Attraction Profile
www.parkworld-online.com
OF THE L
When wilderness resort Big Cedar Lodge in Missouri’s Ozark mountains wanted to bring laser tag to its family entertainment offering, it contacted theming specialist Creative Works to help create an attraction that fitted in with the location’s rural atmosphere. Ronnie Dungan found out more…
CALLWILD
ocated within Fun Mountain, Big Cedar Lodge’s 50,000-square-foot family entertainment facility, the laser tag arena takes the form of a log fortress buried
deep within the Ozark Mountains. Up to 26 players are transported to Fort Big Cedar, where they do battle in a two-storey structure lined with wood-painted panels. Totalling 2,500 square feet, the arena lets players take the battle outside the fortress where they can navigate through lush forest and boulders. Large scale wildlife props surround the arena, and can be spotted throughout the rest of the resort, and custom sounds and effects bring the animals to life. In a wilderness resort in the middle of Missouri’s Ozark mountains, laser tag is a bit of a odd fit, but the firm, owned by the Bass Pro sporting goods chain, wanted to bring some variation to its offering. Marketing director Jason Robinson explains: “Laser Tag is a fun addition to this attraction because it brings families close together in a very interactive way. While it is different to our other offerings, we believe it is a perfect fit to go along with the big picture concept that is Fun Mountain. Every theme with a property associated within our hospitality brand at Big Cedar Lodge is carefully tailored with specific details in mind. We take great pride in everything that goes into Big
JANUARY 2018
Cedar Lodge, and this project was no exception.” Robinson says the firm was not worried about deviating
from what was clearly an already successful theming package for the resort. “When this concept was in development, everyone was excited to see the vision that was laid out come to life and take form in Fun Mountain. We were confident this space could be something truly amazing to bring families together to create interactive and fun memories in a place that is unlike any other in the Ozarks.” Marsha Brentlinger, Creative Works’ creative experience
broker, explains how the firm got involved with the project. “Two of the ladies from the location down there came to visit us [in Mooresville] to see what we do and how we do it, and discussed what props made sense and what didn’t,” she says. “We didn’t start off with the theme we wound up with, but that’s how it evolved. Because they are affiliated with Bass Pro Shop, they wanted something that was oriented to the products that they sell,” adds Brentlinger. “They gave us a lot of input as to what they wanted in the arena.” Creative Works has been building themed attractions for
twenty years, and laser tag has always been our bread and butter. “Over the last two decades, we’ve built hundreds of laser tag arenas around the world, and the popularity of this
45
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74
