The Enchanted Greenhouse unveiled at IAAPA Expo Europe Amsterdam

Together with Six Flags Qiddiya City a consortium of Jora Vision, ETF Ride Systems and Alterface reveals more details on the groundbreaking interactive dark ride

Today at the IAAPA Expo in Amsterdam, a consortium of leading attraction design and manufacturing companies, in collaboration with Six Flags Qiddiya City, unveiled more details for "The Enchanted Greenhouse". This state-of-the-art dark ride is destined for the upcoming global entertainment destination in Saudi Arabia. The presentation showcased new visuals of the ride, details on the one-of-a-kind interactivity and an intricate model of the ride’s custom vehicle.

Six Flags Qiddiya City: A New Frontier in Entertainment

Neil Dwyer – VP Operations of Six Flags Qiddiya City opened the presentation by emphasizing the park's commitment to pushing the boundaries of entertainment. Six Flags Qiddiya City is poised to become a global entertainment destination and the first Six Flags park designed and built from the ground up outside North America since 1971. The park will feature record-breaking thrill rides alongside family-friendly attractions for a total of 28 rides across six uniquely themed lands. The Enchanted Greenhouse will be a cornerstone attraction of the park's Twilight Gardens land, offering an immersive experience for guests of all ages.

This ride’s interactivity fits perfectly within the singular vision of Qiddiya City. This new global destination is built from scratch on the foundations of play. Located 40 minutes away from Riyadh, the vibrant city brings entertainment, sports and culture together in a way never seen before.

"Six Flags Qiddiya City is set to redefine the theme park experience in the region,” Neil Dwyer said. “The Enchanted Greenhouse exemplifies our dedication to bringing world-class attractions that combine cutting-edge technology with immersive storytelling."

A Magical Journey Awaits

Jora Vision is well known as an expert on dark ride creation. Da Wang, senior design director of Jora Vision, elaborated on the ride concept: “The Enchanted Greenhouse invites guests into a mesmerizing greenhouse where nature and magic come together.” Although most of the seven scenes and the ride’s story are still classified, new visuals of the ride showed a glimpse of what we can expect: an elaborately themed queue, reminiscent of a Victorian greenhouse with Moorish influences. Additionally, Wang confirmed the ride has an extensive pre-show.

Among the visuals shared, one image of a new scene stood out: ‘The Garden of the Night’ depicts a breathtaking nighttime scene within what appears to be a bioluminescent garden. Towering, otherworldly plants with broad purple leaves create a sense of being dwarfed by the enchanted flora. Wang shared that the whole ride incorporates over 6200 replicated plants. Additionally, Jora Vision created 22 40ft containers full of theming, hinting to a richly themed world where the guest is truly immersed.

"Our vision was to create an interactive experience that enhances the story and environment," explains Wang. "Instead of only aiming for a high score, guests will be encouraged to explore and discover the wonders of this enchanted world." 

Cutting-edge interactivity

Stéphane Battaille of Alterface highlighted the ride's groundbreaking approach to guest interaction: "We've developed a system that's intuitive yet deeply engaging. Guests will use specially designed magical dew sprayers to reveal hidden creatures, transform plants, and unlock surprising effects throughout their journey. This offers a unique "hide and seek" style of interactivity that encourages exploration and collaboration. The nature of the interactivity promotes a sense of wonder and discovery, perfectly aligned with the ride's themes of enchantment and transformation”.

Alterface presented the interactive dew sprayer that guests will use during the ride. This ornate tool features a golden body with a detailed ‘orb’ on the base and indeed looks more like a sprayer then a traditional gun often found in interactive dark rides.

Stéphane Battaille of Alterface adds, "With this magical dew sprayer the ride truly comes to life. We smartly blend physical interactives, media content and projection mapping so the guests can interact with all their surroundings. People are encouraged to work together and have a collective experience in transforming their environment.

Bespoke Vehicles for a Magical Journey

Ruud Koppens of ETF Ride Systems talked about the ride's custom-designed vehicles, which blend Victorian aesthetics with modern technology. "These trackless vehicles are not just modes of transport, but an integral part of the storytelling and interactivity," Koppens noted.

With a visual of the loading station on the background, Koppens explained the Multi Mover utilize ETF's advanced autonomous navigation system, allowing for smooth, surprising movements that enhance the ride experience as guests journey through The Enchanted Greenhouse. With a track of 160m and twelve 6-seater vehicles the ride is no small one. The two-way communication system in the vehicle allows for all the interactives to be activated with a press on the trigger as it communicates directly with the show control.

More Than Just a Ride

The highlight of the presentation was the unveiling of a model of The Enchanted Greenhouse's bespoke ride vehicle. Neil Dwyer unveiled the meticulously crafted model, created by Jora Vision. The vehicle's design features a teal and copper color scheme. Seating six passengers in two rows, the vehicle boasts an elegant butterfly motif emblazoned on its façade. Another notable feature is the illuminated tank at the rear.

The Enchanted Greenhouse represents a significant leap forward in dark ride design. By combining Jora Vision's immersive storytelling and theming, Alterface's innovative interactivity, and ETF's advanced ride systems, the attraction offers a multi-layered experience that caters to a wide range of guests.

"The Enchanted Greenhouse is more than just a ride," concluded Jan Maarten de Raad of Jora Vision. "It's a fully realized world that invites guests to become part of its magic. We believe it will set a new standard for family attractions in the region and beyond."

A smurftastic collaboration

On the second day of the IAAPA Expo Europe in Amsterdam, Jora Vision, together with Holiday Park, Plopsa and LF Studio’s, shares four animated scenes and additional details of the upcoming Smurf dark ride at Holiday Park.

Holiday Park is a popular amusement park located in Haßloch, Germany, about an hour from Frankfurt. It’s ride line-up includes the famous Expedition GeForce roller coaster, consistently rated as one of the best in the world. In 2010, the park was acquired by Plopsa, which brought significant investment and expansion to the park, with many projects coming up. One of the new projects is the refurbishment of the former ‘Burg Falkenstein’ dark ride. Here, the Smurfs are about to settle down in 2025. At the booth of Jora Vision at the IAAPA Expo in Amsterdam, Plopsa, Holiday Park, Jora Vision and LF Studio’s presented the latest developments of the ride.

A new chapter for a classic attraction

When the German Holiday Park announced their classic ‘Burg Falkenstein’ dark ride was closing, many fans of the park wore a heavy heart. The 35-year-old classic had a cult-like status because of its original and unique scenes of castle under siege. Through an auction for charity, many of the rides’ unusual medieval habitants found a home with dark ride enthusiasts.

This transformation of the ride goes beyond a typical refurbishment. The entire interior of the former castle was stripped, leaving only the building's shell and the original ride track. This canvas has allowed the creative teams from Plopsa and Holiday Park to reimagine the space entirely, crafting a new adventure from the ground up.

A home for the Smurfs

It was announced that the refurbished building was to become home of the Smurfs, the famous blue woodland creatures. Created by Belgian comic artist Peyo, their bold escapades are particularly fitting for a dark ride adventure.

"The Smurfs have captivated audiences for generations," said Carl Lenaerts, the Plopsa CEO.  “Recent media productions have introduced these lovable characters to a new generation, making this a perfect addition to the popular IP’s the Plopsa group has. We're excited to see the Smurfs come to life in Holiday Park."

The “Flora Monstera” run amok

For the attraction Plopsa and Holiday Park wrote a brand-new story. Of course, the woodland village where the Smurfs live will take central stage. As always, they are threatened by their archenemy the grumpy Smurf-hating wizard Gargamel.

In a short video render, we got a sneak-peak of four of the nine scenes in the ride. In the intro scene, we find ourselves in Gargamel's lair, a dimly lit chamber filled with mysterious tomes. A massive spell book lies open, revealing the ominous "Flora Monstera" - a giant carnivorous plant that threatens to devour the Smurfs' home and its blue inhabitants.

A following scene reveals Gargamel's nefarious plan in action, when he conjures up one of the dangerous plants in his castle tower. As we subsequently enter the forest, we're plunged into a world of oversized flora. Gigantic orange Flora Monstera plants dominate the landscape, their vine-like tendrils reaching out to ensnare anything in their path.

Finally, we reach Papa Smurf's laboratory, where Papa Smurf is hard at work, concocting an antidote to save their beloved home. A brave Smurf prays a purple goo over an intruding plant in an attempt to subdue the monster. If this is enough to save the Smurfs from being overgrown and eaten, or if they must take stronger measures, is not yet clear. Knowing the lay-out of the track, we’ve only seen a number of the smaller scenes in the ride.

How to build a wonderful woodland world

After Plopsa and Holiday Park made the designs, they had to find the right party to create the themed world where the adventure takes place. The Dutch design and build company Jora Vision stepped up to the plate. With over 35 years of experience, they are experts at creating dark rides with physical sets that feel real.

From Gargamel’s castly laboratories to the whimsical Smurf village: with over 5 minutes of ride time and 160 meters of track over two floors, there is a lot of custom décor to be produced. Also, because the ride is based on the latest 3D movies of the Smurfs, Holiday Park and Plopsa are looking for a very specific style in the environment. With over 3000m2 of workshops, Jora Vision has the capacity for such a build and was delighted they are picked for the job.

“Our craftspeople are specifically accomplished in building 3D sets that have the cartoon-like look that Plopsa was looking for”, says Sjors van Roosmalen, Senior Creative Director at Jora Vision. “Plopsa and Holiday Park did a great job in designing vibrant environments. It’s a real treat to fine-tune these designs and watch them come into being.”

Smurfapalooza

The best dark rides feature a lot of animatronics, and with over 40 moving Smurfs, this ride is going to be a true Smurfapalooza. LF Studios (the future of LifeFormations), was engaged directly by Plopsa and Holiday Park to bring the Smurf character IP to life across the entire dark ride. Over 40 Smurfs, Gargamels and Azreals (his cat), along with lots of vegetation from the Smurfs world, including the giant “Flora Monstera” plants, are enlivened by the American firm. In addition to the figures themselves, LF is responsible for many show elements, artfully integrating the Smurfs into the elements. Lastly, most character will have integrated LED screens for eyes, this brings them truly alive and elevates the realism of the characters.

The expertise of LF Studios is clearly visible in the Papa Smurf animatronic that is presented on the Jora Vision booth. Though simple in movements (he pats a sign, while wiggling his feet and nodding with his head), it’s clear that getting all workings in such a tiny figure is no easy feat.

“One of the challenges is fitting all the mechanics in the tiny blue figures. Each Smurf is only 60cm tall, and some have 4 to 5 motions. Packaging the mechanicals to achieve the desired motion profile and providing access for maintenance, all while maintain IP integrity has been a fun challenge”, says Jay Rottinghaus, the Excecutive Vice President from LF Studio’s.

Rottinghaus loves working with this unique IP: “When I think of my childhood, I fondly remember watching the Smurfs after a busy school day. I found myself lost in their world and there was always a specific Smurf I could relate to that day. Having this opportunity to help realize this magical place is exciting. I can’t wait for the day to experience the ride as a visitor and once again lose myself in this world.”

Continuous action

 Refurbishing existing rides is a sustainable way to create new, exciting experiences for park guests, a practice highly encouraged. The ride utilizes the vintage endless chain omnimover system by Mack Rides, ensuring continuous movement. Well-known for its high capacity, this system also requires the show elements to run non-stop during operations. So, show control needs to be fine-tuned in detail so that every guest gets the full experience. Next to the show elements that are handled by LifeFormations, the Belgian Painting With Lights (PWL) will install over 350 lighting fixtures, more than 10 projectors and video panels as well as a handful of smartly hidden special effects.

Opening 2025

The Smurfs dark ride is scheduled to open in spring 2025. If you are curious about the rest of the story and the scenes, follow the channels of Holiday Park closely. More details about the attraction will be released by Holiday Park in the fall of 2024. If you’re visiting the park, you can also find a preview center of the ride, where you can sometimes even meet Papa Smurf.

A Virtual Visit of the New Bommelwereld Theme Park

It’s not often that a new theme park arises in Europe, especially in the Netherlands. After Edwin Bomers of Marveld recreatie announced the building of Bommelwereld, there was a lot of speculation on the rides we’d find in this huge indoor theme park. Today, Jora Vision, the company that designed the picturesque park, took visitors of the IAAPA Expo in Amsterdam on a virtual tour through the park, finally sharing which rides we can expect to hop on in 2025.

Bommelwereld, the brainchild of Edwin Bomers, owner of Marveld Recreatie, promises a unique blend of nostalgia and cutting-edge amusement park technology. The park is designed to appeal to multiple generations, from those who grew up with Marten Toonder's iconic characters to young adventurers experiencing the curious world of Olivier B. Bommel for the first time.

Olivier is a beloved character from Dutch literature - an aristocratic bear known for his well-meaning but often clumsy attempts at gentlemanly behavior. His adventures with his clever friend Tom Poes have captivated readers for generations, making them the perfect inspiration for a theme park. Those unfamiliar with the star of the park, could meet ‘Ollie’ for the first time today at the show and obtain one of his comic strips or take a picture.

A grand tour

Sjors van Roosmalen, Senior Creative Director at Jora Vision, hosted a virtual tour today, with the beautiful birds-eye illustration that Jora Vision made of the upcoming park as a map for the grand tour of the premises. Stopping at each highlight, visitors were taken through the whole park.

As visitors approach Bommelwereld, they'll be greeted by an impressive medieval castle facade, setting the stage for the adventures that await inside. The 21-meter-high spires of the castle will be visible from far and wide. Upon entering the castle, guests will experience a Hall of Fame, a portrait gallery immersing them in the rich history of Olivier B. Bommel and his world. A grand theatre will feature exciting shows with the characters.

To enter the main hall, guests can take one of two routes. The journey truly begins with a thrilling descent down the Roetsjbaan Super Slide, a 9-meter high, 32.6-meter long slide that's sure to excite visitors of all ages. On this slide by Metalbau Emmeln, guests speed down into the Bommelwereld hall. People that would like to take it slow, can simply stroll down the broad stairs through the castle.

A garden for everyone

Once down, you’ll encounter a lush garden area with a restaurant that that would make the average aristocrat jealous. In fact, the restaurant’s renaissance façade is based on the Marquis De Canteclaers palace. This pompous and pretentious rooster is one of the characters of the world of Ollie B. Bommel. “In the Bommelsaga there are only one or two drawing of the house of the marquis. This shows the challenge we had as Jora Vision to bring this comic to life in the real world”, explains van Roosendaal.

In the gardens, guests can hop aboard the Oude Schicht, a charming oldtimer ride by Metalbau Emmeln that takes them on a 147-meter journey through a park area. Next to it you findVriendelijke visjes, a Zamperla kiddie carousel with colorful fish offers a round trip for even the smallest visitors.

Rommeldam: the heart of the park

From the gardens, guests can enter Rommeldam: a charming village where quaint buildings are stacked and squeezed around a village square. At the heart of this square stands the Rommeldamse Spil, a magnificent double-decker Venetian Carousel by Italian firm Bertazzon that reaches an impressive height of 8.7 meters. The paintings above the carousel will feature portraits of famous inhabitants of the town.

Nearby, younger visitors can enjoy the Bots Bolides mini bumper cars and the Klautermagazijn, an expansive indoor play structure by ELI Play, where the littlest can crawl over all kinds of crates and objects in a friendly warehouse.

Get lost in a wizard’s Magical Emporium

For those seeking a touch of magic, Hocus P. Pas' Magisch Emporium offers a 5-minute Gosetto fun house experience. This meticulously designed funhouse, spanning 15 meters by 10 meters over two levels, features a short pre-show and 16 illusions. Guests are invited to the magical emporium of the manipulative wizard Hocus P. Pas, where the things that happen get stranger and stranger. From a disorienting rotating cylinder to a mind-bending mirror maze, the Magisch Emporium promises to surprise guests of all ages.

Harbour trips

On the other side of Rommeldam is a harbour area. Young thrill-seekers looking for a view will delight in De Zware Last, an interactive climbing and rotating Sunkid tower that provides breathtaking 360-degree views of the park. Or how about Professor Prlwytzkofski's Protonen Spitz, a family-friendly Zierer free-fall tower that combines drops, rotations, and dazzling light effects. Another exciting boat trip is provided by De Dolle Albatros, Bommelwereld's exhilarating Rock'n Tug ride, offers visitors a thrilling nautical adventure in the spirit of Olivier B. Bommel's seafaring escapades as this Zamperla-manufactured attraction simulates the motion of a ship caught in stormy seas. Families with young children will adore De Vreemde Eend, a whimsical duck carousel by Metalbau Emmeln, featuring animal-shaped boats gliding through water.

Making a splash near the circus

Razende Rommel, the mini flume ride at Bommelwereld, takes visitors on a water-based journey on the Rommel river. Designed by Jora Vision and built by ABC Rides, the attraction starts with a short dark ride section through a cave before emerging into a scenic hillside. Riders then ascend to a 4-meter height, getting a view of the park before a swift descent and splash finale.

From the flume ride, you can clearly see that a circus has pitched up their red-white tent in the park. Inside you’ll find the Daverend Draken Spektakel, a Zamperla mini jet ride with flying dragons that glide through the air in the circus tent.

Spinning around

Near the circus is Wentelkratten, a unique figure-eight ride by ABC Rides, that has spinning cars that create the illusion of near collisions. Zwevende Zwam, a vibrant swing carousel from Bertazzon, lifts riders up to 7.4 meters for a breezy, spinning adventure. The ride has a unique fully themed custom design that makes it look like a humongous mushroom with a colorful cap.

The grand finale of the Bommelwereld experience is the Bulder Baan, a Vekoma family coaster that stretches 257 meters and reaches heights of 12.5 meters, providing a thrilling conclusion to the park journey at speeds of up to 45 km/h. The track takes people through the mysterious mountains and promises to be the first coaster experience for many young visitors.

A celebration of Dutch cultural heritage

Steeped in the stories and characters created by Marten Toonder, the park truly can call itself the world of Bommel. One notable addition will be the collection of the Bommelzolder, a museum completely dedicated to the aristocratic bear and his companions.

"Bommelwereld is more than just an amusement park; it's a celebration of Dutch cultural heritage," says Edwin Bomers. "We're excited to offer a year-round destination where families can create lasting memories while immersing themselves in the charming world of Olivier B. Bommel."

The park expects to welcome 100,000 visitors annually and will also feature a conference center, a large theater, and space for a Bommel Museum, making it a comprehensive entertainment destination. With its unique blend of storytelling, innovative attractions, and timeless characters, all brought to life through Jora Vision's expert design, Bommelwereld promises to set a new standard for indoor amusement parks in Europe when it opens its doors in 2025.

The Enchanted Greenhouse: a new interactive dark ride is sprouting

Jora Vision, ETF Ride Systems and Alterface team up to create a unique interactive dark ride in groundbreaking Six Flags Qiddiya City, KSA

Ever since its announcement, the development of Six Flags Qiddiya City has stimulated the imagination of theme park industry insiders. Located in the shadow of the awe-inspiring Tuwaiq Mountains, Six Flags Qiddiya City is not your ordinary theme park. Every announced ride seems to shatter a new record: from the highest drop tower to the mind-boggling Falcons Flight, which is set to become the world’s tallest, fastest and longest coaster. But the park is not just for thrill seekers. Among all peaks and summits, a consortium of Jora Vision, ETF Ride Systems and Alterface is designing and building a new key ride. An interactive dark ride that will set a new bar for interactive and themed indoor attractions: The Enchanted Greenhouse.

The Enchanted Greenhouse is nestled within the heart of “Twilight Gardens”, one of the six themed zones the park features. Within this mesmerizing landscape, you are welcomed into a long-lost greenhouse to uncover its mysteries. During your expedition you encounter various secrets to unravel, from the identity of the elusive warden ‘Farasha’ (the butterfly) to the hidden inhabitants of the greenhouse. All these adventures are presented through a unique approach to interactivity.

The Enchanted Greenhouse will offer a unique family-friendly experience in Saudi being an oasis full of wonder and magic, where you can interact with all you see around you; If your team is sharp enough to spot it all, that is.

Singular view on interactivity

The central idea is that an interactive dark ride should also be fun to enjoy when your finger is not on the trigger. Instead of a classic shooting gallery, you experience memorable scenes you can influence. Here the interactivity adds to the experience instead of distracting from it. The Enchanted Greenhouse offers a collaborative gameplay experience, inviting guests to jointly uncover the wonders around them. Each vehicle works together to awaken the inhabitants of this mystical world: guests wield the power to alter colours, influence behaviours, and illuminate these creatures, breathing life into the green haven. The experience is no longer just a game or a competition, but a journey where the visitors must cooperate to discover the magical biosphere that surrounds them.

 A consortium like no other

When the call for a new dark ride came in, Jora Vision immediately partnered up with Alterface and ETF Ride Systems. Even though collaboration within the themed entertainment industry is common, a consortium with this level of experience is rare. Not only is each participant itself accomplished within the industry, but the companies have also partnered before on award winning rides as Bazyliszek (Legendia Poland) and Popcorn Revenge (Walibi Belgium).

By joining forces from the get-go, the opportunity arose to fully align every ride element. By starting with comprehensive 3D design studies, Jora Vision made sure the ride’s feature fit perfectly in the framework that Six Flags Qiddiya City provided. Extensive storyboards and numerous illustrations made the environment come to life. With a themed surface of 1300 m2 the dark ride is rather compact. Still, by creating smart scenes, the experience lasts almost five minutes and will have an extensive pre-show. The result? A harmonized experience where every part interlocks perfectly due to close collaboration and an eye for detail.

A flourishing storyline

Jora Vision created the overall concept and the (still classified) story for the ride. The whole tale is told by multiple animatronics, 14 multimedia projectors and a never-before-seen effect in an interactive dark ride. All hidden in immersive décor that is overgrown with thousands of lifelike otherworldly plants.

The narrative is influenced both by the local culture and stories inspired by Saudi and the region that resonate with the park visitors. Unique for a ride of this type, there is also a symbolic meaning that infuses the ride: every feature reaches back to a positive message of love and growth.

 “Six Flags Qiddiya City is an extraordinary development in our industry, renowned for its creative and visionary ambitions. We believe The Enchanted Greenhouse harmonizes beautifully with these enchanting aspirations, promising to be a brand-new ride experience for families to enjoy in Saudi”, says Robin van der Want, Project development director at Jora Vision.

Signature vehicles

ETF Ride Systems provides their signature autonomous trackless Multi Mover vehicles. Each vehicle has a beautiful custom themed body with animated elements. It seats 6 guests and gives each an unobstructed view of the ride. These 12 vehicles will cruise a 160-meter-long course.

During the ride, multiple scenes will take advantage of the absence of a physical track, allowing for movements and effects that are impossible with traditional rails. Additionally, a unique non-linear loading station increases capacity and reduces queue times.

“With all the different elements and vehicles, it’s like conducting an orchestra to create a symphony”, Ruud Koppens, the CEO of ETF Ride Systems says.

Hands-on interactivity

The unique view on non-intrusive interactivity in this ride demands a new approach to interactivity. Alterface adds their technological know-how and makes the interactive elements blend in seamlessly with the ride’s lush surroundings. A vast array of interactive components add to the challenge: media content, physical props, Pepper’s Ghosts and mapped projections all combine to tell the story. Beside linking all these unique gameplay elements, Alterface has coordinated the media, music, and lighting, thus ensuring a cohesive and magical experience.

“The collaboration with ETF Ride Systems and Jora Vision is key. This allows us to use an entire register of visual tricks and to hide the technology from the guests to immerse them into a truly magical experience”, according to Stephane Bataille, the CEO of Alterface.

From the ground up

Six Flags Qiddiya City is the first Six Flags park designed and built from the ground up outside North America. Park construction continues steadily and is expected to be completed by 2025. Qiddiya City is a new global destination built from scratch on the foundations of play. Located 40mins away from Riyadh, the vibrant city brings entertainment, sports and culture together in a way never seen before.

If you can’t wait until 2025 to see more of the ride, Jora Vision, ETF Ride Systems and Alterface are hosting a reveal event at the IAAPA Europe in Amsterdam. Here they will reveal more juicy details about the ride and unveil the concept of the vehicle. Interested? Visit the Jora Vision booth (12416) on September 24th at 13:00 during the IAAPA Europe show.

Jora Vision helps uncover the lost fourth country

At the point where the borders of The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet, lies the Drielandenpunt (Three-Country Point). Here, people have been gathering for years. Not only does this place boast the highest point of The Netherlands and a beautiful nature reserve; it also has an intricate labyrinth to get lost in. Over the coming years, Jora Vision and the labyrinth’s proprietor will upgrade this to the Mystery Maze Experience. A major milestone of this overhaul took place this spring, when the iconic Amikejo Turo tower opened.

The Drielandenpunt is one of the most popular tri-border points in the world. Next to being an endless source of dad-jokes referring to going on holiday in three different countries, the fact that you can touch down in three countries within seconds is already an attraction in itself. The maze, playgrounds and an atmospheric tavern greatly add to the fun.

All is run by the same proprietor, Geert Driessen. “Worldwide there are 173 places where three countries meet. But, not long ago, there was a fourth country that used to join the others, making it the only four-country-point in the world”, says Geert. “Our visitors want to have an adventure, but also learn something new. We were looking for a partner to add the stories of Moresnet (the fourth country) to our maze in an exciting way. So, we naturally got in touch with Jora Vision”.

Stories for experts

Jora Vision is well known for big projects, such as dark rides and theme parks. However, since creating the Quake experience, they have proved themselves adapt at creating compelling destinations and tourist experiences, too. Combine this with their storytelling expertise, and they are a perfect partner for a project like this. Especially since the stories of the fourth country of Moresnet are nothing but compelling.

The tales from Moresnet seem plucked from the best adventure novels: secret smuggling rings, rich zinc deposits, a tax haven with gambling hotspot, and to top it off a new language for the world. All these tales will be added to the experience in the coming years. Visitors will soon be able to navigate the maze, each turn offering a new insight into the area's rich past and offering interactive games to engage with the stories.

Towering above history

The final goal of the maze? To find its the elusive centre. Right in this midpoint, the new iconic tower stands. This literal high point in the adventure recently opened as a first step in the transformation of the labyrinth. Based on the head office of the zinc mine company that played a major role in the fourth country, Jora Vision created a unique building. It rewards explorers with a stunning view over the surrounding area. Or lets them guide lost friends to the centre by shouting out directions from the top floor.

Where the top floor gives an overview of the area now, the room on the ground floor allows you to look back in history. With an intricate model of the area and projection mapping, the story of the fourth country is told. Smartly programmed effects give the feeling you are in the middle of the Napoleonic wars or a secret gambling den. All accompanied by narration in four languages, to get the history across to anyone.

Jora Vision was helped by projection expert Mr. Beam to create the mapped video. Bucko Arends, Creative Producer, says "In a project like this, where the content truly shines on location, it's always challenging to convey our vision to the client early on. With the help of Jora Vision this was a breeze. We are proud of the small historically accurate details and have enjoyed working on the spectacular effects that leap off the table. As soon as you enter the room, you're grabbed by the collar and won't be let go until you've seen all the videos.”

More stories coming

“We are really proud to have hit this milestone together with the Drielandenpunt”, says Simon Tiemersma, Design Director at Jora Vision. “It is nothing short but exciting to work where nature, history and experience intersect as they do here. We already look forward to the next phases of the project”.

The artwork that Jora Vision released of the upcoming activities shows how the country Moresnet can come to life in the maze. Until they are built in 2025, there is more than enough to explore. With your own passport for Moresnet in hand, you are challenged to find the centre of the maze and encounter multiple trials along the trail.

Amikejo Turo

The tower is dubbed ‘Amikejo Turo’, meaning ‘The friendly tower’ in the would-be language of Moresnet: Esperanto. Despite its friendliness, finding it might not be as easy as you think. If you check out the reviews of the place, it shows that most find it harder than expected. But the reward is worth it: a stunning view on Moresnet that can only be found here.

Sweet dreams are made of this – Theming Sweet Valley

In April, the Polish Energylandia will open Sweet Valley, its newest themed area. Designed by Jora Vision, the renowned Dutch design and build firm has delivered a second immersive zone to the park. We sat down with our colleague Andrea van der Vlis, Design Lead at Jora Vision to discuss our theming strategy and everything to consider for doing it right.

Candyland. Ever since Hansel & Gretel went wild about their gingerbread house, every child dreams of the magical land of plenty. Considering our universal love for everything sugary, it’s curious that this theme is not half as prevalent in theme parks as swashbuckling pirates or gun-toting cowboys. This April, the Polish Energylandia will be closing the gap with these hatted outlaws: By opening Sweet Valley the theme park adds over 10 new rides in a zone full of chocolate, lollipops, and honeycombs.

Jora Vision has been a longtime partner of Energylandia. Energylandia wanted to transform from a rides park to a true theme park and enlisted the help of Jora Vision. Not only did the Dutch designers create the parks’ masterplan; they also designed Aqualantis. This sunken story world leveled up the parks’ theming.

A park famous for its adrenaline pumping coasters and thrills, Energylandia wanted to add a family area to their menu. Staying true to their thrill-seeking spirit, they also added two coasters: a Vekoma mine train of a whopping 1200 meters in length and a family coaster from the same manufacturer. But how to go from this ride selection to a full theme?

“If a park is unexperienced with theming, they sometimes think that it is a question of adding a few scenery pieces and a splash of color on the walls. For us, the theming is the last layer in a careful process”, Andrea explains. “A quaint village, deserted island, or shopping street needs a great outline before you add the theme to it. It starts with a good base: smart sight lines, routing, and flow. Because we already worked on the park’s masterplan, we had the best base to work from”.

The park was looking for something family friendly and heavily themed. There was a mine train coaster and a diverse selection of flat rides. A wild west theme was tempting, but we wished for something more original. Sweet Valley was born. “The challenge of a whimsical theme like this is balancing theming with building practicalities”, says Andrea. “Straight buildings are easier to construct, but cutely curved houses fitted the land better. It’s tempting to forget about the details to lower costs. Luckily Energylandia showed a strong commitment to the theme. Every air conditioning, speaker, roller shutter and gutter fits the area”. To make sure everything was in its right place, a huge 3D model of the area was created.

But theming strategy is more than consistent décor. Jora Vision created clever rules to make the land come alive. “The sweets in the valley are a resource that grow naturally. A mountain with chocolate nuggets attracted the first settlers, that later started to grow lollipop crops on a farm. A harbour and village followed”. All with their own subtheme, these different areas make the zone come alive. “Each area has its own color palette that fades into the next. The turquoise lagoon blends into the pastel village and a farm with primary colors”, says Andrea. “We had other design rules too. The candy is a resource, but no building material. This keeps the world consistent with the story. In the end it’s all about having a design rationale. Of everything you should be able to answer the question: why is this here?”

Jora Vision found the sweet spot for a rich experience full of taste. Energylandia committed to the design and sugared everything according to recipe. Jora Vision did not only get to do the design and art direction on the project: as icing on the cake their craftspeople got to create a cute phone booth and a colorful cotton candy stand. The result? One of the most anticipated immersive lands in years. Curious? The land opens by the end of April.

The Ride Ahead: Illuminating the Future of Dark Rides

Ever since the first seaside funfairs carried away stoked visitors on a ‘scenic railway’, a dark ride is the most distinctive way for a destination to tell a story. Where other parks might have a similar double-looping coaster or a just-as-splashy log flume, your dark ride is always unique to your park.

 It’s not for nothing that dark rides are on the top lists of many a theme park aficionado. From Disney exemplars like Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion to European classics such as Efteling’s Droomvlucht or Blackpool’s Valhalla. Some of these adventures stem from a different era but still draw a daily crowd. To be sure, we came a long way from the rickety railway tours that started it all. The coming years we’ll see some staggering innovations in the design and construction of dark rides. Here are five of them.

Push the tempo

The rise of the storycoaster

The boundaries between dark rides and coasters are fading fast. You must no longer choose between a tranquil tour of an enchanted cave or being tossed around 200 ft in the air on a steel colossus. Combining the best of both, so-called ‘story coasters’ blend story scenes with high-G ride segments.

 Of course, this development is not completely new. Some even trace this back to the 70’s and argue that Disneyland’s Space Mountain is a story coaster. This ride is more of a themed coaster since there is no real development in the story. Still, Florida’s Revenge of the Mummy or Expedition Everest do fit the story coaster definition and aren’t exactly new. However, there is a trend to be seen: these fusion rides are no longer exclusively for the big guys.

 From VinWonder’s Eagle Warriors to Movie Park’s Studio Tour; even regional parks can afford to add some speed to their storytelling attractions. By making smart design decisions, the cost can be brought down to only a fraction of what you used to pay for such rides.

 The development also happens the other way round. We see coasters evolving to incorporate storytelling elements from the get-go. Enthralling pre-shows and lavish theming in the queue are no longer a rare sight. We predict this development will grow and blossom in the coming years, merging thrill rides and dark rides even more.

 Screen the screens

Hiding and integrating media content

Media content in dark rides has been on the rise for years. It’s both blessing and curse. A well-placed screen lets you add anything you can dream up for a bargain: renegade aliens, cuddly critters, explosions without fire hazard, tidal waves without splash damage. You can gun down escaped popcorn or hunt a mythical beast. It’s fantastic!

 Sadly, there is a price to pay: some media content stands out like an animated dragon in an empty field. Flat rectangular displays contrast sharply with a lifelike environment. To add, by using projectors your animated wyvern is highlighted so it contrasts with its surroundings. It might just look like you’ve hung a giant tv in the middle of your ride (which you have, but we want to keep this a secret, don’t we?).

 Luckily, media and decoration are increasingly integrated. Those utterly straight screen edges are camouflaged by carefully crafted rockwork. Screens are cleverly hidden in pots, pans, and other props. By making use of special black projection screens, the highlighting effect can be mediated.

 Additionally, smart media illusions help blend video with the scenery. From the age old Pepper’s ghost up to forced perspective with smartly skewed video mapping: there are many techniques to choose from.

 Rides like Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway cleverly show what can be done with seamless media integration. And this is only the start of the utility of combining projection, animatronics, and integrated video. Show experts like Freckled Sky use mixed reality storytelling techniques that mix all kinds of content to one irresistible experiential cocktail: one we will surely get to taste in many dark rides soon.

Content swapping and creating

Fresh ways to use media content

One of the downsides of dark rides is their limited re-rideability. Even the most elaborate rides only offer more of the same each time you step into the vehicle. The same is true for coasters, of course, but they offer tummy tickling thrills that are enough to do it ten times over (for some). Dark ride devotees aside, most visitors only ride them once per visit. But what if a dark ride can offer something new every time? This is where changeable and generative content comes in.

 Changeable content means that everything a dark ride has to offer can be adjusted, without interfering with the hardware and decoration. This is comparable to a seasonal overlay, but no lugging of heavy Halloween pumpkins. Just press a button and voilà: new lighting design, fresh animatronic movements and novel audio tracks. You can concoct a completely new story by smartly tweaking ride elements. A great example is the Monsters after Dark version of Guardians of the Galaxy. A Halloween version that only triggers after sundown. This allows guests to experience two versions of the same ride in one day.

 On a whole different level is generative content. Here the content is generated on the spot, just for you. The applications are almost unlimited. Have a water dark ride that has a varied duration? Generate the video for each boat. This way it lasts just as long as the trip past the (well hidden) screen. Want your magical tree to address people by their first name? Make the audio on the spot, based on visitor profiles. Want to fill a forest with the animals from a child’s drawing? Have an AI bring it to life. We can go on and on about the potential. Choose your own route, your allegiance, your experience…

It might sound like futuristic babble, but it will not last long until it’s here. Already you can encounter your own mugshot in Star Wars adventures or lose yourself in a live generated kaleidoscope. The exact applications are being figured out.  Doing it right takes some expertise, but generative content can improve both the experience and the shelf-life of your ride by a thousandfold.

Hold your fire, have a blast

Cooperative and less destructive interactive concepts

Trigger happy visitors can have a blast in interactive dark rides. Projected beasts, wooden monsters and Styrofoam villains get a daily dose of reckoning gunfire. The years ahead we will see the coming of age of the interactive dark ride. Already some rides make clever use of interactivity to let you trigger effects instead of wrecking rampage (or both). Still, no longer it is only about racking up the most points by shooting at anything that blinks.

 A few developments will go hand in hand. First, the individual scoring screens in the vehicle will fall out of grace. As they break immersion and focus on competition, these carnival counters do not always fit the story at hand. Some rides will eliminate scoring entirely or replace individual points with a cooperative result per vehicle. No longer will you have to leave grandma behind in the scores; now you can work together as the team you are meant to be.

 And how about a battle between vehicles? Nothing is more fraternizing than aiming at those pesky people that you have been queueing behind for so long. A friendly shootout of sorts might even influence the outcome of the ride. Wave with your wizard wand and send the opposite vehicle down to the dungeon, while you ascend into the throne room.

 We will see more than just firing away. There is more you can do with interactivity than just wreaking havoc. Grow otherworldly plants, repair grandpa’s old airplane, or help the kind forest fairies hide from nasty trolls. There are many friendly implementations to create. We cannot lift the veil yet, but Jora Vision is working on a unique interactive dark ride where there are much more nice things to do than just blasting everything to bits.

 Lastly, we might soon get rid of the big, wired guns altogether. Motion control is within reach. Controlling effects with simple gestures is already possible in rides like W.E.B. Slingers, but there is more to wave at than tiny evil robots. With a simple gesture, you open a door, or move your vehicle in another direction. Make a bow, wave your hand, and a whole new world opens right in front of you.

I like to move it, move it

Free roaming vehicles

From a cleverly hidden wire in the floor, to fully free roaming cars: trackless vehicles have been around for years. Still, the use of dynamic movement patterns is, in most rides, minimal. It is puzzling that there are still no cars that sweep you through a ride differently every time. Where are the dance scenes that deftly maneuver your vehicle from the front to the back on a pumping beat? Well, they are coming.

 One of the most promising ways an autonomous vehicle is used now, is in the ‘erratic’ dark ride developed by Jora Vision and Alterface. After sitting down, the vehicle will launch you on an unpredictable journey that differs every time. Carefully counting the vehicles will not help you predict the route: there is no fixed cycle. This leads to greater guest surprise and re-rideability. After a scene, you join an elegant choreography in the central hall. This design not only enriches the personal journey but sparks curiosity about the experiences of others.

 Combined with the techniques we mentioned before, the free roaming vehicle is a true game changer. How about controlling the movement with your body? Dodge the lasers coming at you by literally curving your body in the right direction. Swirl around on a samba by following the right dance instructions. Or enter a hidden space by flicking your magic wand just right.

 We’re just getting started

Jora Vision developing multiple dark rides

Our industry often operates under a veil of mystery. Theren are many upcoming rides that we get to work on, but that still must be kept a secret. We can however share that one of our new dark rides will be exciting guests in Six Flag Qiddiya. That park will not only boast a groundbreaking coaster, but also a mesmerizing dark ride that is growing as we speak. Here we will incorporate some of the ideas discussed in this article.

 The grumpy reader might blame us of listing things that have been going on for years, instead of sharing fresh trends. And, in a way, that’s correct. True breakthroughs in rides are exceptional and uncommon. More often, progress is achieved through a gradual and continuous process, where new ideas and innovations grow organically from the foundations laid by existing rides. So, no sudden leap into the unknown, but a careful refining of the great things that already exist. Luckily, there are many professionals that know perfectly how to integrate the newest techniques to tell your story. Because, after all, that is what makes a dark ride great: using everything at your disposal to share an unforgettable tale.

Jora Vision and Särkänniemi realise first zone in new masterplan

In May 2023 we celebrated the opening of Piggy Town: a freshly themed land in Finnish theme park Särkänniemi. This themed land, called Kärsänniemi, houses the well-loved park mascot “Pouta Possu” (Pouta Pig), and is a first step in the multi-year realization of the new masterplan that Jora Vision and Särkänniemi developed together in 2022.

Pouta’s new home turf

The playful Pouta Pig has been the mascot of the Finnish Särkänniemi park for many years. Countless Finnish children have experienced their first ever ride on Pouta’s little piggy train. Still, Pouta did not yet have its own home in the park. With the opening of Piggy Town the mascot gets not just a little house, but a whole themed land.

Pouta brings a lively club of friends along: Kajo Rabbit, Myrsky Mole, Leimu Bat and Lauha Lamb. This month they all settled in Kärsänniemi: Pouta’s new colourful home turf in Särkänniemi. Even though the most un-Finnish person gets the wordplay, don’t be confused if you are visiting Pouta. Särkänniemi is the park, Kärsänniemi is where you’ll find the friendly pig.

The revived area of Pouta’s town covers the re-theming and experience upgrade of the former Angry Birds Land. It’s packed to the brim with classic rides such as the Oldtimer Ride, Red Baron, Jump Around, Rocking Tug, Tivoli Coaster, Magic Bikes, Drop Tower and Pouta’s noteworthy train. The characteristic Oldtimer Ride is rethemed as a postal delivery ride and the key-ride in the area. Kärsänniemi is a first step in the masterplan that Jora Vision developed with Särkänniemi.

Masterplan: from amusement park to theme park

Särkänniemi approached Jora Vision in 2022 to assist in the development of a new masterplan. Operating since 1973, the second theme park in Finland, wanted to evolve from a loved amusement park to a true theme park. Since Jora Vision has extensive experience in both retheming and masterplanning, this was a perfect fit. Jora immediately set out to create a plan.

The unique heritage of the municipality owned park, combined with the creative minds of Jora Vision, led to a novel approach towards theming. Starting at the desire to bring to the limelight that the park is the worlds center of joy, a complete overhaul of the park was conceived. This masterplan is the guidebook for the massive theming that is to come and loaded with original themes and stories. Piggy Town is just the first chapter. If you are curious about the rest of the story, please follow Särkänniemi closely, as they will surely unveil the plans sometime soon.

Just the start of the journey

So, opening Piggy Town is the first step in all great things that are to come. The collaboration between Jora Vision and Särkänniemi has much more in store with upcoming new themed zones and exciting new future rides and experiences.

Robin van der Want, Project Development Director at Jora Vision concludes: “This collaboration builds on both Jora Vision’s strengths and the one-of-a-kind vision of Särkänniemi. It’s a creative pleasure to use our experience to lend a hand in Särkänniemi’s evolution. We are certain that our partnership will result in many new experiences for guests to enjoy.”