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Ride Profile
www.parkworld-online.com
Monster Mansion
Six Flags dark ride is better than ever
Conventional wisdom says you
“
don’t pour new money into an
old attraction. But when your M
onster Plantation consistently ranked among the GGE” acknowledges Ashcraft. “They have produced the
top attractions at the park year-in, year-out,” Glow in the Park Parade at several Six Flags parks and
explains Melinda Ashcraft, park president. “The are extremely creative people. As original designer, Gary
old attraction is Monster ride became a rite of passage for youth growing up in Goddard himself knew Monster Plantation like no one
Plantation, the beloved dark the area. Because it’s become so iconic, we really else and we are very pleased with the outcome of
boat ride at Atlanta’s Six Flags wanted to renovate and upgrade the existing ride, Monster Mansion.”
Over Georgia, you think keeping the popular storyline intact. Now, individuals “Six Flags wanted either to create a new ride, or to
again... who experienced Monster Plantation as young children refurbish and enhance the existing Monster Plantation,”
can ride Monster Mansion with their own kids.” Goddard recalls. “We came down on the side –
The new Monster Mansion is loaded with more 4D naturally – of updating. Fortunately, Six Flags came to
effects (12 in total) than any other ride in the world, but same conclusion. Melinda was a 17-year-old park
it also features real life exhibits – not simulations – to employee when we first opened the ride. I think a lot of
keep guests coming back again and again. The the great support we received came from her love of the
attraction boasts eight new animatronics, plus the ride. She’s been with it from the beginning.”
original 97 monsters. “Those who remember Monster Plantation will love
Housed inside a 25,246 square feet building, the refurbishment,” believes Ashcraft. “It’s a great
Monster Mansion and its six-passenger boats provide makeover.”
an hourly capacity of up to 1,400. The four-minute When Goddard created the original in 1981, “We had
voyage covers 700ft of water channel, 613ft of which only begun to push the technology envelope. The ride
is in the dark. Riders float by nine unique scenes as was quite innovative. A bunch of ex-Disney Imagineers
they witness and, for the first time, take part in the managed to design and build a dark ride with 135
Monsters’ family reunion picnic. Twelve interactive animatronic creatures and animated elements on stage.
elements have been added to engage guests. We wanted a new name for the new ride and we wanted
And Papa Razzi, the ride’s resident Monster to add a more immersive element, hence the addition of
photographer and his faithful assistant Nestor the so-called ‘4D’ effects. We gave the characters a new
are on hand to capture every moment. lease of life with new make up, fur and feathers. We also
put in a new audio, lighting and show control system. But
The Goddard Touch the most important addition from the guest standpoint are
Responsible for the ride’s overhaul is noted the new 4D sequences.”
design consultant Gary Goddard, now The lighting for Monster Mansion was provided by
chairman of Gary Goddard Entertainment Lightswitch, headed by lead designer Edward Marks. The
(GGE), who created the original Monster local systems integrator was the Entertainment Design
Scenes from Plantation in 1981. Group. Featured in the ride is equipment from ETC,
inside the ride “Six Flags has a great relationship with Rosco, GAM, TMB and Color Kinetics.
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