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In the Spotlight
Along with incredible graphics, thrilling motion-based ride cars and 4D-style
special effects, Justice League: Battle for Metropolis featured two of Sally’s most advanced animatronics: Superhero Cyborg and supervillain Joker. With the powerful implementation of the Justice League attractions, Sally’s
reputation as an impactful animatronic creator and lead dark ride developer was solidified. Justice League: Battle for Metropolis was honoured with both the IAAPA Impact Award and the THEA Award for Outstanding Achievement Attraction in 2018. “The launch of Justice League was the culmination of everything we strived
for,” shares Lauren Wood Weaver, vice president of marketing and business development at Sally Dark Rides. “We were able to provide a story-based attraction with incredibly lavish scenic components and advanced interactive media elements typically expected at destination parks larger than the seven regional Six Flags parks. We proved quality dark rides belong in parks of any size, shape, and location. It was like the spirit of our Ghostbuster concept was sitting on our shoulder cheering us on.” Weaver continues: “At the heart of everything we do is storytelling for the
family. When your children are young, you read them the same books over and over. As they grow, the special stories remain and become a family tradition. Our dark rides are the same. They transport families. Together they may capture ghosts, save a city, escape a curse, or collect cookies – whatever the created storyline offers. When they exit, they are talking about their shared experience. And just like those early books, they will repeat it, creating a new park tradition.” Sally’s greatest example of childhood dreams brought to life is the incredible
Sesame Street: Street Mission at PortAventura in Barcelona, Spain. An international brand with incredible recognition and loyalty, Sally was entrusted to build on the mixed media success of the Justice League projects and bring Sesame Street’s Grover, Big Bird, Bert and Ernie to life. By seamlessly blending interactive media with their custom animatronics, the show leapt out of the small screen into the park. Families solve a mystery on Sesame Street alongside Detective Grover and the well-known sets and scenery. PortAventura’s guests responded in droves. With the addition of Sesame
Street: Street Mission, the park had record attendance and saw a 50% increase in season pass sales. Children, teens, parents, grandparents, and everyone in-between came together to share in the new ride adventure. With this proven track record of success on top of success, Sally has continued
to study, stretch, and flip the proverbial ‘box’. Weaver explains: “Early dark rides tended to be small rides that were just part of the park visit. At Sally Dark Rides, we want to surprise and exceed expectations. We have created dark ride experiences that have become the must-see park attraction for our clients.” In 2021, Lost Island in Waterloo, Iowa approached Sally to create an original
dark ride for their signature attraction. The park wanted a ride that would seamlessly extend the park’s mythical theme. The resulting Volkanu: Quest for the Golden Idol, built inside the park’s incredible volcano, is an incredible interactive mission.
GhostBusters dark ride concept art When Sally unveiled the Volkanu animatronic at IAAPA Expo 2021, it again
showed the industry how the dark ride creator could blend art, technology and set design with an original adventure fit for Indiana Jones. With 45 years of success upon success, it could be easy for the Sally team to
wonder: “What’s left?” “We will always be the Sally we are best-known for being – the dark ride
creator and developer of the exceptional animatronics,” Weaver thoughtfully states. “In fact, we are in the midst of building three new attractions. 2023 will begin with the opening of Treasure Hunt in Monterey, California, a freestanding pirate-themed dark ride with our co-creators Daniels Wood Land. “I’m also excited to announce The Haunted Hotel, our first collaboration with
Funtown Splashtown in Maine. It will feature an original storyline with a wicked witch central character. She will be with us at IAAPA Expo and just might cast a spell on attendees.” Magical jokes aside, there is so much more to come. “Big things are
happening,” Weaver teases. “We are known for pushing the limits of innovation and will soon begin developing one of our most incredible attractions ever! We are again changing what people think of a typical dark ride so we can entertain guests in ways that bring these experiences to new heights, depths, and directions.” If you are thinking land, air, and sea, you may not be too far off as Sally Dark
Rides continues to bring new thinking, inspired imagination, and incredible technology to the dark ride experience. And as any parent knows, when you have a box to play with, there is no limit to what it can become.
45 years of bringing
dark rides to light 1977 - Single Audio-Animated Character Creation 1980 - Enchanted Castle 1982 - Baltimore Power Plant 1986 - Care Bears Animated Stage Show 1987 - Introduction of concept for dark ride with Ghostbusters IP 1990 - Zombie Paradise 1992 - Yosemite Sam 1995 - The Great Pistolero Roundup 1997 - Ghost Blasters™ era of 7 Scooby-Doo! Attractions begins 2000 - Labyrinth of the Minotaur 2004 - Challenge of Tutankhamon, 2006 - Gobbler Getaway and Reese’s Xtreme Cup Challenge. 2010 - Lost Kingdom Adventure 2012 - Justice League: Alien Invasion 2015 - Justice League: Battle for Metropolis at seven Six Flags parks 2019 - Sesame Street: Street Mission 2020 - The Great Humbug Adventure and Reese’s Cupfusion 2022 - Volkanu – Quest for the Golden Idol
Sesame Street: Street Mission NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 27
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