & Game Court Design/Installation U.S. ( 888 ) 725-4386 • INT’L ( 231 ) 922-8166 Traverse City, MI | Chicago | Miami | Venice, FL AGSGolfAndSports.com Generate Fun & New Revenue with Miniature Golf & Game Courts! Indoors, outdoors or on rooftops… permanent, temporary or fully portable…from our eco-friendly Modular Advantage™ Mini Golf system, SplashGolf® and our Bunkers & Bumps™ fairways-and-greens putting course, to pickleball, bocce ball and more, we have ideas and solutions to make your venue more inviting, profitable and fun! Here are some fun ways to enhance your attractions: Modular Advantage™ This eco-friendly system uses interlocking patented panels to give you the look and feel of a permanent concrete course with faster installation, less maintenance and less cost. Panels are made of recycled materials and are permeable for water drainage. Can be ADA compliant. If desired, course can be moved! Above is mini golf course designed and installed in wooded area of Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Portable / Modular Play mini golf wherever and whenever you like with all the fun and features of a permanent course – topography, waterfalls, ponds, themed scenes, landscaping, etc. Modular design means you can install yourself or engage an AGS professional crew. Above is a “Pop-Up” Park used at Delta, British Columbia. Custom Modular Mini Golf! Installations on rooftops, piers or indoors often require lighter weight construction elements. Our modular system can be custom designed to fit your space while providing all the features of a permanent concrete course like waterfalls, ponds, obstacles and more! Above is parking deck rooftop course designed and built for Caribe Resort, Orange Beach, AL From custom designs to “ready to go” systems, put our 35+ years’ experience to work for you – saving you time and money. Contact us today! 18-hole custom concrete course featuring multiple levels, stone boulders and water elements at the Thrillsville Adventure Park in Slade, Kentucky EUROPEAN DEALERS WANTED Email: cathy@adventureandfun.com See us at IAAPA EXPO EUROPE Booth C-10616 Funworld | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023 | IAAPA.org/Funworld LAUNCH Latin America, Caribbean by Marck Gutt (Don Viajes) Revitalized Visitor Center Opens at Costa Rica’s Volcán Poás Metro Buenos Aires Welcomes New Indoor Amusement Park VOLCÁN POÁS NATIONAL PARK NEVERLAND Virtual reality experiences, sports-related attractions, and video game classics arrive in Argentina with the inauguration of an indoor amusement park in Greater Buenos Aires. Opened to the public earlier this year, Neverland Sports & Play powers 3,000 square meters of thrilling entertainment combining arcade-style games and physical activity. Located in Alto Avellaneda shopping mall, the massive family entertainment center features more than 150 attractions, including bumper cars, air hockey, trampolines, slides, and a mini soccer field. Neverland Sports & Play also hosts never-before-seen games in Argentina and an Omni Arena, offering state-of-the-art virtual reality experiences. With the opening of the company’s second-largest entertainment complex, Neverland aims to make its mark in Argentina. “Our goal is to train mind and body in a new and fun environment,” says Luciana Periales, CEO of Neverland, celebrating the news and commitment to innovation. neverland.com.ar NEVERLAND Located in Costa Rica’s Central Valley region, Volcán Poás National Park ranks as one of the country’s most visited natural protected areas. After closing temporarily following volcanic activity in 2017, the reserve fully reopened this summer with enhanced safety measures and a renewed visitor center. Two major trails reopened last year following a renovation that included the rehabilitation of railings. Refurbishments to the museum and visitor center range from infrastructure upgrades to new exhibits on volcanic activity. An investment of more than $70,000, mostly from international donations, made the improvements possible. The renovations in the national park are the result of public and private entities working together. The National Emergency Commission, the National Museum of Costa Rica, the National System of Conservation Areas, and nongovernmental organizations ProParques and Costa Rica Por Siempre led the efforts. Advance online bookings are required to visit Volcán Poás. www.sinac.go.cr/Next >