During IAAPA Expo, Sally Dark Rides announced two new projects. The first is a new pirate-themed interactive dark ride aptly-called Treasure Hunt. The new dark ride will be located on Cannery Row in Monterey Bay, California.
Treasure Hunt will feature hand-crafted set-pieces, pirate animatronics, and special effects. It will be a unique, stand-alone attraction for guests visiting Monterey Bay.
Treasure Hunt also marks the first time where Sally Dark Rides and Daniels Wood Land have partnered on ownership and production of an attraction.
“We have always been impressed with the scenic style and capabilities of the incredible artists and craftsmen from Daniels Wood Land. To work with them to create a one-of-a-kind pirate adventure in Monterey is something we were excited about from the moment we heard about the opportunity,” says John Wood CEO, Sally Dark Rides.
The storyline to Treasure Hunt follows visitors of Monterey Bay that are invited to explore a newly discovered system of caverns located beneath Cannery Row. Legend has it, these caverns were once a hideout, where infamous Pirate Captain Hippolyte Bouchard and his crew of scallywags hid their treasure.
During the exploration, riders will be provided “Cavern Car” vehicles and “Treasure Collector” interactive devices. While riders keep their eyes peeled for treasure, they must also defend themselves against danger. Everything from the rising tide, sea monsters, and a fearsome skeleton crew will head their travels as they hunt for hidden treasure.
The other attraction that Sally Dark Rides announced was VOLKANU — Quest for the Golden Idol. It will be one of the first major attractions to debut at the new Lost Island Theme Park, which is currently under construction in Waterloo, Iowa.
The dark ride will be hosted inside a Volcano structure as pictured above in the concept art. Volkanu will be Lost Island’s anchor attraction. The new attraction will feature multi-level gameplay technology. The attraction will be four minutes long with dynamic scenery, animatronic figures, special effects, and 3D imagery.
The attraction is inspired by the great god of fire Volkanu — a legendary bestial being of molten rock living deep inside Lost Island. The attraction will take riders on a thrill-packed adventure to locate the sacred Ora-Tika statue, responsible for keeping Volkanu dormant and return it to the altar to restore peace to the island. Guests will be equipped with a powerful Thermal Blaster as they battle with the minions of Volkanu and head to the Temple of Fire to return the statue to its altar.
The 159-acre Lost Island Theme Park is currently under construction across Shaulis Road from the Lost Island Waterpark and Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo. The Lost Island Theme Park is being developed by the Bertch family, who have been developing expansion plans to transform their Waterloo, Iowa location from a regional water park to a destination resort by transforming 159 acres of farmland into a brand-new theme park.
The masterplan was developed by BDR Design Group out of Cincinnati, Ohio and shows the park divided into five different “realms” that have backstories and elements that all tie together. Each realm will include a variety of rides and attractions designed to immerse guests into the stories of the land.
Treasure Hunt and Volkanu both open in 2022.
I encourage you to take a look at Sally Dark Rides as they have created some unique experiences and attractions.
Zach Perilstein is the Editor-in-Chief of the Boardwalk Times
