Bringing a Dark Ride to Life: Innovation in Immersive Attractions

Why It Matters

The project demonstrates how compact immersive systems let regional parks add premium, high-frequency attractions without large construction costs, increasing repeat visits and per-capita spend. It signals a broader industry shift toward interactive, score-driven experiences that drive guest engagement and revenue potential.

Summary

At the Blue Loop Festival panel, Lagotronics CEO Mark Boomers and Pton’s Park’s Lawrence Many discussed developing Ghostly Manor, an interactive dark ride built into the park’s existing 4D cinema footprint. Lagatronics provided a compact “gameplay theater” system enabling a long, replayable, scored experience that emphasizes guest interactivity and queue-to-exit storytelling. Pton’s Park repurposed the space to deliver a high-repeat attraction that nods to the park’s history while maximizing limited real estate. The collaboration highlights technical and creative choices—theme, scoring, and rerideability—aimed at boosting guest engagement and operational efficiency.

Original Description

Ernest Bakenie, senior director of sales and business development, themed entertainment, Christie; Mark Beumers, CEO of Lagotronics Projects BV; and Lawrence Mancey, marketing and technology director at Paultons Park talk about how to bring a dark ride to life. They also explore how regional parks can create one in a small footprint, and the importance of interactivity and achieving competitive balance.