A new exploration awaits intrepid riders at Le Pal theme park in France in the shape of Fjord Explorer – a leisurely log flume ride themed to a Scandinavian neighborhood, with beautifully coloured houses on the edge of a lake within a traditional Nordic village.
Not all is sedate as riders will climb 30m (99ft) in height before plummeting 20m (66ft) into the lake at speeds reaching 80km/h (50mph)
Fjord Explorer theming extends to its Scandinavian-themed boats which transport up to eight passengers along 600m (1968ft) of Nordic delights.
Fjord Explorer is the brainchild of German manufacturer Mack Rides and Belgium based interactive media dark rides and virtual and augmented reality attractions creators, BoldMove Nation. A significant investment has been made by Le Pal with Fjord Explorer costing 12m euros (£10m)
And the exploration ride is not just about the journey onboard – its creators BoldMove set the scene from the beginning when guests enter the queue line by using the beautiful Nordic pavilions leading up to the boarding platform of their new Fjord Explorer water ride.
As told by the BoldMove team, they developed a story ‘to be explored by the guests rather than imposing something on them,’ and that ‘their personal imagination gets triggered by their actual and visual perceptions, merely helping them discover what is going on and how the story unfolds.’
The concept allows for a fun experience throughout the entire queue line and is independent of waiting times. BoldMove explained that when it is less crowded, ‘visitors will experience the different rooms in a consecutive story but if it gets busier, they enjoy more time to explore each room individually as it includes many items and clues.’
During this ‘untold story’ that gradually unfolds, visitors explore the Captain’s workplace up to the boarding platform. There are no screens with texts or explanations; easy to follow and overcomes language barriers for international visitors. The Captain is not present but visitors can see traces of him and his work during the entire queue line – which in this way becomes an experience in itself.
BoldMove provided all 3D concepts, schematic and detailed design for the entire queue line experience, detailing every corner and all specific props. Additionally, the team orchestrated all AV and developed the media content for the reception area and the control room.
Attentive guests can discover Easter Eggs in the media that refer to the Champi’Folies attraction, the family dark ride which opened last year in the park based on BoldMove’s concept and themed design.
The project was implemented by partner Eye-Opener Decors, who turned all designs into reality with quality production and installation onsite, including the massive lighthouse.
Fjord Explorer is the new beacon for Le Pal.
Images: Bold Move / Le Pal
