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tel Transylvania attraction opens Dream Island Park, Moscow
Merlin Entertainments tasked Alterface to produce Dämonen Gruft dark ride at Heide Park resort
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ion of the upcoming release ransylvania: Transformania, hapter of the $1.3 billion film
m Sony Pictures Animation, , an indoor theme park located as officially opened its new otel Transylvania.” tour Dracula’s lavish resort unusual guests, starting by s a bridge over a foggy moat to l’s lobby. There, they will meet will guide them through more ions. tion will be a worthy addition to work on the Hotel Transylvania
ook more than three years, to build a unique space for ning the latest technical and ons to create a comedic horror itable for the whole family,” oll, technical director of Dream
ow open, the Dämonen Gruft (Demon’s Crypt) compact (380 m2) dark ride produced by Alterface offers adventurous guests at Heide Park Resort, northern Germany’s largest theme park, an immersive plunge into a dangerous netherworld. The attraction is sited within “ancient catacombs discovered during excavations” last year amid whispers of dark secrets and rumors of people going missing. An anonymous video of a shadowy figure warned against attempting the “Katakomben Tour” and spoke of the Demon’s Crypt. Ominous warnings beg the question: is the Demon’s Crypt a new exciting experience not to be missed or a terrible trap?
“Merlin Entertainments called upon Alterface to oversee the production of the show and ensure every detail—from lighting and sound to media and special effects—was flawlessly synchronized,” said Stéphane Battaille, CEO of Alterface. “Collaborating closely with Merlin on art direction, we brought their vision to life by recruiting the perfect team to realize the frightening promise of Demon’s Crypt.” Alterface worked with a mix of newcomers and highly experienced partners from around the globe for the project.
Two Belgian firms were recruited, Oddities, who provided critical support in art direction and played a vital role in bringing the concept to life, and 400 Coups who were charged with media production. Andy Garfield at Pachinko Media in the USA managed audio production, and JP Show Systems from the UK provided show control and technical design. Preston & Barbieri from Italy were contracted by Merlin Entertainments to provide the ride system and TAA Group in Spain to provide theming. “Demon’s Crypt wasn’t a solo endeavor—it was all thanks to our incredible team. Each member brought their unique expertise and dedication, making this project a smooth and enjoyable collaboration that was essential to the ride’s
Island Theme Park. “We partnered with Sony Pictures in order to achieve an authentic experience that will be the first attraction of this level in Russia, in one of the world’s leading theme parks.” “In line with our growing Location Based Entertainment strategy, Dream Island Theme Park has done a fantastic job bringing this beloved brand to life and giving audiences the unique opportunity to transport themselves into the thrilling world of Hotel Transylvania,” said Jeffrey Godsick, EVP of Global Partnerships and Brand Management and Head of Location Based Entertainment at Sony Pictures Entertainment. In addition to the Hotel Transylvania ride,
guests will also find a “Tavern of Fear” snack bar, a “Vampire’s Bite” burger cafe and “Transylvania Treasures,” a gift store filled with Hotel Transylvania themed souvenirs and memorabilia.
success,” Battaille said. “And of course, it all began with a great design by and the full support of Merlin Entertainments’ Creative Lead – New Products and Concepts, Liz Cummings, and her team.” The story of the crypt, special effects, media, and—most important, terror—are packed into Demon’s Crypt’s footprint. Eight cars, each carrying four adventurers through the seven scene, 3:30 minute ride, provide a maximum capacity of 480 passengers per hour. “Special effects include scent, temperature, theatrical and SFX lighting, smoke, water spritz and CO2 sprays,” said Alterface’s Etienne Sainton, producer for the attraction. “Given the tight time frame, we knew we had to find highly qualified partners to realize the many conceptual and technical aspects of the project.”
While this was their first dark ride, Oddities, with creative freedom from Merlin Entertainments and Alterface’s support, made full use of the opportunity.
“Everyone worked together,” said Taddéus Fraylich, Artistic Director at Oddities. “The team produced something we believe will serve as a cornerstone for Alterface and Merlin in the field of dark rides/ghost trains. We hope this was the first of many projects with Alterface!”
Tornado Springs opens
Danish theming firm MK Themed Attractions assisted UK family park Paultons Park in getting its brand-new themed area, Tornado Springs, ready for 12 April by producing and delivering customised props for the entire area.
Sainton favors the very first scene. “Unlike most loading stations, which are often utilitarian, with Demon’s Crypt boarding is the initial scene for Demon’s Crypt. It puts guests into the vehicles and the story right at the beginning,” he explained. “From the start it is scary—scarier than other dark rides you can find in theme parks.”
and experiences, all with a heavy Midwestern US theme. The majority of the themed elements were produced and delivered by MK Themed Attractions. Guests will be immersed in the new area completed with themed signs, props, objects, and coasters, all telling the unique story of Tornado Springs.
Perhaps most impressive is Scene 5, “Feast for the Souls,” which brings together most of the effects into a single frightening presentation. “A Pepper’s Ghost scrim, video, scents, water jets, immersive sound, and lighting perfectly envelop the video content and theming,” said Katleen Abraham, Production Designer at Oddities. “It’s an immersive scene that finally reveals the demonic creature that will chase the riders until the end.”
to say that it has been a pleasure working with Paultons Park. From the very beginning the visions and ambitions Paultons Park had sounded exciting, and a project we at MK Themed Attractions have loved being a part of. We look forward to seeing the impression the new area Operations director at Paultons
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are so pleased to finally open the park and welcome guests to explore Tornado Springs, our largest single investment here at Paultons Park. We wanted to introduce a spectacular and immersive themed area
Alterface has extensive experience working in partnership with other qualified vendors to conceive, design and create guest experiences, but is also capable of realizing immersive turn-key projects. “Whether done in-house or in combination with other firms, our efforts are always driven by the client and the story,” said Battaille. “Demon’s Crypt shows how great teamwork can result in an amazing attraction. I can’t wait to see how people respond to this crazy, scary ride!”
APRIL 2024
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